OCD, maybe? What do you think?

Question:

When I was younger I remember trying to make both sides of my body even, like if I stepped on a colored tile with half of my foot I'd find another one to do the same with. Also, when I go to the store I have to take the thing I have a good feeling about, because another one could be broken. When I got older I started to learn about homosexuality and then I had this fear that if I stood the wrong way, looked at someone, said something wrong that they would think I was either gay or a pedophile,. I thought the evenness thing was normal, but the whole looking at someone the wrong way was just annoying me. This year I feel like that these symptoms have gradually gotten worse, people can’t even touch me anymore because I’ll have to fix the other side of my body. I talked to my psychiatrist and she said I have OCD symptoms and then asked if I wanted to take medecations to help with it, but I wanted to know if I truely had it. So what do you think? Is there anyone else like me? Thanks.

Answers:
Sounds like OCD to me, however, you need to see a psychiatrist or therapist specializing in OCD to get a formal diagnosis. From my experience of working with people with OCD it sounds like there is a very good possibility that this is what's going on. The primary symptom of OCD is anxiety and it sounds like by trying to prevent yourself from the compulsive behavior you are experiencing a lot of anxiety. OCD sufferers can appear to demonstrate paranoid behavior as a result of the anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

OCD can be effectively treated with medications in addition to Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy, especially if this is conducted in a group setting.

Best of luck to you.

You have symptoms of OCD. I think your psychiatrist is right. Would you consider taking medication? Medication has helped me a lot.

I think you should lend some of that massive mental energy from your super ego to your Id and party a bit, you don't have to be right and even all the time, you have a fear that you will not be expected into society but that is not totally true.
take a vacation and let it go .

i have similair things when i walk through school i have to touch a colored tile with the opposite foot within 5 steps or else i have to turn around and rewalk the streach of hallway, when i build models if one side gets messed up i have to tear it apart and restart from the begining i also havea cousin she is diagnosed OCD she has to have the saem scedule every day eat with teh same plate every day and other such things i live my life without the meds and whether or not u do is ur choice and only urs i hope this helped if u have any more questions e-mail me

Possibly. Since you are so aware of it though, you may be able to mentally overcome these impulses. Talk with your Psych about way to try this yourself, without medication first, and agree to try the medication you reach a certain point where you cannot control the impulses.
Remember- when you go to a Psychiatrist, they are going to prescribe meds. That is what they are trained to do. Its a little more foreign to them to try something else before meds, so if you want to try to stay off the meds, you will need to champion this idea, dont expect them to take the lead.

What do you mean when you have to fix the other side of your body? Like if someone touches you with one hand, does someone have to be touching your other side?

OCD is obsessive compulsive disorder. Obsessive thoughts and mental intrusions. Compulsions that you MUST do to relieve or relax your obsessive thoughts and anxieties. OCD is an anxiety disorder. For instance, if you had to turn a light on and off three times, but someone distracted you or prevented you from doing it, say, the second time, you'd become mentally distraught. Your mind would focus completely on that light switch and you would get anxious. . with anxiety.

With the gay thing, that doesn't really make sense. . That sounds more like paranoia. Because you must have a sense of compulsions that you act out, do or say, in order to relieve some sort of obsessive and intrusive thought.

I have OCD, but it's with my appearance. I see a therapist, and she has helped me greatly. I'm still a work in progress, but there is progress. I would say you do have a form of OCD, but that is why I dislike psychiatrist's. There theory for fixing something is quick lets put you on drugs. I don't think you need medication, just an understanding why and how you got this way. It does get worse. Mine as well started when I was younger. I know why though thanks to my therapist. I was a child of physical and mental abuse. I didn't realize how it affected me till I moved away 3 years ago and seen a therapist. It is completely up to you on how you want to deal with it. I do think you have it and it will get worse. I don't think medication is the answer for everything though. Good luck to you and best wishes. If you need to talk you can always talk to me. Take care of yourself.

OCD, maybe? What do you think?

Health Resources