ocd? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

msd6680 · 05-12-2008, 04:09 PM

I have a lot of weird things I do in my life and obsessions, I have read about ocd and can relate but am not sure...I have a huge obsessions with rattle snakes. I am so afraid that I or my 3 year old son is going to be bitten. It has gone on for 2 years now that I have nightmares on a regular basis about them in my house and bed. I won't even go outside in places I think they could be. I also do have an obsession with cleaning and I will clean an area until it feels completely clean to me. I am always cleaning and missing out on so much. I can't make my bed with my shoes on or get on an escalator until it feels right. If I write something, whether it be a note, or in my check book register, I will continue to rip out the pages and rewrite it until my handwriting is ok to me. I can recognize these things and they drive me crazy. Now I am starting to feel almost depressed. I will go from happy to totally irritated by something. I sometimes feel life is not worth it. It is beginning to affect my marriage, because now I am not sure I am "perfect" in my marriage. Any suggestions...or others who have experienced this also?
Thanks

dustoffkid · 05-12-2008, 11:50 PM

What I would suggest to you is that you schedule an appointment with your doctor and tell him or her what is going on. They can refer you to a psychiatrist if necessary and maybe you can get started on some medication and therapy. Regardless of whether it is actually OCD or not, these issues are obviously causing you distress and are intruding in your life.

I'm sure there will be other people responding to you shortly with some actual day-to-day coping skills (they are wonderful about that here on this board), but a doctor's visit certainly sounds warranted.

Kathrin74 · 05-13-2008, 03:00 AM

First when I read about your fear of rattle snakes I was going to say this sounds more like a specific phobia... but then you mentioned the cleaning and not being able to stop doing things until they feel "right", which does sound like OCD to me.
I agree with the previous replier that it would be good if you could see somebody about this. The important thing is to get the right kind of therapy (cognitive-behavioral, not psycho-analytic).
Also be assured that you are not alone... do not despair. There is help. Welcome to this board!

Kathrin

msd6680 · 05-13-2008, 01:03 PM

The more I look into OCD, the more I realize I do. I know I need to call the doctor, but I feel he may think I am nuts. I didn't know this but hypocondria occurs with OCD? I feel like I am always at the doctor, therefore, don't want to call him anymore if there is something wrong. This whole thing is just so frustrating. I can feel myself wishing it would just go away, so I am trying to ignore it or change subjects or what I am doing. Thanks for you suggestions...

Kathrin74 · 05-13-2008, 01:40 PM

Maybe you could call your doctor and use your frequent visits as a start into the subject... say something like, "you know I am often worried about illnesses... and I have realized that I worry about other things too, to the point where it really interferes with my life and I think I should get help..." Something like that?