Can you tell me about cognitive behavioral therapy? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

tunafish1946 · 02-14-2007, 06:00 AM

Hi everyone;
I've done a lot of research and learned a lot about the different methods used to treat OCD and obsessions. I've never been to an OCD or CBT specialist, and I was wondering if I could hear some of your experiences using cognitive behavioral therapy. I've read a lot of material about it but the professional jargon trips me up a bit, and I'd like to know it in familiar terms. My current obsessions involve my romantic relationship, which is really, really hard and seems like it would be a gray area for CBT, but like I said, I wouldn't know. Please share any thoughts and experiences!

avinitinatt · 02-14-2007, 04:06 PM

I have just finished 18 months of CBT for BDD and bulimia. The BDD is still there and i cant see a way out from that, but it has helped me almost recover from the bullimia. CBT encourages you to challenge negative thoughts so you can begin to retrain your brain to think differently, which is why i feel it is useful in dealing with OCD. Thats the best way I can describe it. Through CBT I discovered that relationships are a major trigger for many of my compulsions, it's far too long and complicated a story to go into here, but what im saying is that i didnt even realise that i had a problem with relationships until i started exploring them in relation to my illness. I discovered I have an attachment lifetrap, im not sure what your problem is exactly, but this is a problem many people have and there are lots of self help books out there to explore lifetraps, and how to break them. I have been through cycles of needing men to make me feel wanted, adequate, beautiful, etc.. and for this reason i have made myself avalable to the wrong guys, who i have pressured to keep me, put them under so much pressure they have left me, then ive lost weight to look for good for a new one, put myself about, found an equally bad guy... and it goes on and on... i know all this now, and i recognise why i do the things i do, which is a step in the right direction to making changes... Anyway, i hope this might help in some, and yes, i think CBT may help you, but dont go in expecting miracles, just small changes, lis x

Trixibel · 02-14-2007, 04:34 PM

What's BDD? Oh hang on, is it bodily dysmorphic disorder or something?

A lot of research has been done about eating disorders and zinc and B6 deficiency. I know it probably sounds really random and out of the blue but it might be worth having a look in to. The B vitamins and minerals like zinc and calcium play a big part in maintaining the nervous system, so anxiety problems like OCD can be caused in part by a lack of them.

I'd like to know about CBT too, and from anyone who's found it really, really helpful, because it's expensive and I don't want to invest such a lot of money into it unless it works! - lol.

avinitinatt · 02-15-2007, 10:51 AM

ive heard vit b6 is good for all kinds of mental health conditions, my plan is to get a full test when i can afford it to see if im lacking, the thing with b6 is its very hard to absorb in to the body, or so i heard. You have to pay for CBT? Thats shocking, im counting myself lucky now, i got it free in the UK. There are lots of books about CBT, maybe you could read up on it, try some techniques on yourself before you decide to pay up for it.