I suffer depression,ocd in the harming thoughts catergory,severe anxiety,panic attacks etc etc etc!!Pretty miserable huh??? Been suffering for a couple of years and STILL not got enough courage to visit the GP.
I'm posting to see if anyone has made a complete recovery,Is it possible? I read somewhere this guy had been suffering for THIRTY YEARS!!Which scared me cos the only thing which gets me through is looking at this thing as a 'Temporary Illness'Even though I've had it two years ;-)?????
Would love to hear some recovery stories,If there are any?
I am sorry you are going through all this stuff. I know you mentioned that you haven't got the courage to visit the GP.
Think about it: what is worse having these agonizing symptoms that you have or just going to a psychologist to get help? I know also that there are many medications that can curb your panic attacks and ocd.
I happened to suffer horribly years ago with panic attacks. I have gotten completely over them (haven't had on in about 10 years). And, now, like you, I am dealing with ocd.
I truly think though, that as one having both of these illnesses, panic attacks are far worse as they can more readily completely debilitate a person enough to even make them housebound. They also have a horrible physical effect on people.
As far as your harming obsessions go, I would suggest reading Edna Foa's book on "Stop Obsessing". There was a fellow in there who had these about his daughter. Normally, what is prescribed is that you sit down and write or record all of the repercussions that would happen to you if you actually did something like that. An example would be: "I am sitting here in Court ready to be convicted. My family and friends all look at me like I am a dirtbag. My name is in all the newspapers. I will go to jail where I will probably be abused and then I will go to hell and be damned forever, etc. etc. You can write paragraphs! In fact, the more you write, the better! You then would read or listen to this OVER AND OVER. Maybe for a few hours each day for a weeks or months. If the thoughts come back, you simply do the exercise again.
As far as a complete recovery. Everyone is different. Some people have had ocd since childhood. Some people (like myself) probably had miniscule portions of ocd in childhood and then it escalated in my 30's I have had it severely for about 8 years now, but I can actually see it going down a great deal in the last year. Some people have completely recovered from it. They probably have outbreaks here and there, but it is not to the extent it was.
It is very important to really understand this illness. I would read books on it, go to support group meetings, go to a psychologist, and a psychiatrist if you need any meds.
[This message has been edited by fm5 (edited 10-05-2003).]
With recovery, do you mean spontaneous recovery, or recovery with the help of therapy or medications?
In my case, I am on Prozac now, but it has really pretty much turned my life back to "normal" - after I had suffered for many many years.
You don't have to take meds if you don't want to, cognitive-behavioral therapy works too. I would recommend the book "Brain Lock" by Jeffrey M.Schwartz. It explains some exercises you can even do yourself. Most people do better when they go for help though, anf if you feel you are suffering, I can tell you, it is SOOOO worth it. Putting it off too long is just a waste.
Hi there. I must say that I feel you should definetely go and see a psychologist. I suffered quietly for 5 years with my OCD, and my main problem was violent thoughts as well. I also suffer with anxiety with my breathing. I am 21 and I remember my first OCD attack hit me in eigth grade. It was five years later until I went to a psychologist. I went in there knowing that he was going to lock me up because of my thoughts and tell me I was dangerous, but after I told him everything that had been wrong for the previous five years he calmy said you have OCD, you are not crazy and certainly not violent. I cannot stress how amazing I felt, for the first time in five years I was able to admit what was going on, and also for the first time in five years I did not feel hopeless and crazy. I am sure one of the reasons you have not gone is because you are ashamed of admitting your intrusive thoughts, but I assure you it is the best way to over come them. One of the main things my doctor did for me was to take away the fear, so even when the thoughts came I could say this is an illness, it is not ME, and so the thoughts did not have as much power. There is definetely a chance for your life to ease, but you really need to get help, so you won't suffer for 30 years! Best wishes.
I know a guy who recovered and erased OCD for once and forever...he shoot his brain out. I know it's not very...beautiful, but it as resulted.
For me, myself and i been suffering for this since child but for the last five years its gotten to severe level...
I have an escape that i don't encourage nobody to do but with me results, since im an addicted self cutter, while i'm cutting myself i can forget for some minuts OCD because the fisical pain calls out my brain to other directions, ence fooling OCD for a while...has i said, i'm a severe OCD patient addicted to cutting myself up and provocating fisical pain in my body...
I don't recomend this to nobody...
I also have another " drug " that makes me always feel better...music, so i spend the entire day with music wherever i go...
I also know that lobotomy solves OCD.
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Trust me it's paradise...
[This message has been edited by PauloSRS (edited 10-17-2003).]
ocd and complete recovery? 
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