"Pure-O" versus obsessive thoughts in Depression?

[Blahblah]

How do you distinguish between the Obsessive thoughts/ruminations that are due to depression and the "pure obsessive" type thoughts that are considered OCD?

I know that you don't have to be compulsive to have an OCD diagnosis (I think) but more & more I see my obsessive, negative ruminations taking over and I wonder if this means I have both OCD and Depression? My brain just gets stuck on a track loop....any sad trigger and I start having related obsessive thought patterns and I cannot escape the resulting mood/emotion that comes with it.

[CrazyRedhead]

2 hours ago, Blahblah said:

How do you distinguish between the Obsessive thoughts/ruminations that are due to depression and the "pure obsessive" type thoughts that are considered OCD?

I know that you don't have to be compulsive to have an OCD diagnosis (I think) but more & more I see my obsessive, negative ruminations taking over and I wonder if this means I have both OCD and Depression? My brain just gets stuck on a track loop....any sad trigger and I start having related obsessive thought patterns and I cannot escape the resulting mood/emotion that comes with it.

What exactly do you obsess and ruminate about when you get a "sad" trigger?.......Have you told your pdoc about it?...If not, I would suggest letting them know.

Pure-O can be difficult to diagnose sometimes, because there are no visible compulsions, so it's important to let your doc know what you are experiencing/thinking.

[Blahblah]

Depends on trigger (being invalidated, ignored, isolation, lack of achievement, envy, not being as "good" or capable as everyone else). Sad self-critical thoughts in general (part of depression), every personal/life disappointment, (perceived) failures of the past come up at once, and how it will continue in the future, worry/fear of being old, lonely, losing the few people I care about, depressed all my life, no satisfaction, ...my mind gets stuck on all of this, the past (from trauma, as well as daydreaming, craving nostalgic moments of youth) to point of obsession.

Based on previous events, I think about how everything will continue in the future (worse case scenarios, because everytime I try to think positive, I am let down considerably). This causes me to spend hours overthinking options, trying to predict outcomes of each, before I can make any big decision (kind of like a perfectionist/control thing, but no one can control of everything). Avoiding things, then forcing myself to do things. Dwelling on pros/cons.. indecision.

My pdocs/therapists all know, I always discuss my negative ruminations and spend my days trying to cope & distract from them or ignore them. Many of my worries never get resolved, I'm stuck and often feel trapped in this cycle.

[CrazyRedhead]

15 minutes ago, Blahblah said:

  My pdocs/therapists all know, I always discuss my negative ruminations and spend my days trying to cope & distract from them or ignore them. Many of my worries never get resolved, I'm stuck and often feel trapped in this cycle.

 I have OCD with obsessions and compulsive rituals......So, I admit I don't fully understand Pure-O...

I did do some looking, and found a good article discussing Pure-O and it's characteristics:

https://www.intrusivethoughts.org/blog/pure-o-an-exploration-into-a-lesser-known-form-of-ocd/

Have you ever asked your pdoc or therapist directly, if they think you have Pure-O, due to the negative ruminations you have?...........If not, that might be a good thing to ask.

 

Edited July 27, 2019 by CrazyRedhead

[Blahblah]

Thanks @CrazyRedhead I've skimmed, it seems my thoughts are much more generalised than the examples they give. But I do identify with some of the things around uncertainly.. like ruminating somehow feels productive when it's  the opposite. Mentally obsessing and ruminating over things is not going to solve the problem...I also tend to seek reassurance, reading online, asking questions, etc.

What sorts of OCD thoughts & behaviors do you most struggle with? Has anything helped?

[CrazyRedhead]

5 minutes ago, Blahblah said:

What sorts of OCD thoughts & behaviors do you most struggle with? Has anything helped?

I mainly have the "checking" subtype of OCD....I have to check and recheck windows and doors to make sure they are locked, checking appliances and lights to make sure they are off, etc.......All this stems from an extreme obsessional fear that my house will get burned down or broken into if I don't check things to make sure they're right.

I also count things, too, over and over, to make sure it's the correct amount......But the checking is the main one I suffer from.

This has resulted in a complete inability to leave my house unless someone else helps me check, because I don't trust myself to check things right....So I'm mostly a hermit, except for doctor and therapist appointments.....Someone else always gets my groceries.

Sorry for rambling, but I guess you understand the basic picture......I've tried many meds, and therapy, but nothing has helped so far........But I am still trying.....**SIGH**