[BeaFlower]

Hi everybody! This is the very first time that I talk about this (except once in the social group) and it's still a bit 'strange' for me...I haven't been diagnosed, but I learnt about OCD almost a year ago studying psychology and I really think to have it. The good news is that I'm doing better now than last year, I'm able to control my compulsion most of the time and I still have some ossessions, but I become less anxious about them. But, of course, I'd like to stop having OCD at all...do you know if it's possible? The problem is that I don't know if I could be 'brave' enought to speak with a therapist, and expecially not with my parents...I would be too embarassed! Expecially if I had to explain well my symptoms. I can say that I feel the need to touch things and to say things in my mind (and to admit it is a lot for me). Does somebody else had/have problems in talking to his family? How did you do? Thanks to everybody who wants to answer, or also only to read my long post

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Hi there, Bea. It took quite a few years to get my dad to understand my OCD, let alone admit to my truly having it. I have the "touch" side of OCD, as well, which is thankfully dampened a lot, compared to how I was; when I was a kid, my OCD was very physical: I had twitched and all sorts; it wasn't pretty. >.< I also have the "saying things in my mind" thing, amongst plenty more, but the point is, I get what you're going through, if at least partly. You're not alone. So many people out there with OCD; it's madness.

It's entirely possible to "get rid" of OCD, but it's not always so simple. CBT is the proven psychological treatment for OCD, at least here in the UK, so I would suggest asking for that. I wouldn't bother with medicine, unless you're aiming to lower anxiety, such as I am, with Propranolol, or perhaps an SSRI for any existing depression, brought on by your OCD.

It's not as weird as you might think. The crap I told my therapist was pretty heavy, and she just shrugged it off like I just told I broke a nail. Your therapist wouldn't be there to judge you; she or he is there to do their job, which is to help you. If all a thera.. doctor does is judge you, then they are of no good to you. Make sure you get a professional that is just that: a professional. It's important you find a psychologist with whom you "click", as it's gonna be pretty pointless being sat with someone you can't stand.

[BeaFlower]

Thank you so much for answering! When I learnt about OCD I also learnt about CBT and I read that you have to rexist to the compulsions also if it causes you anxiety at the beginning, so I began to try rexisting...and now I'm quite able to do it. So, if I tried do the therapy it'd probably work for me. Till a few time ago I'd never had talked with a doctor, now I think that MAYBE I could do it. But the problem is talking with my parents. I couldn't avoid it. So, I don't know if it's better that I make a big effort and I do it or that I remain with a 'little' OCD (compared with before)...now or than I'll have to decide. I have twitches too, I didn't know that the two things could be related. Again, thanks so much for answering, it' beautiful to feel less alone. If also somebody else wants to give me an advice about how I could talk with my family I would be more than happy!

[skyler143]

Hey Bea!
I am also new here( since January), but the support i have received is AWESOME. No matter what, you don't feel judged or alone. I have had ocd for years and mine gets worse as each year goes by. One of the worst parts of mine is the cleaning. I constantly "look" for dirt. I hardly ever sleep, so starting from about one a.m. when i wake up,i am cleaning non stop. ( At least the house stays nice... But, i have had chronic back pain, due to pinched nerves and degenerating discs, for years, so the cleaning does not help that at all. But, when i first talked to my family about my problems, they just brushed it off. My dad was a doctor, and he didn't believe in pdocs or mental illnesses. No matter what, he would just give me a shot or pills and tell me nothing else was wrong. Please, talk to them. And if that doesn't work, then talk to them again. Keep on. You need the love and support you get from friends and family. I never got that. It wasn't until i was 30 and i want in the hospital the first time that i, myself, knew something was not right. My dad had been dead for years, and no matter what, my mom still thinks that i am...... gosh,i still don't even know what she thinks..... but it's alright. It has taken a while, but i know that i am not alone. I am glad to have found this site because i have no friends, so this is who i talk to and i just found an amazing t. Your family will listen. Times have changed. I agree with the person that told you that a good doctor will not judge you, but listen and care. There are a lot of good ones out there, so don't give up or ever feel bad about what's on your mind. Keep us posted.

Sent from my ZTE V768 using Tapatalk 2

[BeaFlower]

Originally Posted by skyler143

Hey Bea!
I am also new here( since January), but the support i have received is AWESOME. No matter what, you don't feel judged or alone. I have had ocd for years and mine gets worse as each year goes by. One of the worst parts of mine is the cleaning. I constantly "look" for dirt. I hardly ever sleep, so starting from about one a.m. when i wake up,i am cleaning non stop. ( At least the house stays nice... But, i have had chronic back pain, due to pinched nerves and degenerating discs, for years, so the cleaning does not help that at all. But, when i first talked to my family about my problems, they just brushed it off. My dad was a doctor, and he didn't believe in pdocs or mental illnesses. No matter what, he would just give me a shot or pills and tell me nothing else was wrong. Please, talk to them. And if that doesn't work, then talk to them again. Keep on. You need the love and support you get from friends and family. I never got that. It wasn't until i was 30 and i want in the hospital the first time that i, myself, knew something was not right. My dad had been dead for years, and no matter what, my mom still thinks that i am...... gosh,i still don't even know what she thinks..... but it's alright. It has taken a while, but i know that i am not alone. I am glad to have found this site because i have no friends, so this is who i talk to and i just found an amazing t. Your family will listen. Times have changed. I agree with the person that told you that a good doctor will not judge you, but listen and care. There are a lot of good ones out there, so don't give up or ever feel bad about what's on your mind. Keep us posted.

Sent from my ZTE V768 using Tapatalk 2

Thank you Skyler! I know, I should talk with them...but I don't know if I could be able to do it...it's embarassing! I know (now) that it's not my fault if I have these symptoms, but it's so difficult to talk about it. Probably they wouldn't judge me, but however I'm embarassed. And there is aslo the problem that they know a person with OCD and his problem is very sever, he neither could work for a period...mine isn't so sever, but they would be very worried to know that I have the same disturb...they are easily worried. And they'd probably remain badly because I didn't want to talk with them. It's difficult...Thank you for the support, really. Maybe we could talk again in future.

[defre]

Hi and welcome!
I think that you shouldn't keep things such as these to yourself. Tell a friend that you trust, or even better - tell a qualified therapist. You'd be surprised how much weight you could lift off your shoulders by just telling someone..

Best wishes!

[SpiralInSpiralOut]

Hi Bea

I know what you mean about it being difficult to talk with your family about it, but it sounds like you really want to talk with them which suggests you think they might be supportive, which is a good sign! Have you ever talked with them about other stuff that you found personal/embarrassing? OCD is quite a unique experience (that's what I've always thought anyway) and probably quite hard to relate to for someone who hasn't ever experienced it, but perhaps you could focus on how you're feeling when you need to do compulsions, during and after etc, rather than going into detail of what exactly it is your doing, as your family might better relate to the feelings and then be able to understand a bit better . I know this might not work for everyone, but I've found it easier to explain how I'm feeling as that was always the underlying reason for my compulsions. I always felt it explained what I was going through a lot better than details of what the compulsions were (although I always found them, themselves, pretty annoying!!!)

Let us know how it goes, if you do decide to talk with them

[BeaFlower]

Originally Posted by defre

Hi and welcome!
I think that you shouldn't keep things such as these to yourself. Tell a friend that you trust, or even better - tell a qualified therapist. You'd be surprised how much weight you could lift off your shoulders by just telling someone..

Best wishes!

Thanks defre!You have reason, sometimes it's weight not to talk...maybe I'll do it now or then...however, also talking with other members here helps me a lot. Thanks for answering!

[BeaFlower]

Originally Posted by SpiralInSpiralOut

Hi Bea

I know what you mean about it being difficult to talk with your family about it, but it sounds like you really want to talk with them which suggests you think they might be supportive, which is a good sign! Have you ever talked with them about other stuff that you found personal/embarrassing? OCD is quite a unique experience (that's what I've always thought anyway) and probably quite hard to relate to for someone who hasn't ever experienced it, but perhaps you could focus on how you're feeling when you need to do compulsions, during and after etc, rather than going into detail of what exactly it is your doing, as your family might better relate to the feelings and then be able to understand a bit better . I know this might not work for everyone, but I've found it easier to explain how I'm feeling as that was always the underlying reason for my compulsions. I always felt it explained what I was going through a lot better than details of what the compulsions were (although I always found them, themselves, pretty annoying!!!)

Let us know how it goes, if you do decide to talk with them

Hi and welcome!You have really understood me, I'd like to talk...maybe it is an improvement. Your idea could be good, but I don't know...I would be embarassed also in this wa...but I'll think about it and I'll decide how to do, if I decide to talk. I think that I could talk with a therapist, because for them it's a 'normal' thing, but with my family...I don't know. Thank you very much for the suggestion! I'll surely let it know to you all if there is some news.

[Sweetart345]

Hey! I'm a very new member of this site and you are not the only person that is embarrassed of speaking about your OCD. I have had it since I was young and its so bad that I've actually been made fun of for it. People don't understand that OCD is a real mental illness. I understand how embarrassing it must be to admit to someone your problems but all you need to do is find you someone you love and trust and tell them what's going on. I've been holding in emotions since I can remember and its only made my OCD that much worse. I have never actually been diagnosed but its pretty evident that I have OCD combined with extreme anxiety. It might be tough at first, but talking to someone about it and getting help will pay off in the end.

[BeaFlower]

Originally Posted by Sweetart345

Hey! I'm a very new member of this site and you are not the only person that is embarrassed of speaking about your OCD. I have had it since I was young and its so bad that I've actually been made fun of for it. People don't understand that OCD is a real mental illness. I understand how embarrassing it must be to admit to someone your problems but all you need to do is find you someone you love and trust and tell them what's going on. I've been holding in emotions since I can remember and its only made my OCD that much worse. I have never actually been diagnosed but its pretty evident that I have OCD combined with extreme anxiety. It might be tough at first, but talking to someone about it and getting help will pay off in the end.

Thank you so much for answering! In this period sometimes I think that I really can say it, sometimes I feel that I can't...I don't know. My symptoms aren't so sever now, so sometimes I think that it's not worth to talk about it despite my embarrassment...but I'd like to say it, expecially for the satisfaction to have won the embarassment. Thanks for reminding me that I'm not alone.