question Does anybody here deal with obsessive compulsive behaviors? If I don't drink at all, I'm fine, but if I have one drink, I have to have another. It's a numbers thing. Everything has to end in even numbers. If I have three drinks, I gotta have a fourth. I do this with everything. If I lock my door, I have to check it twice. If I set my alarm, I have to at least check it twice. Everything has to be in even numbers. I have broken faucets and locks on doors checking and re checking them. I broke the door to my car because of this. I have to turn lights on and off an even number. I know it's an anxiety thing. I take medication that is suppose to help with this. I know if I don't drink this is no big problem, just an annoyance, but it is still tough to deal with. John |
I've not got OCD but I know some do. Another good reason not to drink I guess John? D |
I've dealt with some OCD along with anxiety John, the two often go hand in hand. Have you ever spoken to a counselor about it? Regarding drinking, if you keep your goal set to zero drinks you'll never need to worry about it anyway, right? |
Actually, my question was about how people deal with OCD, not specifically just the drinking issue, but I get your point. Yes, I have brought this issue up with several counselors but they don't see it as a big issue. John |
I know this will sound nuts, cause it is, but the number 0 makes no sense to me. Got to have a number. It's like not going to the gym means 0 and that of course makes no sense. So I have to go at least once, which means having to go twice to even it out. Then three than four etc. It's a big deal for me to have an even number of workouts by the end of the month. Even the numbers on the machines (miles covered, calories burned) need to end in even numbers. This is just an example. Wierd, I know, but that's the way it is. LOL. |
Originally Posted by 2muchpain
(Post 6746526)
I know this will sound nuts, cause it is, but the number 0 makes no sense to me. Got to have a number. It's like not going to the gym means 0 and that of course makes no sense. So I have to go at least once, which means having to go twice to even it out. Then three than four etc. It's a big deal for me to have an even number of workouts by the end of the month. Even the numbers on the machines (miles covered, calories burned) need to end in even numbers. This is just an example. Wierd, I know, but that's the way it is. LOL. |
There are several ways to deal with OCD. Commonly, this is done with dual therapy between medication and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). It takes time and patience. |
Originally Posted by Hope1989
(Post 6746601)
There are several ways to deal with OCD. Commonly, this is done with dual therapy between medication and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). It takes time and patience. |
Other than the OCD, I'm a pretty normal guy. Better off than many people. All in all, feel pretty lucky to be me. Don't have the more serious problems other people have. John |
John, I hear you, and it does sound like it can be draining and time consuming. I know of someone who is worse off, ie: can never get to work on time, but I think any level of OCD is tiring. You're right that the CBT and medication are probably helping you. Do you find that, if you try to resist, things get worse or better? |
Originally Posted by Anna
(Post 6746749)
John, I hear you, and it does sound like it can be draining and time consuming. I know of someone who is worse off, ie: can never get to work on time, but I think any level of OCD is tiring. You're right that the CBT and medication are probably helping you. Do you find that, if you try to resist, things get worse or better? Other's are just stupid little things that I could probably ignore such as opening and closing my window shades twice. Now, if I don't check my car when I leave to make sure the lights are off, the music is turned off, or the doors are locked, then I have to go back and check these things. Otherwise, it will drive me crazy. As far as getting to work on time, I have to get up early to allow time to go through my rituals before leaving for work. It usually takes me 10 minutes to check, re check and check again and again everything before I leave for work. I could probably go to to work without going through all this and forget all this stuff, but the anxiety at the time is so strong, I don't feel I have a choice. What's really wierd is that if I feel down and depressed, I don't care about all this stuff. Being depressed actually helps with the OCD. Go figure. John |
PS. If I actually worked hard on my compulsions, I could probably eliminate most of it. The wierd thing is that sometimes I'll do something and know that that's gonna be another compulsion. When that happens, I can usually catch it and make sure it doesn't become another problem. OCD is just a strange problem. Personally, I think it comes from my abusive childhood when things were always in flux. Never knew when I was gonna be beaten and when that happened, rarely knew why. I think it's a control thing. Knowing what to expect. Not big on surprises now, if that makes sense. John |
Originally Posted by 2muchpain
(Post 6746879)
PS. If I actually worked hard on my compulsions, I could probably eliminate most of it. The wierd thing is that sometimes I'll do something and know that that's gonna be another compulsion. When that happens, I can usually catch it and make sure it doesn't become another problem. OCD is just a strange problem. Personally, I think it comes from my abusive childhood when things were always in flux. Never knew when I was gonna be beaten and when that happened, rarely knew why. I think it's a control thing. Knowing what to expect. Not big on surprises now, if that makes sense. John I'm sure you already know alcohol isn't good for these things but I think it actually caused mine. I used to feel like some dark force was chasing me and I tried to stay ahead of it but always had this feeling of impending doom and the axe could fall at any moment. I don't feel like that anymore. I can relate to how you felt as a child and I think that made me hyper aware which is almost like a constant state of fight or flight. Maybe the drinking and the rituals were a way of trying to neutralize that arousal state. It's taken awhile but now that I have my self respect back I feel safe. I'm always impressed by your nature John. You really do have a good attitude realizing that your situation is workable and not using it as a reason to stay put. |
i have OCD religious obsessions , blasphemous thoughts pure O etc sometimes my thoughts get stuck on the one thing am thinking about or on one subject i also rock and back and forth when am upset or anxious |
Silentrun, Thanks for your input. Many years ago, I used to blame my past, especially the problems I had to deal with as a child as a reason for my problems. Eventually that gets old and I realized that that gets old and keeps me stuck in the same poor me cycle. I used that for a long time as an excuse to behave the way I did. I try to take responsibility for my actions today. My past has nothing to do with what goes on with me today. Any OCD issues I have today that might stem from problems I had to endure as a kid has nothing to do with the choices I make today. Everybody has baggage from their past. I think everybody has the choice of dragging that baggage around with them or throwing it in the dumpster where it belongs and move on. I think every day we wake up as a new person. John |
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