Question:
Hi, I just found this board, and read your message. My heart goes out to you. Yes, you do have OCD. Your symptoms are very close to mine. Shortly after the birth of my little girl, I started having horrible thoughts and fears of harming her. I never acted on those thoughts. People with OCD very rarely act on their thoughts. I sought treatment and found a wonderful specialist who treats postpartum disorders. I found that Anafranil worked the best for me, and I was able to take the medication with no ill effects on my private life. Remember, OCD usually requires larger amounts of antidepressants. I have been off the meds for a few months now. I still have some symptoms and have accepted this. I find relief through the realization that I love my little girl very much. Also, my church is a source of comfort, and the knowledge that I didn’t do anything to cause this. Hope this helps God bless, Beth
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dean L Mashmett wrote: > But it has been during this time that a dreadful thought has > accasionally taken precendence in my mind and is hard to shake, though > the thought of doing it makes me feel ill. I could NEVER EVER believe > that I would do such a terrible thing but it just chews me up inside. > What goes through my mind is that I feel that it is only a matter of > time before I hurt my child – physically or SEXUALLY, yet these things I > hate with all my being and I am sure I wouldn’t do it, but the thoughts > and deplorable images consume large chunks of my time. Also, if I dress > my child and happen to accidentally brush his "private parts" I feel > devastated and feel compelled that I am a child molester – I HATE child > molesters! I know deep down that I’m not, but I can’t help thinking that > way! Everytime I have had these thoughts/problems, I have told my wife > without delay and she has been WONDERFUL. She has a remarkeable insight > to what I’m feeling and she says that she knows me and that it is not in
I cant give a diagnosis by news or email but I would have to stay what you describe sounds like OCD to me. There are two effective treatments for OCD. Serotonin reuptake inhibiting drugs and cognitive behaivoral therapy. The drugs do have side effects but how they will effect you is impossible to tell. I dont know that it would prevent you from driving race cars but it might depending on your response to the particular drug. Behavior therapy does not have this side effect. The main drawback is difficulty finding a properly trained therapist. — Jim Claiborn Ph.D. ABPP If I survive this life without dying I’ll be supprised. Mulla Nasrudin
Response:
>What goes through my mind is that I feel that it is only a matter of >time before I hurt my child –
I know the thoughts are very disturbing to you, but such violent thoughts are very common among OCD sufferers. I’ve read just about every thing I can get my hands on related to OCD, and the kinds of violent thoughts you’re concerned about are nothing special in the OCD world. Seems to me they’re just typical OCD crap. Of course, talk them over with your shrink. I’m no specialist. But from my own personal experience and readings in the subject, your thoughts are just run of the mill OCD. Take courage. Even though you’re suffering much now, you can and will get better. It will take perseverance and hard work, but you can succeed — and then as a result of your own suffering, you will be more helpful to others with similar. Good luck.
Response:
G’Day all! The posting I’m giving here is extremely sensitive and personal in nature, but one thing I have learned through life’s experiences is to TALK and share your concerns, so I am going to share mine as I desperately want advice, comfort or whatever. May I preface what I’m going to say with the fact that soon I am going to see a Psychologist/Psychiatrist regarding the issues I’m about to bring up… I’m Married and 27yrs old. With one child (nearly 3yrs) and another on the way! I feel before I go into what I feel is my reasons for believing I have OCD, I reckon a background to my life is appropriate. I grew up in a household where my father was a severe alcoholic and was very ill-tempered and used to BEAT up myself and my immediate family on a regular basis. I had (and in many ways STILL have) a great fear of my father. Without trying to sound "trite" He has neglected me terribly. At the age of 14 my parents split up. It was at this time we lived in a very poor section of the city I live in and violence was all about. Up until this time, my studies were going well, and then I got easily influenced by my peers and was distracted from things. Eventually at the age of 16, I left home and lived in squallor conditions for several months. At this time, I thought drinking and smoking marijuana may ease my predicament, but grass made me feel like I was going to die, so I gave that up quick smart! A short time later, I became an active member of a church group and have been there ever since. My life changed dramatically as it had focus. I went back to study and did so well I now work professionally in the computer industry. I reconciled with all my family except my father as he has pretty well abandoned us. I got married at age 20 to a beautiful wife who I still love passionately with ALL my heart. At the time though, I started getting repetitive, persistent thoughts for a short span that I will hurt my wife. These thoughts I detested. It made me angry and furious that I thought and dwelt on this sort of thing, as I loved my wife so deeply and would never in my heart of hearts do such a terrible thing! Anyway, they dissapeared and I haven’t had those thoughts since(thank God!), but at this stage, I was scared of ever having children because I feared I might be like my father – or worse! (more on this later). 3 yrs later, My wife got seriously ill with the pregancy of our first child (toximia). During this time I was still at night school and I remember having a stupid repetitive thought in my head for 1 week solid. It was a difficult answer to an exam question. No matter what, I couldn’t get the darn answer out of my head!! I just put it down to stress. Anyhow, my wife had an emergency caesarian and we had a 9 week premature baby. After 8 weeks of travelling to the hospital 3 times a day to feed and check our baby, he was finally allowed home as he had developed sufficiently. Within a few weeks things were just starting to run smoothly and then disaster struck – my son died of "Cot Death" (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). I was the one who found my son dead in his bed. This event was to affect me so severely I sufferred from intense panic attacks for some 12 months after this event. I ended up seing a Psychologist who specialized in Panic Disorder and through breathing techniques and some mild medication initially (Benzo’s), I now no longer suffer from them noticeably. Then a year later, we had our second child, a son named Trent. he was born beautifully healthy and is fine. But it has been during this time that a dreadful thought has accasionally taken precendence in my mind and is hard to shake, though the thought of doing it makes me feel ill. I could NEVER EVER believe that I would do such a terrible thing but it just chews me up inside. What goes through my mind is that I feel that it is only a matter of time before I hurt my child – physically or SEXUALLY, yet these things I hate with all my being and I am sure I wouldn’t do it, but the thoughts and deplorable images consume large chunks of my time. Also, if I dress my child and happen to accidentally brush his "private parts" I feel devastated and feel compelled that I am a child molester – I HATE child molesters! I know deep down that I’m not, but I can’t help thinking that way! Everytime I have had these thoughts/problems, I have told my wife without delay and she has been WONDERFUL. She has a remarkeable insight to what I’m feeling and she says that she knows me and that it is not in my makeup to do such things and so we talk it through. Initially, these talks were helpful, but I notice their effectiveness has diminished and the thoughts linger longer. It just seems that when things are going well in my life – they pop up like some reminder! Have I got OCD or am I simply mad and should be consigned to the nearest mental scrapheap? Also, with the issue of drug treatments (Prozac etc.), do they ALL cause drowsy side effects? I am just about to fullfill I childhood dream and race sprintcars – could I take these serotonin drugs (if required) and still partake in these activities?? I would like to hear others stories if they are similar to mine or beneficial to me…. You can reply to me via email or I’m happy to have followups in this newsgroup! Please help me! Cheers mailto:mouse…@norcom.net.au
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.