There Is A Reason - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

BadMalibu · 12-22-2007, 01:10 PM

Hey Everyone-

So many of us here always question where our OCD comes from, and it would be easy to say that it's a chemical imbalance or there's something wrong with our brains, but as most of you know I don't subscribe wholey to that theory. There are two reasons why I don't. First off, if it were true that OCD was purely a chemical imbalance, them medications would take away all our symptoms, but as most of us know, most of us still have OCD symptoms even while we're on medications. Sure, very powerful psychotropic medications like haldol and risperdal will take away most of our symptoms, but they'll also leave you in a fog and sometimes you won't even be able to function. These drugs are so powerful and turn off so many areas of the brain that it's no wonder we don't have OCD anymore.

Secondly, if it we're true that OCD was totally a chemical imbalance, then everyone who has OCD right now would have exhibited symptoms of OCD since childhood, and that's not the case since the onset of OCD can happen as early as 5 years old, or as late in life as age 65.

Most people here in there posts will say the same thing: I don't know where the OCD comes from, nothing is going on, I don't get it, but lets take a closer look, because there is always a reason:

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Originally Posted by bondley

all these thoughts come only during exam time..right now iam feeling that ihave not taking it seriously and method of my studying is wrong.

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Originally Posted by ineedhelpasap21

I know that if i tell my mom, i will be kicked out of the house and my family will disown me (including my sister..who seriously looks down upon this) and i wont have anywhere to live.

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Originally Posted by ohiogent

i feel if i do not, my anxiety will never leave and i will be locked up
there... that is my fear..that this anxiety is great i will be labeled insane and i will lose my business and be locked up

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Originally Posted by purplegirl1

.things at work are rocky, another company took over our old company on Nov. 1... and it is very very stressful and VERY unorgainzed.

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Originally Posted by purplegirl1

So, My Husband And I Are In The Process Of Buying Our New (first) House.

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Originally Posted by tnman

yes, I did have unprotected sex

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Originally Posted by CatGirl1975

I like everything done a certain way. When they are done differently that causes me anxiety.

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Originally Posted by LaFin

I'm just really stressed out now about a hundred and one things that are just caving in on me all at once

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Originally Posted by purplegirl1

So, I always obsess over futuristic things. Will we have a house, a baby, enough money for it all, etc... so I obsess

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Originally Posted by simplysara

-When I was younger I was terrified of almost everything.
-I'm a perfectionist by nature
-I am afraid of being wrong, and of what others will think if I'm wrong. When driving, I worry that others think my driving skills inferior.
-I am indecisive and often plagued with self-doubt and what ifs.

It's really amazing the connection we can make between what's going on in our lives and our OCD. The next time you have an OCD moment, stop and ask yourself, what's going on in my life that is causing so much anxiety, and what can I do about it? I hope this helps.

tnman · 12-22-2007, 07:47 PM

hey there Malibu... You are so correct.. it probably does have things to do with what is going on in one's life.. Anxiety filled happenings... things that cause stress........You, Malibu, are a very WISE person.... Thanks for your help..tnman

BadMalibu · 12-22-2007, 09:26 PM

Tnman-

Thanks, but I just want people to see the connnection between what's going on in their lives and OCD because some people subscribe to the theory that this is a totally a brain "issue" and it's not. I will say that in a few rare instances, a chemical imbalance can cause OCD, or in most of our cases, exaggerate the symptoms, but in most every post, there is always something going on in a person's life that will trigger the OCD.

Once we understand ourselves, we can fight back because we have the knowledge.

lbreeze · 12-23-2007, 12:15 AM

I believe that it is a chemical imbalance but I agree that things that are going on definitely play a big part. I developed my ocd when I was 27 y/o and I can actually trace it to a specific incident. However, in hindsight I know that it was there already (probably my entire life) but my symptoms were so mild, I chalked them up to personality quirks and nothing more. What I wouldn't do to go back to just having "personality quirks".

purplegirl1 · 12-23-2007, 12:39 AM

Thanks, that was a great point you made. I do believe that OCD is a chemical imbalance as well as an anxiety disorder. Meds do not totally take care of the OCD - they help bring back the seretonin that is missing but they do not help you deal with how to cope with the obsessions/compulsions. I do think most of us are born with the OCD b/c it is a chemical imbalance but never learned how to cope with it and may never have realized it was a problem. Sometimes the OCD is not a problem and then something happens, that causes the OCD to mainfest itself. Everyone has a piece of every disease, but it does not become a neurosis until it interferes with your life. For instance I had OCD always but it was not a problem until my father died, age 10 for me.....