Who Here Has OCD Tendencies or Related Tendencies?
- Thread starter lorajc
- Start date
Well, my OCD is embarrassing it's so bad. But I will share my story anyway. Since I was around 5 years old, I have pulled out my eyelashes and eyebrows which comes under severe OCD. Every school picture of me from kindergarten until around 14, let's just say I looked pretty weird. I was prescribed Luvox but am afraid to take it. I also wash my hands excessively. Definitely interrupts my life.
Bobbi
Cathlete
Don't be afraid to take it. In a few weeks time, you could see a tremendous difference. I take Wellbutrin and had duscussed switching to Lexapro, when it was recommended for anxiety but my doc likes Wellbutrin which covers dopamine, seratonin and epenphrine, I believe it is called. My brain chemistry is different and that's just the way it is. I don't consider this a problem at all. And it's a boon, in that I don't get sick very often, except for occasional hypochodricky, thinking I am getting sick when I just have alllergies. 
Candi, I would consider both tendancies you describe in your granddaughter fine although I just don't sit, rather than cover. Good for the quads. Lwseymour, don't be embarrassed but, if your life feels disrupted, try the Luvox. I get self-conscious when I am VERY intent on not encountering germs, but overall, I'd rather wash too much than too little. If I am rather hyper aware of the germiness of the world, especially on planes, in movie theater seats and at resturants, well, groovy. I'm happy and relatively well-adjusted. And God, it's disgusting out there. Think of the person driving down the road, picking who then going to the grocery store to touch the produce. He might not wash his hands at all! Wash your vegetables and wash your hands but if it feels overwhelming, it doesn't have to be and medication helps. I find when my life is very stressful, and it does, I get much more germophobic, so exercise and relaxation techniques are a must. But so far I have not wanted to go off my meds because I need them and I fear not taking them more than I feel the stigma of mental illness or brain chemistry dysfunction. I should mention, I also have a history of anorexia, depression and substance abuse. I have struggled between the darkness and the light, and this is much better!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
Candi, I would consider both tendancies you describe in your granddaughter fine although I just don't sit, rather than cover. Good for the quads. Lwseymour, don't be embarrassed but, if your life feels disrupted, try the Luvox. I get self-conscious when I am VERY intent on not encountering germs, but overall, I'd rather wash too much than too little. If I am rather hyper aware of the germiness of the world, especially on planes, in movie theater seats and at resturants, well, groovy. I'm happy and relatively well-adjusted. And God, it's disgusting out there. Think of the person driving down the road, picking who then going to the grocery store to touch the produce. He might not wash his hands at all! Wash your vegetables and wash your hands but if it feels overwhelming, it doesn't have to be and medication helps. I find when my life is very stressful, and it does, I get much more germophobic, so exercise and relaxation techniques are a must. But so far I have not wanted to go off my meds because I need them and I fear not taking them more than I feel the stigma of mental illness or brain chemistry dysfunction. I should mention, I also have a history of anorexia, depression and substance abuse. I have struggled between the darkness and the light, and this is much better! Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
RE: My family just thinks I'm crazy...
LOL Bobbi! Well I'm not washing my hands all the time either, just in specific situations (i.e. after playing with my cat or my two dogs, after cleaning their messes, after handling trash around the house, after going to the bathroom (duh!), etc. that's around the house, if someone around me has the flu I also wash my hands a lot, and after handling money so I think that's the way it's supposed to be.) The OCD tendencies are pretty evident when I'm in a public place though (I don't touch the handles of a bus or a train, I try to hold it in if I have to go and the public bathroom is the only way, and the funniest one ... if I have to take the stairs somewhere I just use my legs and I cross my hands in front like I'm diving just so I don't touch anything):7. But I don't carry purell in my purse yet. My brother is purell obsessed though. This is an interesting thread.
LOL Bobbi! Well I'm not washing my hands all the time either, just in specific situations (i.e. after playing with my cat or my two dogs, after cleaning their messes, after handling trash around the house, after going to the bathroom (duh!), etc. that's around the house, if someone around me has the flu I also wash my hands a lot, and after handling money so I think that's the way it's supposed to be.) The OCD tendencies are pretty evident when I'm in a public place though (I don't touch the handles of a bus or a train, I try to hold it in if I have to go and the public bathroom is the only way, and the funniest one ... if I have to take the stairs somewhere I just use my legs and I cross my hands in front like I'm diving just so I don't touch anything):7. But I don't carry purell in my purse yet. My brother is purell obsessed though. This is an interesting thread.
Bobbi
Cathlete
Rose, only soap and water do it for me. I will pass this on, if you wash your hands for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday, you can be assured, you have gotten good results! A couple of extra refrains may be in order in certain situations, methinks.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
A couple of extra refrains may be in order in certain situations, methinks. Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
candi
Cathlete
Thanks, Bobbi
Problem is, I think a few germs are good for you. Desensitization you know . And, quite frankly, you just can't get away from them.
Actually, I had to giggle when I saw her do this. She was so methodical about it. She said, "Nini, Mom said I have to do this!". She listens to her mother...that's the important thing!
Quad work...you're right, LOL!
Bye Chickie!
Problem is, I think a few germs are good for you. Desensitization you know
. And, quite frankly, you just can't get away from them.Actually, I had to giggle when I saw her do this. She was so methodical about it. She said, "Nini, Mom said I have to do this!". She listens to her mother...that's the important thing!
Quad work...you're right, LOL!
Bye Chickie!
"I have to do everything the same way all the time, even things like the order I do things in the shower. It has to be hair wash, condition, body, face, teeth. If I deviate from that, either I forget to do something, or I feel all out of sorts."
Me too. I think Sydney may be one of us. I was getting her dressed the other day and asked her to go ahead and put her shoes on while I retrieved her shirt out of the clean clothes pile. I told my husband she wouldn't put the shoes on until she had her shirt... that is exactly how she responded. But, I guess most kids thrive on a rountine.
I am AR (anal retentive) too.
Autumn
Me too. I think Sydney may be one of us. I was getting her dressed the other day and asked her to go ahead and put her shoes on while I retrieved her shirt out of the clean clothes pile. I told my husband she wouldn't put the shoes on until she had her shirt... that is exactly how she responded. But, I guess most kids thrive on a rountine.
I am AR (anal retentive) too.
Autumn
carmenelectra
Cathlete
RE: My family just thinks I'm crazy...
>LOL Bobbi! Well I'm not washing my hands all the time
>either, just in specific situations (i.e. after playing with
>my cat or my two dogs, after cleaning their messes, after
>handling trash around the house, after going to the bathroom
>(duh!), etc. that's around the house, if someone around me
>has the flu I also wash my hands a lot, and after handling
>money so I think that's the way it's supposed to be.) The OCD
>tendencies are pretty evident when I'm in a public place
>though (I don't touch the handles of a bus or a train, I try
>to hold it in if I have to go and the public bathroom is the
>only way, and the funniest one ... if I have to take the
>stairs somewhere I just use my legs and I cross my hands in
>front like I'm diving just so I don't touch anything):7. But
>I don't carry purell in my purse yet. My brother is purell
>obsessed though. This is an interesting thread.
I actualy do carry the purell in my purse;-) and everyone around me seems to know it cuz theyll borrow it so it couldnt be too bad. definately agree on the not sitting on the public toilet seat tho - who KNOWS where its been???????
>LOL Bobbi! Well I'm not washing my hands all the time
>either, just in specific situations (i.e. after playing with
>my cat or my two dogs, after cleaning their messes, after
>handling trash around the house, after going to the bathroom
>(duh!), etc. that's around the house, if someone around me
>has the flu I also wash my hands a lot, and after handling
>money so I think that's the way it's supposed to be.) The OCD
>tendencies are pretty evident when I'm in a public place
>though (I don't touch the handles of a bus or a train, I try
>to hold it in if I have to go and the public bathroom is the
>only way, and the funniest one ... if I have to take the
>stairs somewhere I just use my legs and I cross my hands in
>front like I'm diving just so I don't touch anything):7. But
>I don't carry purell in my purse yet. My brother is purell
>obsessed though. This is an interesting thread.
I actualy do carry the purell in my purse;-) and everyone around me seems to know it cuz theyll borrow it so it couldnt be too bad. definately agree on the not sitting on the public toilet seat tho - who KNOWS where its been???????
Bobbi
Cathlete
And you are right too! Remember, I WILL eat although I know the governments standards for the yucky things and I trust them to clean it up and I'll do the rest right here! And I don't use anti-bacterial soap.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
And I don't use anti-bacterial soap. Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
luvtorun
Cathlete
>>>>>>The first time I saw my granddaughter very nicely spreading the toilet paper along a communal toilet and then watched her use her foot to flush the toilet I thought...man, what has my daughter done to her?! Then I realized that my daughter probably inherited some OCD tendencies from me. This made me realize how far I had come from when I was younger. >>>>>
Candi, I do this. I flush with my foot. I don't know if it is an OCD thing for me or not but I know that hands that have touch that handle have not been washed yet and I can't bring myself to touch it even though I know I'll be washing right after. I do grab the handle of the bathroom going out with the papertowel in my hand because I know there are people wiping their rears, getting up and touching that door without washing their hands. I don't think so much HIV but more about hepatitis, the hepatitis virus is viable outside of the body for a much longer period than HIV, I've heard reports of up to a week.
Candi, I do this. I flush with my foot. I don't know if it is an OCD thing for me or not but I know that hands that have touch that handle have not been washed yet and I can't bring myself to touch it even though I know I'll be washing right after. I do grab the handle of the bathroom going out with the papertowel in my hand because I know there are people wiping their rears, getting up and touching that door without washing their hands. I don't think so much HIV but more about hepatitis, the hepatitis virus is viable outside of the body for a much longer period than HIV, I've heard reports of up to a week.