Am I being OCD?

Over the past 4-6 weeks, I've picked up this habit that I can't seem to stop. As I move around my apartment, I have to stop and pick up every crumb, piece of lint; every spot I see I have to check to see if it can be picked up or if it's just a mark. It's not just floors, either. Anything on tables or countertops applies, too. I even pick up individual hairs off the bathroom floor.
I realize this is not quite normal behavior, but I don't know whether it's a habit that needs to be looked into.
I'm posting on this forum, even though it's the "OCD Success Stories," because I couldn't find any other place to ask my question.

Hi! Sounds like you are heading in this direction--or perhaps getting very concerned about cleanliness. I think the key factor is whether you get really upset if you can't perform these actions. Try to get your mind on other things, have fun, etc. and see what happens.

Let us know. Okay?

Hi msandsm! I agree with Travelinglady, it depends on how much it causes you stress. How do you feel if you try to resist to this impulse? Do you feel that something bad would happen to you or to your loved ones? If you haven't already, try to resist and see what happens. We are here if you want to talk

Since I first posted my question, it seems the symptoms have gotten worse. Now, instead of just picking up things on the floor, I'm now picking them up from things like furniture, countertops, clothes (even while I'm wearing them!). I'm also now "compulsively" cleaning things. I spent nearly 3 hours yesterday cleaning my kitchen sinks (although, granted, 2 of those hours were spent waiting while the bleach/hot water mix did its thing). Even though it doesn't fit with the classic definition off OCD, it is causing me a LOT of anxiety.
Are there any medications other than SSRIs, which I won't take, to treat this. I've found two others: BuSpar and Anafranil (a TCA).
Please help me.

msandsm,

Here is a link I have found helpful re: types of OCD, see "Contamination" (towards the top) and "Symmetry and Orderliness" (towards the bottom) probably also applies as well: http://www.ocduk.org/types-ocd

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I can relate to what you posted...I clean for several hours a day, plus everything has to be completely organized at all times. (And I hate hair on the bathroom floor!) My OCD has gotten much worse as my anxiety and depression have gotten worse.
I have terrible reactions to psych medications (SSRIs are the worst!) so I haven't found anything to help me. Buspar is certainly something you could try, although often people don't have very good results with it because it just doesn't work that well (it's like taking Tylenol for a migraine). It did nothing for me. Here is a thread re: Buspar: http://forums.psychcentral.com/psych...25-buspar.html

Lyrica and Gabapentin are used to treat overall anxiety, so one of those might be an option for you. You mentioned Anafranil, which would certainly be an option. I tried a few TCAs (not sure if one was Anafranil or not...I have tried so many things it is hard to keep track of them all) but could not deal with the side effects (as usual, for me). A benzodiazepine (like Ativan, Xanax, etc.) might also work well for you. Ativan worked great for me until I built up a tolerance and I couldn't increase my dosage anymore.
Are you considering seeing a psychiatrist, if you aren't already?

CBT is also said to be an effective therapy for OCD International OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Foundation - Medicine Overview, although it hasn't done much for me...everyone is different tho, of course.

Thanks for your input. You mention that depression and anxiety make your OCD worse; I have the opposite reaction: my behavior seriously increase my depression and anxiety. I take Klonopin 1 mg bid, and I've had to double that. By the end of the day I am just mentally and physically exhausted. I have several diagnoses, and lately I've been thinking that death is the only way out. But I wouldn't do that to my (adult) son. I hope.
I was tried on BuSpar quite a few years ago for depression; it was ineffective. I've also been on TCAs. The side effects weren't great, but it helped for several years for depression, so Anafranil might work. I have read that Risperdal, Effexor, and Haldol can also help with OCD. But I already take Thorazine, so I don't think Haldol would be much different.
Anyway, I see my psychiatrist on Wed., so I'll see what he suggests.
Again, thanks for your support. I don't get much, and it feels good.

I saw my psychiatrist yesterday, and he put me on Viibryd for my OCD behaviors. Has anyone tried this, and does it help? I looked it up, and it's basically an SSRI (which I won't take) combined with a serotonin agonist. So not only is your serotonin not being taken up by brain cells, it adds an extra boost of serotonin, providing even more serotonin not being taken up. At least that's my understanding. Has anyone tried it?
Thanks

I decided not to take the Viibryd, simply because it's an SSRI. When I see my psych again next month, I think I'll ask him for Risperdal. Has anyone tried that for OCD?
My behaviors seem to get worse by the day (or at least by the week). I do the same cleaning stuff every day now (bathroom, floors, kitchen, furniture - luckily my apt. is only about 500 sq ft!), but I spend time every day cleaning and organizing the extra things I didn't used to clean. (Of course, most people do this just as part of spring and fall cleaning.) It's funny: everything has to be clean, but for me there's a difference between being clean and being tidy. For example, my bedroom is always very clean, but it's ok to leave my pj's thrown on a chair there. I don't understand that.
Thanks for all your support and well wishes.

Oops - I'm still learning how to use this forum. I meant the heart icon to appear at the end of my reply instead of next to the thread title. Oh well, one of these days I'll figure it all out!

Your comment about the pj's on the chair really hit home with me. My OCD-esque behaviors take precedence over anything else. I can leave a pile of laundry on the floor for days and it becomes invisible, but I have to wash and fold the towels just so. The dishes can pile up in the sink but the labels on the canned goods in the pantry must be facing the same direction. Go figure.

Regarding Risperdal, my mother took it for OCD ruminations, it really did help. Good luck!


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I don't know much about meds, but I wish you all the best msandsm!