[rowen]

Per the docs, I have some issues that look suspiciously like OCD. I think I agree.

I'm currently taking Effexor, and it seems to have helped. I don't want to take it for more than a few years, given the Bipolar thing. Plus the fewer meds I can live with, the better I think.

My therapist of two and a half years is trained in primarily person-centered therapy. We do a lot of talking. It's helpful for regular-life stuff, but it hasn't been very helpful for the obsessions. I don't want to fire her considering how long I've been seeing her, but I could use some help with the obsessiveness that I don't think I'm going to get from her.

So, do you think self-help things would make a difference (e.g. OCD Workbook)? I don't honestly know how bad my issues are. I mean, I can go to work, take care of kiddo, take care of myself, etc. I was just pretty miserable pre-Effexor. I couldn't sleep all that well because of thoughts that wouldn't leave my head, I'd find myself weeping uncontrollably in my shower because of thoughts that wouldn't leave my head, I used to self-harm to get the thoughts to leave my head...you get the idea. I function OK, but I could be better.

So, self-help and my current therapist or self-help w/ CBT?

[sorrel]

Have you asked your current therapist is she could try focusing on techniques for the obsessions? I know it's not her primary thing, but if you have a good rapport with her it might be worth a try.

I'll let someone else answer about the self-help workbooks, but I wanted to say that if the Effexor is helping you so much, I wouldn't be too quick to drop it because of an idea that "I have bipolar, therefore I shouldn't be on it longer than x." Lots of people with bipolar do well with ADs long-term.

[pinkiemarie]

I have no idea whether the self help workbooks/websites/etc would work, but you've really got nothing to lose by trying it. Here's another website that has links to a bunch of OCD self help sites. As for what you'll get out of self help, I think that depends a lot on how bad your symptoms are. If you seem to just have OCD tendencies it will be a lot easier to work on it alone than if you have full-blown OCD. And like Sorrel said, you might as well ask your current therapist. The worst that could happen is if it's something she isn't trained in or comfortable treating and refers you out for that particular portion of your treatment. It certainly doesn't mean you have to "fire" her!

This post has been edited by pinkiemarie: 04 November 2009 - 09:27 AM

[Velvet Elvis]

The CBT workbook by Mark Hyman that's linked all over the place here is supurb. I got as much out of it for my OCD issues as I have working with any therapist.

That said, it still responds better to medication than anything else, so I wouldn't quit the fex unless it's to replace it with something else.

[rowen]

You're all right. Must talk to therapist. I sometimes forget that it's a relationship. If that makes sense. I probably think about firing her once a month. Long story behind that.

I have a history of AD's antagonizing my mood, which is why I'm not comfortable with staying on Effexor for the long term. I might ask my pdoc what he thinks about that. He didn't seem super-thrilled about writing me the script, but he said that he could tell it was bothering me.

Thanks all!

[LunaRufina]

judy_k@aapt.net.au, on 23 November 2009 - 07:11 PM, said:

This is such a funny icon. I tried to post... is it obssessive to try again? Ijust want to say that if you want to defeat obssessions, then one way is what I did as a child , young adult... go ahead and DO whatever it is you are obssessing about and then you have to live with the dreadful feelings... in my case it took practising over a few years from time to time. It's logical... to defeat the monster , you poke your tongue out and do it or think it anyhow.

If I understand you right, guest, you are saying to give in to the obsessions and/or compulsions?

THere are problems with that.
Hand washing: People have washed their skin raw. Till the skin is cracked open and their hands get infected.
The obsessions can be violent and disturbing in nature.
The compulsions can be highly disruptive to ones life.

It can take on a life of its own.

Just giving in and letting the OCD take over isn't really a way to deal with it.

[sorrel]

I thought she was saying the opposite, like do the thing you're afraid of. Need to touch the doorknob 4 times or else you feel like horrible things will happen? Just touch it once and learn that horrible things don't happen. Easier said than done I'm sure.

[LunaRufina]

Ok. Communication error.

[flourface]

I'm glad you really want to get help. I would seriously recommend therapy. Even if the therapist isn't great, or just not right for you, just talking about things with someone who kind of understands will help. I've had OCD as long as I can remember (age four) and before I knew what it was, I was CBT-ing myself. I do believe it kind of helped keep me in control, but once my parents believed me and took me to a pdoc (ten years later), who then found me a tdoc, my progress has been exponentially increased. I am sooo much better because of professional help, and I think you will be too (not that it's easy). You especially need a pro because of the self-harm thing, which worries me very much.