[GeeN]

Do most people with OCD obsess about things that do not occur in their own lives? Infidelity has not happened in my life or in the lives of those closest to me as far as I know. So it is a mystery that I have this. I know that what I read does not seem to matter in the scheme of things because I am not doing these things, but it has become an unwelcome part of my life for nearly a year now. Anyways, why does the OCD attach itself to certain areas that have nothing to do with my life and sometimes areas that have to do with my life like religion?

[Perna]

It's easier to have "imaginary" problems that can't come true than to have to face and deal with ones that are actually in our lives?

When my husband would go away on business, I had to stay up all night because I didn't want to be surprised when the rapists, murderers, pillagers and burners showed up :-) I was sure they were lurking outside my house and knew my husband wasn't home and were going to get me.

While it's possible that there were robbers out there waiting until 1:30 a.m. to come in and scare me :-) it was extremely unlikely? But my thinking and feeling were preoccupied with these "imaginary" problems until around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. I'd feel that it was late enough in the morning for them to have gone home to their own beds and I could turn out the light and go to sleep myself. I often had to take the next day off work, etc. So, what was I NOT thinking about?

My husband had left me. He was away from me and I missed him. Something might happen to him or me while we were apart. My mother died when I was 3 and what would happen to me if something happened to my husband? I'm alone, can I take care of myself? I'm afraid I'm not able to take care of myself. Etcetera and so on.

The last paragraph were very real fears of mine and possibilities! But I didn't want to look at those, deal with my feelings about them? My head, instead (sorry :-) came up with less likely robbers and bad guys to worry about and made them "strong" enough to override the real thoughts and worries.

You doing something like that? What are your "real" fears? :-) Isn't it "easier" to worry about other people and problems that aren't likely in your own life?

[Cyran0]

GeeN. It was hard for me to understand how I had OCD when, a few rituals aside, I didn't do many of the stereotypical things you see in movies and things. Evidentally, the way I can obsess about things is a big part of the diagnosis. What you're describing doesn't sound too foreign to me.

Cyran0

[scott88keys]

GeeN,
My OCD is pure obsessional at this point in it's progress. The obsessions are things I really wouldn't do or address in real life, but it is connected to my childhood and issues with my father growing up. Have you read BRAIN LOCK? Many people have obsessions about things they wouldn't do in real life, like moms worrying about hurting their child, or people worried they've run over a body, etc. Many times there is a connection to an issue in their past. But the point in therapy isn't really to discuss the specific topic of the obsession. The point in therapy and dail life is to work on not reacting to the obsessions--cognitive behavior therapy.

[AAAAA]

GeeN,

I am another person that was surprised with the dx OCD (family and friends, not so surprised). I did not have the stereotypical obsession with germs and cleaning. I simply like things to be done the “right” way. That happens to be my way and I have a logical explanation for every single one.

The only thing that did convince me that I had this disorder was when the doctor asked about different thoughts. Gratefully I do not suffer from the sexual obsessions, but I was very shocked to discover that I was not the only one that thought by forgetting one small thing, a bizarre chain of events would happen and my husband would die in a car accident on the way home from work.

Logically I knew that forgetting to give him a message wouldn’t mean that he’d answered his cell phone as a deer was crossing the road and he was turning a corner and the sun was shining in his eyes and he wouldn’t see the semi in the oncoming lane. That was one of the more reasonable and possible scenarios. But the fear is still very real.

It did make me feel better though to know that this is a component of the illness. The thoughts still come, and they still scare me, but there is still a little part of my brain that says “it’s all part of your illness, it won’t happen.” So even though I’m scared to death, there is a little hope in the back of my mind that makes me feel a bit better.