Obsessive compulsive disorder.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Essex, England.
Posts: 22
Obsessive compulsive disorder.
I'm curious if anyone here has obsessive compulsive disorder? I'm not sure of the prevalence among addicts, but I personally have it.
At points in my life it's been highly debilitating (the worst pre-drinking, as a teenager), however after losing the excess anxiety from alcoholic drinking/withdrawal I have it far more under control these days!
Anyway, any other sufferers on here?
At points in my life it's been highly debilitating (the worst pre-drinking, as a teenager), however after losing the excess anxiety from alcoholic drinking/withdrawal I have it far more under control these days!
Anyway, any other sufferers on here?
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
I have OCD tendencies (more to obsessively think, than to compulse) and I do believe that many alcoholics tend to have some level of OCD...or that has been my experience. Frankly I think my alcoholism is a type of OCD....I obessively think about alcohol, I compulse by drinking it. My father is an alcoholic and he most definitely has OCD's, He has trichotillomania for example...amongst other things. For me this is all driven by anxiety. And the booze, at least at first, cures the anxiety and relieves the OCD. But of course, after a while, it only makes the anxiety far worse.
The key for me is to treat my anxiety. I do this through exercise, yoga, gardening, basically all forms of physical activity. Proper diet, no sugar. Lots of sleep. What I need to add is healthier, and more, connections with other humans. But I suck at that so its hard.
The key for me is to treat my anxiety. I do this through exercise, yoga, gardening, basically all forms of physical activity. Proper diet, no sugar. Lots of sleep. What I need to add is healthier, and more, connections with other humans. But I suck at that so its hard.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Essex, England.
Posts: 22
Thanks for the interesting reply Frickaflip.
Your last paragraph about your ways of dealing with anxiety are like a mirror image of me haha, gardening, sleep and most important for me has been a healthy diet (I used to be obese), though i've only in the last month cut out the last tiny bits of added sugar from my diet.
Thought-provoking way of looking at your drinking as like a form of OCD, thanks again.
Your last paragraph about your ways of dealing with anxiety are like a mirror image of me haha, gardening, sleep and most important for me has been a healthy diet (I used to be obese), though i've only in the last month cut out the last tiny bits of added sugar from my diet.
Thought-provoking way of looking at your drinking as like a form of OCD, thanks again.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Essex, England.
Posts: 22
Originally Posted by soberwolf 
I used to suffer with OCD have you spoke to a Dr about this ?
Thanks for your post, it's made me realise I probably should follow up in this in particular now i've been sober for a while.
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Join Date: Mar 2016
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I haven't been formally diagnosed with OCD, but my therapist says that it seems I used my addiction in an OCD way to run away from my feelings.
I'm still struggling with that now. My OCD tendencies aren't in stuff we hear about like compulsive hand-washing, but in compulsive thinking. It's draining.
I'm still struggling with that now. My OCD tendencies aren't in stuff we hear about like compulsive hand-washing, but in compulsive thinking. It's draining.
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: CA.....Hometown : Sioux Falls
Posts: 2,624
I think I was born with it. As a child I did repetitious things and had extreme anxiety and would obsess about things. I bit my nails until they bled and had to be perfect about everything. A lot of that disappeared when I first tasted alcohol and it continued to help me with the habits.
I googled (wikkipedia)serotonin last night because I'm just off Prozac. I was surprised to see that it's mostly in the body and not the brain. Also that low levels cause obsession. There was an example that falling in love causes a drop in serotonin and creates obsession. I can relate to that.
I googled (wikkipedia)serotonin last night because I'm just off Prozac. I was surprised to see that it's mostly in the body and not the brain. Also that low levels cause obsession. There was an example that falling in love causes a drop in serotonin and creates obsession. I can relate to that.
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: New England
Posts: 155
I have OCD tendencies not related to alcohol, though- my birth mother used to gaslight me so bad, I had no clue what reality was, so I wouldn't believe my own self- like, "Did I shut off the stove? Let me go check 22 times"... Drinking actually calmed my OCD behavior... kind of numbed the obsession...
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 30
I have never been formally diagnosed with OCD, but I'm 100% sure I have it. I'm a chronic hand washer. If I touch something that my brain has labeled "dirty," it's like my mind completely locks up and won't let me think of anything else until I wash my hands.
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 59
I've been seeing a clinical psychologist for anxiety and he says I have OCD. OCD is an anxiety disorder actually. He says I should take Luvox which is an anti depressant specific for treating OCD. Right now I'm just taking lorazepam. Has anyone taken Luvox?
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Nashville, TN
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I'm not familiar with Luvox, but I just looked it up. I read a few anecdotal reports, and it looks like some people are doing well on it while with others it's actually making their OCD worse. Kind of hit and miss, I guess.
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