OCD: General Discussion Thread

Greetings, everyone. I have a question regarding OCD and Normabel. I was reading on the Normabel website that individuals struggling with obsessions should avoid taking it. This leaves me wondering—does that include those diagnosed with OCD? If I have OCD, am I prohibited from using Normabel? My intention in taking Normabel would be to help manage anxiety. Thank you in advance.

Walter Cox46 said:Greetings, everyone. I have a question regarding OCD and Normabel. I was reading on the Normabel website that individuals struggling with obsessions should avoid taking it. This leaves me wondering—does that include those diagnosed with OCD? If I have OCD, am I prohibited from using Normabel? My intention in taking Normabel would be to help manage anxiety. Thank you in advance.

Hey there. Just my two cents, but I took Normabel while I was pregnant and honestly, it didn't do squat for me. Even after I had the baby, I tried taking three a day and still felt nothing. It wasn't until I actually started on antidepressants that things finally started looking up... so personally, I wouldn't recommend Normabel to anyone.🙂

Hey everyone!
I’ve got a question and I'm honestly not sure if this belongs in the OCD thread. My whole thing is this obsession with a spotless house—I need my tabletops perfectly aligned, rugs sitting at exact angles, and my desk is always, well... let me guess... everything is perfectly level and squared up. It’s getting to be a real struggle because I can't even look at a rug with a curled edge without having to physically get up and fix it. Or seeing a vase sitting anywhere except dead center on the table? Absolute nightmare. These little things are driving me insane; if something isn't exactly where I put it or left it, I lose my mind because it’s just not how I envisioned the space looking. The kicker is that I wasn't always like this. This obsessive need for order started maybe three years ago, or maybe a bit more. I also have this annoying habit where I walk into a room and immediately notice if anything has been moved while I was gone (and yeah, that applies to my desk at work too)—I see everything, I notice everything. Sometimes I joke that I totally picked the wrong career path and should've gone into forensics since I'm such a stickler for detail. Please, if anyone has any idea what might actually be going on, help me out. It’s becoming exhausting to live like this because instead of just relaxing when I get home, I feel like I'm constantly cleaning and resetting everything back to its "proper" place. Thanks.🙂

Frank Jackson5 said:I know none of these OCD struggles are easy, but honestly, sometimes I’d give anything to be in your shoes. I've been dealing with trichotillomania—a type of OCD where I pull out my eyelashes and eyebrows—for 15 years now. To be fair, things have improved a bit since I started taking antidepressants... though I should probably clarify that things are actually much better. Still, there are these sudden waves of anxiety where I start pulling again. It's hard. It isn't always that overwhelming urge you just can't fight off, but it happens.

Reading through your posts, I see so many great insights here. Really well said, ladies!

Bog Marinella, even though I struggle with OCD myself, it pained me to hear that someone is battling a manifestation like yours, so I am genuinely relieved to hear you're doing better (I caught your later posts as well). While I'm sure there are countless terrifying variations of OCD I haven't even heard of, I'm somewhat familiar with yours because it was featured in a TV series once. How did you manage living with it, considering it's visible and creates its own set of aesthetic challenges? Perhaps there is a silver lining for those facing other types of OCD that can more easily be hidden from the world, which makes me understand why you remarked that you'd "give anything" to be in our position.

Best, 🙂

steelfox15 said:Hey everyone!
I’ve got a question and I'm honestly not sure if this belongs in the OCD thread. My whole thing is this obsession with a spotless house—I need my tabletops perfectly aligned, rugs sitting at exact angles, and my desk is always, well... let me guess... everything is perfectly level and squared up. It’s getting to be a real struggle because I can't even look at a rug with a curled edge without having to physically get up and fix it. Or seeing a vase sitting anywhere except dead center on the table? Absolute nightmare. These little things are driving me insane; if something isn't exactly where I put it or left it, I lose my mind because it’s just not how I envisioned the space looking. The kicker is that I wasn't always like this. This obsessive need for order started maybe three years ago, or maybe a bit more. I also have this annoying habit where I walk into a room and immediately notice if anything has been moved while I was gone (and yeah, that applies to my desk at work too)—I see everything, I notice everything. Sometimes I joke that I totally picked the wrong career path and should've gone into forensics since I'm such a stickler for detail. Please, if anyone has any idea what might actually be going on, help me out. It’s becoming exhausting to live like this because instead of just relaxing when I get home, I feel like I'm constantly cleaning and resetting everything back to its "proper" place. Thanks.🙂

Well, from what you've described, it sounds like it could be a milder form of OCD. It seems to stem from that feeling that you "must" perform these actions, otherwise you'll "lose it," which is clearly causing you distress. That's essentially why they call them "compulsions"—they are these driven, repetitive behaviors that you don't necessarily want to do, yet you feel an overwhelming urge to complete them just to find relief.
As for what to do? Well, it's the same dilemma most people face. You could choose to simply live with it without seeking professional help (since, based on your description, you seem to be functioning reasonably well despite the distractions), and you'll likely ride out waves of better and worse periods... There might be times when you feel like you truly need support, but once the anxiety subsides and things stabilize, you might convince yourself everything is fine and decide there's no point in seeking help. The other option, of course, is to address it now, before the whole thing becomes completely unbearable (which could take years), in hopes of improving your overall quality of life. I say "in hopes," because even I am not entirely certain; I actually have my first appointment with a psychiatrist this coming Monday, so I'll see how that goes.
Keep us posted on how it goes. 👋

I honestly feel like there’s some underlying cause here—mostly because this isn't who I've always been. If I could just pin down what's actually triggering it! Look, I wouldn't have anything against seeing a psychiatrist if they could actually help. And by that, I don't mean getting hooked on a cocktail of meds; I just mean having someone to talk to—like, maybe a few therapy sessions—so things can finally come to the surface. All of this just leaves me feeling completely drained. I'm exhausted from the endless cleaning and constant tidying when all I really want to do is grab coffee with my girls or just veg out in front of the TV. It’s freaking exhausting when I can't even be chill enough to just strip down and crash in the middle of the room—instead, no, I *have* to fold every single piece of clothing perfectly and put it away in its specific spot, like the hanger, the laundry basket, the dresser... you know the drill. It's killing me. It kills me that I can't just exist in a little bit of a mess. Do you go to a private therapist or through your insurance? And how do you even get a referral for a psychiatrist in the US, assuming they even give them out?

I certainly agree that there’s an underlying cause behind all of this, both for you and for the rest of us—that much is indisputable. I was reading a book recently by a psychiatrist, and they suggested that the development of a neurotic personality type (which essentially describes us, given that OCD is a form of neurosis; thank God it isn't something even more severe!) is often linked to improper parental relationships during that critical window between ages three and six. Looking back at my own life, I can see some truth in that theory, as my first clear symptoms started surfacing by the time I was ten. I actually have my very first appointment with a psychiatrist tomorrow, and I’m hoping for a productive session. I’ve decided to go to a private specialist, even though the costs are frankly astronomical; of course, you could always use your insurance to see someone at a public clinic for free, but I tried that route about seven or eight years ago and found it rather futile. You end up getting maybe one fifteen-minute slot a month, which is hardly enough time to make any headway. And while it’s true that you aren't forced to take medication if you'd prefer not to, don't be surprised if your doctor suggests it; most practitioners tend to view the most effective treatment as a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

I’m sorry I missed getting back to you earlier... regarding those referrals, the standard process is pretty straightforward: just head over to your primary care physician and ask them for a referral to a psychiatrist. If you decide to pull the trigger on that, though, I’d suggest doing a little homework first to see who might actually be worth your time... it’s honestly the same deal as when you're hunting for a decent dermatologist, OB-GYN, or any other specialist.

Yeah, I actually thought that’s how the referral worked too. But seriously, tell me—how much are you shelling out for private sessions, and how long does each one actually last? You can just shoot me a DM if you want, I'm really curious to see what they end up telling you.

The session runs for about 45 minutes and goes for $83. Honestly, that’s the best deal I could track down; most places are charging closer to $100 per 45-minute slot. I’ll be able to get back to you on those other questions tomorrow or the day after, once I have a better sense of how things are shaking out.

PS: apologies for being so slow to get back to you.

What actually triggers OCD?
Is there some kind of definitive list of conditions that lead to these disorders?

Honestly, I’m just getting worn down by certain little things—to the point where I feel like just lying down and letting the whole world burn.
(Check this, double-check that, obsess over everything)

I’m strong, though. I need to put a stop to this bullshit. I've already cut out a lot of stuff from my life...
I guess I just let things spiral. I can't afford to stay stuck in this miserable cycle, especially since I've already poured way too much of myself into things as it is...

In my case, I think it all stems from insecurity—(and over time, the OCD just demands even more constant checking...)—combined with my professional habits, which naturally leads to massive stress and tension.
Because when you really screw something up, you have to sit there and stew in it for a long time.
And yeah, I messed up big time. It wasn't even entirely my fault, but still... (at least I'm the one paying the price)

You only get one life, and if everything needs to come crashing down tomorrow, then between the OCD and the mistakes I've made, it doesn't matter much. But looking at things lately, the OCD is doing way more damage...

Living is complicated because you're constantly juggling responsibilities everywhere you go.
The passwords, the need for absolute precision, those thousand different areas of life you're expected to master and understand...

Sometimes, I really don't feel smart enough to handle it all...

wearycobra36 said:The session runs for about 45 minutes and goes for $83. Honestly, that’s the best deal I could track down; most places are charging closer to $100 per 45-minute slot. I’ll be able to get back to you on those other questions tomorrow or the day after, once I have a better sense of how things are shaking out.

PS: apologies for being so slow to get back to you.

Hey, I just remembered you have that appointment with the psychiatrist today... honestly, I'm curious to hear how it went...
I mean, only if you feel like sharing with us.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Best regards...

steelfox15 said:Hey everyone!
I’ve got a question and I'm honestly not sure if this belongs in the OCD thread. My whole thing is this obsession with a spotless house—I need my tabletops perfectly aligned, rugs sitting at exact angles, and my desk is always, well... let me guess... everything is perfectly level and squared up. It’s getting to be a real struggle because I can't even look at a rug with a curled edge without having to physically get up and fix it. Or seeing a vase sitting anywhere except dead center on the table? Absolute nightmare. These little things are driving me insane; if something isn't exactly where I put it or left it, I lose my mind because it’s just not how I envisioned the space looking. The kicker is that I wasn't always like this. This obsessive need for order started maybe three years ago, or maybe a bit more. I also have this annoying habit where I walk into a room and immediately notice if anything has been moved while I was gone (and yeah, that applies to my desk at work too)—I see everything, I notice everything. Sometimes I joke that I totally picked the wrong career path and should've gone into forensics since I'm such a stickler for detail. Please, if anyone has any idea what might actually be going on, help me out. It’s becoming exhausting to live like this because instead of just relaxing when I get home, I feel like I'm constantly cleaning and resetting everything back to its "proper" place. Thanks.🙂

I totally get you. I always know exactly where I left everything. And anything that isn't symmetrical drives me crazy. Even with echoes. It fluctuates, though—some days are better than others. Sometimes even a single loose thread on a shirt will set me off.
The other day I didn't even buy a dress because one sleeve felt slightly tighter than the other. Honestly, there's usually something about most clothes that bugs me. I just can't accept the fact that the world isn't perfect.
It used to be that I'd read the newspaper every single day following a very specific "template"—reading every headline in order, stuff like that. Then I stopped, but then I'd get bored, so I'd start reading something else, and eventually, I'd fall right back into those same patterns.
What else? I never just sit on the couch at home. I wash my hands way too much. I have this obsessive urge to wash my hands immediately after picking something up off the floor, or right after eating.
And it's gotten worse over the years. I've never seen a psychiatrist, and the only thing I tried was some mild over-the-counter herbal supplement, but it didn't do anything.

Finally, someone else who actually gets it! Honestly, I totally feel you on that whole thing about picking stuff up off the floor and the constant hand-washing obsession. For me, though, it feels like things just escalate—it doesn't get better, it just gets more intense. Like, the other day I absolutely lost it because my husband decided to stick that house blessing decal on the glass to the right of our front door. In my head, it *has* to be dead center, right at the top, stuck directly onto the door itself. I’ve been fighting the urge to scrape it off for two days now. He thinks I’m losing my mind because he believes everything is fine, but the truth is, I’m just completely obsessed with everything being perfectly symmetrical. I think I'm actually going to rip it off. It’s driving me nuts.

Mark Perez2 said:I totally get you. I always know exactly where I left everything. And anything that isn't symmetrical drives me crazy. Even with echoes. It fluctuates, though—some days are better than others. Sometimes even a single loose thread on a shirt will set me off.
The other day I didn't even buy a dress because one sleeve felt slightly tighter than the other. Honestly, there's usually something about most clothes that bugs me. I just can't accept the fact that the world isn't perfect.
It used to be that I'd read the newspaper every single day following a very specific "template"—reading every headline in order, stuff like that. Then I stopped, but then I'd get bored, so I'd start reading something else, and eventually, I'd fall right back into those same patterns.
What else? I never just sit on the couch at home. I wash my hands way too much. I have this obsessive urge to wash my hands immediately after picking something up off the floor, or right after eating.
And it's gotten worse over the years. I've never seen a psychiatrist, and the only thing I tried was some mild over-the-counter herbal supplement, but it didn't do anything.

Hey, I tried those herbal supplements too, but they didn't do anything for me either...🤷🙂

steelfox15 said:Finally, someone else who actually gets it! Honestly, I totally feel you on that whole thing about picking stuff up off the floor and the constant hand-washing obsession. For me, though, it feels like things just escalate—it doesn't get better, it just gets more intense. Like, the other day I absolutely lost it because my husband decided to stick that house blessing decal on the glass to the right of our front door. In my head, it *has* to be dead center, right at the top, stuck directly onto the door itself. I’ve been fighting the urge to scrape it off for two days now. He thinks I’m losing my mind because he believes everything is fine, but the truth is, I’m just completely obsessed with everything being perfectly symmetrical. I think I'm actually going to rip it off. It’s driving me nuts.

I totally get why she's annoyed. But what can you even do? You just try to live with it.

Honestly, looking through that glass when I’m approaching my front door is just... ugh. It's driving me nuts. And besides the annoyance, it looks tacky as hell. I had one of those moments yesterday where I crawled home absolutely exhausted—literally did zero chores, didn't even bother peeling that sticker off—but now it’s all I can think about. It's actually haunting me at this point. Not to make matters worse, I went out and bought these two tiny little hooks for kitchen towels yesterday and I spent way too much time making sure they were perfectly symmetrical and spaced out just right. Yeah, I’m clearly losing my mind here.🙂

I’m not sure if this qualifies as an obsessive disorder, but maybe someone can weigh in..
I can’t allow food on my plate to touch. Nothing is allowed to make contact. The mashed potatoes can’t touch the steak; the fries can’t touch the ketchup; one cookie can’t touch another. It applies to absolutely everything. If food does touch, I either won't eat it at all, or I have to cut away both sides of the "contaminated" area before I can continue eating..
I’m not trying to be self-important, and I realize we live in a world where there are more hungry people than fed ones, but this isn't something I can control. It feels like a separate compartment in my brain—one that ignores logic and disregards any sense of morality.

🙈

Morgan Miller4 said:I’m not sure if this qualifies as an obsessive disorder, but maybe someone can weigh in..
I can’t allow food on my plate to touch. Nothing is allowed to make contact. The mashed potatoes can’t touch the steak; the fries can’t touch the ketchup; one cookie can’t touch another. It applies to absolutely everything. If food does touch, I either won't eat it at all, or I have to cut away both sides of the "contaminated" area before I can continue eating..
I’m not trying to be self-important, and I realize we live in a world where there are more hungry people than fed ones, but this isn't something I can control. It feels like a separate compartment in my brain—one that ignores logic and disregards any sense of morality.

🙈

If you ask me, sounds like straight-up OCD to me...🤷🤷

Olivia Rivera77 said:If you ask me, sounds like straight-up OCD to me...🤷🤷

Exactly. What’s actually going to happen if some food gets mixed up on your plate and you eat it?
What’s going to happen to me if things aren't perfectly symmetrical? The world will probably end, right?