[bounceback]

I just got diagnosed with OCD a couple of days ago and have been stressing about talking to my therapist about it. I don't get the compulsions just the intrusive thoughts. They are pretty bad. I am afraid she is going to think I am a horrible person. I want to talk to her about them because I think it will help but I am scared to do so. Anybody have any suggestions for me. I was going to try and talk to her about them last Thursday but she was sick. I have told her a lot of shameful things about me but this is pretty bad.

[Can't Stop Crying]

I have a lot of intrusive thoughts - it is nothing to be ashamed of - I wish I had some suggestions for you, sometimes relaxation and visual imagery works for me, but the best thing you can do is talk to your T about them!

Good Luck!

[sailboat]

What is so bad about this specifically? Why do you feel so bad about it?

[PTSDlovemycats]

I used to have extremely bad OCD in my teens and early 20's. The best advice that I can give ou is to be as open and honest as you can with your T. The psychologist that I saw (not my current T) did extensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which helped me tremendously with my obsessive thoguhts and compulsions. For me I was at the point where I was unable to read and comprehend what I had read as I was in so much distress with my internal obsessive thoughts that I would be counting the words on the pages to escape whatever I was thinking at the time. It took a lot of time and a lot of hardwork but I can now say that I have my love for reading back again! YAY! Your T isn't there to judge you but to help you. Have faith in your T. I hope that you find your T as helpful as mine was for me. One more thing I still occasionally go back to see him for a bit of a tune up when things get bad even though I am seeing my current T. Good luck with overcoming this dibilitaing and painful disorder. It can be done and I believe that you can do it as well!!

[darkrunner]

((((bounceback))))

I'm sorry you're struggling with intrusive thoughts. I've had them and they were extremely disturbing and alarming.

When I am scared to talk to T about something, I've used 2 strategies:
1. Send an email beforehand.
2. Say 'I have something I want to tell you but I am scared' - she always manages to get it out of me.

Remember, your T will not judge you; she is there to help you, and the more you tell her the better she can help you.

Good luck! Let us know what happens!

[PTSDlovemycats]

Just a question, I know you said that you were just recently diagnosed with OCD but how long do you think that you have actually had it for? I know that I had mine for atleast 6 years before it was diagnosed.

[bounceback]

Thanks for your help. I have had it I am guess for at least 18 years and didn't realize it. I don't like talking about these things because like someone mentioned, the thoughts are disturbing that is probably why I never did. I didn't think they were important and for some reason I didn't connect them to OCD. I am relieved though because I mentioned one of them to my psych doctor and she says it is treatable. I am scared to talk to my therapist about them because I am going into more detail with her because I trust her so much. Just really anxious about it. I don't want her to think I would actually do any of the things that I have thoughts about. I don't want her to think I am disgusting. I am embarrassed and feel shame about them. I hope this clears things up. I just want to stop feeling so bad about myself which my psych doctor won't happen until we get this under control with medication and therapy.

[PTSDlovemycats]

Just an idea for you but you can always post in the OCD forum as well. It is worth a try. Just a thought...

Don't mean to sound dumb, but what are intrusive thoughts?

Originally Posted by bounceback

I don't want her to think I would actually do any of the things that I have thoughts about. I don't want her to think I am disgusting. I am embarrassed and feel shame about them.

((((((((bounceback)))))))

Our T's know that our thoughts are just that....thoughts. Thinking about something doesn't mean we will act on it, or that we WANT to act on it. And WE are not our thoughts. YOU are not your thoughts. You are you, and you are having intrusive thoughts that are difficult.

I find that talking about things tends to take away their power. I hope that you find the same is true for you.

[Truth1st]

Hi bounceback, I understand intrusive thoughts, as I began having them ~30 yrs ago at work! I still have them, even w/all the meds I'm on, so I'm still working on finding a med that will quiet them down. My T told me it has to do w/my mood disorder. It's not our fault that these awful thoughts invade our minds & it's not like we can simply control them w/our minds, either. Pls don't be afraid to be totally open w/your T, as the more she knows the real you, the more she can help. And she works for you, so tell her what you need from her. Good luck!

[PTSDlovemycats]

Originally Posted by Squiggle328

Don't mean to sound dumb, but what are intrusive thoughts?

Squiggle you don't sound dumb. I would consider them to be obsessive thoughts that play in your head over and over again and become extremely distracting and can make it difficult to either function or be productive or both.