i need advice as at the moment i feel like i`m going mad. well my problem is that for example whenever i want to leave the house i cant just walk out and lock the door i have to check that everything is switched of and that the fridge door is shut and the oven door etc etc plus i for some reason have to continually turn the t.v on and off and the same with the computer this is all before i can leave the house and then when i lock the front door i have to check its locked maybe ten times and i even unlock it and lock it again and then i can be half way down the road and then i have to come back and check it again, its getting that bad that sometimes i`m late for work. also i cant just park my car and leave it, i have to check that its locked and that the lights are switched and again i lock and unlock the door many times. please tell me that i`m not going mad. a freind suggested that i might have OCD. thankyou. Dom
have i got OCD? symptoms of my problems
#2 Guest_Guest_*
Posted 05 October 2004 - 09:51 AM
Watch the video, "As Good As It Gets," and then see what you think. It stars Jack Nicholson, and is several years old...maybe 5 or 6. He does the same things as you are doing...and is a great video.
#5 Guest_Guest_*
Posted 05 October 2004 - 08:20 PM
I haven't had OCD professionally diagnosed, by I know I suffer from it. From what you are saying it does sound like you have an obsessive disorder. Actually, everyone demonstrates compulsive behaviour in almost everything they do - because we are creatures of habit - but most of this goes unchecked, and is not serious. If one is skilled at something (think of driving) they simply possess a combination of useful compulsive habits, that they perform without thinking.
It becomes a problem, though, when we develop habits that tend to dominate certain aspects of our day to day lives. I noticed I always dried myself after a shower in exactly the same way, and always do the washing up in the same overly thorough way. But that's OK, I can deal with that. However, I cannot get up in the morning without having to wash my hair, my neck and ears! It would be unthinkable to me to put on a clean shirt without having washed and put on deodorant. These things are a big deal because they affect my life. I would never EVER go camping in a tent, for example, because of the possibility of having to put on clothes from the day before, or not be able to splash water on my hands and face after every meal that I eat. I would, of course, love to go camping in a tent, but my problem is distressing enough to keep me from going. Sound silly? Well that's what compulsive disorders do. So basically, if it bugs you to the point you're making excuses for your "strange" behaviour, its a problem.
It becomes a problem, though, when we develop habits that tend to dominate certain aspects of our day to day lives. I noticed I always dried myself after a shower in exactly the same way, and always do the washing up in the same overly thorough way. But that's OK, I can deal with that. However, I cannot get up in the morning without having to wash my hair, my neck and ears! It would be unthinkable to me to put on a clean shirt without having washed and put on deodorant. These things are a big deal because they affect my life. I would never EVER go camping in a tent, for example, because of the possibility of having to put on clothes from the day before, or not be able to splash water on my hands and face after every meal that I eat. I would, of course, love to go camping in a tent, but my problem is distressing enough to keep me from going. Sound silly? Well that's what compulsive disorders do. So basically, if it bugs you to the point you're making excuses for your "strange" behaviour, its a problem.
#6
dom 
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Posted 05 October 2004 - 08:35 PM
its certainly afecting my life if not taking over my life, because if i want to go anywhere i hav to leave earlier because i know that it will take me ages to convince myself that everything is closed, shut, and switched off and that the front door is locked, it is the same whether i`m going out for an hour or 8 hours.
the scary thing for me is that i tell myself to stop this but its like i`m not in control and i cant stop
there are certain things that i have to do everyday like the hoovering, if i dont do them even tho they dont need doing i just cant relax
like u said its unthinkable not to do these things
the scary thing for me is that i tell myself to stop this but its like i`m not in control and i cant stop
there are certain things that i have to do everyday like the hoovering, if i dont do them even tho they dont need doing i just cant relax
like u said its unthinkable not to do these things
#7 Guest_Guest_*
Posted 06 October 2004 - 01:42 AM
So what do YOU think you should do about this? I think you have answered your own question...see what Benjamin says....
#9 Guest_Guest_*
Posted 06 October 2004 - 09:45 AM
Are you afraid of doctors? Or are you afraid of what the doctor might think of you? Or are you afraid of his/her diagnosis? Or are you afraid that the doctor will think you are crazy? Or are you afraid of the doctor's fees?
Why are you afraid to go? That is the issue, I think. Can you write down why you are afraid? Then maybe it will become clear about your hesitancy to get relief.
Best Wishes
Why are you afraid to go? That is the issue, I think. Can you write down why you are afraid? Then maybe it will become clear about your hesitancy to get relief.
Best Wishes
#10 Guest_Guest_*
Posted 06 October 2004 - 11:37 AM
Maybe you're worried a doctor might say there's nothing wrong with you, and you should stop moaning? I must admit that's often made me hesitate about going to the doctors. You see, if we can prove to ourselves (by seeing the doctor) that we DO have a problem, then we can stop feeling like there's something wrong with us as a person. It becomes a seperate, less personal issue that we can deal with and treat. But if, God forbid, the doctor says there's nothing wrong with us and we're making it up, then there must REALLY be something wrong with us! Er, that probably doesn't make the slightest bit of sense. I'm basically saying that you want to feel alright, but you're frightened a doctor might make you think your not alright. But you're alright whether you've got a problem or not! So go and help yourself to be happier - and see the doctor! There are doubtless people out there with far stranger compulsive habits than you, and the doctor will have heard it all before.
One other thing - a lot of great artistic geniuses were obsessive compulsives! Beethoven, for example, was a great composer because he was an obsessive compulsive about which notes he put down on paper. He couldn't, for the life of him, put the wrong notes down on paper!
All the best
One other thing - a lot of great artistic geniuses were obsessive compulsives! Beethoven, for example, was a great composer because he was an obsessive compulsive about which notes he put down on paper. He couldn't, for the life of him, put the wrong notes down on paper!
All the best
#11
dom
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Posted 06 October 2004 - 01:44 PM
thankyou for all your very helpfull advice. i think i am scared that the doctor will think i`m crazy i know this sounds silly because they probably see patients with the same problems quite often.
i actualy find this hard to talk about with most people appart from strangers, for instance i can tell people ive met online but i cant tell my freinds or family because i`m scared they will look at my like i`m crazy.
thankyou all
i actualy find this hard to talk about with most people appart from strangers, for instance i can tell people ive met online but i cant tell my freinds or family because i`m scared they will look at my like i`m crazy.
thankyou all
#12
Benjamin Fry
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Posted 06 October 2004 - 10:18 PM
This is a fairly common form of emotional dysfunction. It is an indication of underlying emotional issues that have been repressed to the point of abandonment. It seems that these repetitive behaviours are almost like an unconscious alarm bell being rung to get your attention (you notice that it seems like you have no choice).
Fortunately, because these symptoms are so common they are usually well understood and treatable. You should not be afraid to talk to your GP about this since he or she is likely to be very well placed to understand and to help you. You will find at least one or two other similar stories just in this small forum and there are many on-line resources for OCD, which it sounds like would be the correct professional diagnosis.
Whatever the label you apply to your behaviour, the underlying issues of needing some emotional resolution remain. The repetitive behaviour is like the tip of an emotional iceberg. You will need to access the rest of it in due course. Professional counselling or psychotherapy would be a great asset in trying to do this. And they wonít tell you that you are crazy. You are just a person who is struggling with difficult emotions in an emotionally repressive society. It happens to the best of us.
Fortunately, because these symptoms are so common they are usually well understood and treatable. You should not be afraid to talk to your GP about this since he or she is likely to be very well placed to understand and to help you. You will find at least one or two other similar stories just in this small forum and there are many on-line resources for OCD, which it sounds like would be the correct professional diagnosis.
Whatever the label you apply to your behaviour, the underlying issues of needing some emotional resolution remain. The repetitive behaviour is like the tip of an emotional iceberg. You will need to access the rest of it in due course. Professional counselling or psychotherapy would be a great asset in trying to do this. And they wonít tell you that you are crazy. You are just a person who is struggling with difficult emotions in an emotionally repressive society. It happens to the best of us.
visit benjaminfry.co.uk for more information on my work
support getstable.org for better mental health treatment in the UK
support getstable.org for better mental health treatment in the UK
#13
dom
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Posted 09 October 2004 - 09:44 AM
Thankyou for your advice Benjamin!, i have made an appointment to see a doctor, so thats one hurdle out the way. anyway thankyou once again for your help. for anyone with the same problem i can recomend the following website www.ocdaction.org
#14 Guest_Guest_*
Posted 09 October 2004 - 03:33 PM
Dom,
You have done the hard part. Now, making yourself actually go to the appointment will be a little harder, but you can do it. Congratulations!
Best Wishes
You have done the hard part. Now, making yourself actually go to the appointment will be a little harder, but you can do it. Congratulations!
Best Wishes
#15 Guest_Guest...Again_*
Posted 16 October 2004 - 10:56 AM
Dear Dom,
Did you see your doctor? Let us know when you do. It can only help to get some professional opinion on your situation.
Best Wishes
Did you see your doctor? Let us know when you do. It can only help to get some professional opinion on your situation.
Best Wishes
