How do I deal with my OCD?

Question:

As most people with OCD, I have had it since I was a young child. For the past several years I have mostly struggled with getting ready for events, especially work. I put on a dress, but I dont feel that its professional enough. I imagine myself going to work and being sent home for not looking professional enough. So, I change outfits at LEAST 15 times. Then I go to work, and the entire day I feel anxious and nervous because I dont feel that my clothes are appropriate for the job. Please tell me how I can get over this w/o medications.

Answers:
I am bipolar with mild OCD, My husband is currently hospitalized from a more severe case of the same problems. I can't stress enough how important it is to get help for this sooner rather than later, believe it or not it can get WAY worse than your current situation. Don't wait until you lose the job or trash your house or hurt yourself to get help. The bad news is mental health is decades or even centuries behind physical health, so our treatment options are somewhat limited. Often behavioral or cognitive therepy can be extremely effective, even without drugs. If you don't have a psychologist, get one ASAP.

Is there a reason you don't want to use medication? No one WANTS to use drugs if they are unnessasary, but I wonder if the anxiety about drugs is really worse than the anxiety we feel due to the compulsions. Today's drugs are compartively safer and often have fewer side effects - my only side effect from the drug I have been on for 7 years now is a mildly increased number of cavities. Even if you do decide to use drugs, talk therepy is still and important step. If you have trouble affording it, call some local churches, they often have a marrage and family counselor on staff who will take a lower payment. If you have insurance - your therepy, should be covered. A good therepist should be able to help you explore non-drug options for your particular issues. I reccomend you read up on it for yourself as well. All the information the doctors have is availible to you at the library and online. Know the DSMV-IV definition and the American Psyciatric Association's Treament Guidlines for your condition. Go to a NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)class. You can find all of these online. Always remember, this trouble is not because you are stupid or lack will power.

One idea for this compulsion, create a "uniform" for work. If you are close to anyone there, and feel you can share this with them, you might even take them shopping with you. If you wear the same one or two things every day, you will know you won't be sent home, because you weren't yesterday. Many "normal" professionals do this, just changing the scarf or necklace and wearing basically the same thing every day. It saves a fortune in wardrobe costs, and it has worked for me before. Even if it works, this is a temporary fix - you need to have a therepist to help you work through the inevitable future compulsions. Goodness, I sound like my mother.

That is all I can think of for now. Just talk, talk, talk. Nothing fights stigma and shame like communication. Get as many positive, sane friends to put good thoughts in your head as you can. It will give you a mental army to fight the bad thoughts. May God bless you with an easier road in the future.

Other Answers:
It would be hard without medications! But you can make a check list, and/or have your clothes ready the night before. That way you'll have a little extra time to be able to find out whether, it looks professional enough. But if you worry the more about looking professional, the more it'll show up as, others might notice, by the way you act, or they may think you are just weird, when you just have OCD.

you can't. I don't think. You're messed up. unless you try REALLY REALLY hard, not gonna work without meds. you cuold try setting your outfit the night b4. do your normal routine, changes clothes and leave. LEAVE IT ALONE.

I suffered from OCD when I was in college. I refused to to take medication because of headaches, sleepiness, and weight gain. Instead I went to see a therapist that helped me get through a lot of my episodes. If you don't want to take medication I highly recommend a therapist and see how well it works for you.

Meds will not cure OCD, they will numb your symptoms, but at the same time inhibit your natural healing, so meds actually prolong OCD. Cognitive-behavioral therapies may help OCD, but only when your level of anxiety is low or non virtually existent. You first need to work on your anxiety, tackle the issue at its root cause. There are several techniques and natural products that help with anxiety and hence OCD. Inositol has been proven in some studies to be effective. Also distraction on a global scale (job /apartment change, etc.) helps. Your need to rewire your brain so that your sub-conscious doesn't send your these thoughts anymore and you feel comfortable. Stay positive and regard your OCD as a gift for you to learn and grow. Do a search in Yahoo on "natural cure ocd". Once you calm your anxiety, you are not OCD free yet, then you need to work on the OCD part by exposing yourself naturally more to exactly what your OCD is telling you to avoid. I stress the word "naturally". Do not do any forced exposure therapies, they will just bring back your anxiety. Also take vitamin B12 for calming. If in stress situation, try passionflower tea, it is very good for calming.

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How do I deal with my OCD?

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