I'm desperate - Please help me: Re: OCD and stubborn people

» ImitationCrab - Re: OCD and stubborn people

In response to message posted by maber:

Hi. I'm 22 years old and have had OCD since around age 7. Your symptoms are real and normal for OCD. The symmetry obsession is evidently very common for people with OCD... I used to have that obsession myself.

Some tips:

Don't confuse your OCD with your religion. Don't let people make things worse by telling you to 'turn for God' for the answers -- because your conception of God will just get interwoven with your OCD... if God exists, that's NOT what he'd want, right?

Don't obsess about defeating your obsessions. In the 'advanced stages' of confronting the disease, I found that I used to obsess over remembering the various realizations I came to -- ideas as to how to beat OCD... then THOSE became my new obsessions and remembering them by reciting them became my compulsion. This is all just a horrible maze that you CAN escape from.

Here's what to do. (1) Don't worry if your parents don't believe you at first. When they realize you're truly unhappy they'll know you're not faking it... and even if they think you just want attention, they should acknowledge that you have a problem that needs work. So be calm for the time being. (2) By all means talk to a professional psychiatrist -- a GOOD one... they'll walk you through your symptoms and help 'rationalize' the disease for you-- once you know that what you have is REAL, that's half the battle. (3) Understand this point, but don't obsess about remembering it-- it's logical and will come naturally: IT DOESN'T MATTER. Symmetry? It doesn't matter. Excessive cleanliness? It doesn't matter. Think of life as fun, interesting and of OCD as a distraction... your temptation is to feel you'll be 'punished' if you don't follow the 'rules' your OCD has laid out for you. I used to think I'd go to hell if I didn't give in to OCD... but now I know that's ridiculous... what God would make the passage to Heaven dependent on a disease? It doesn't matter. OCD dresses up ordinary concerns and ideas we all have in passing and makes them seem HORRIBLY IMPORTANT... but they aren't. It might occur to you that it's very important to have perfect symmetry, for example -- but stop, take a deep breath and ask yourself: Is it REALLY important? and why? -- does the answer sound irrational? ridiculous? does it really matter anymore? If you don't have perfect symmetry and you don't WORRY about having it, I promise you that you won't turn into a pumpkin. God is not a disease.

That's my advice. It's worked well for me... but everyone's different, which is why it's best to see a professional who is willing to work with you and who really cares. In the meantime, try to let the bad thoughts go and try not to obsess about beating the obsessions -- let thoughts and realizations and wants and needs come naturally; never force it.

All the best, Justin Weaver.

-- posted by ImitationCrab