tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post718575624745587317..comments2023-12-07T00:20:11.666-08:00Comments on My OCD Story: OCD and the Holidayshopefulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-86766164394062568532014-12-02T11:34:43.747-08:002014-12-02T11:34:43.747-08:00Thanks so much for your response Tammy. Your comm...Thanks so much for your response Tammy. Your comment really hit me hard, since you have a daughter with OCD. My daughter is almost 12, and out our house the roles are reversed. She watches a parent with OCD, and you watch a child with OCD. I probably have SO many things in common with your daughter. I am so sorry that she (and all of your family) have to go through this. I really hope that she was able to do her exposures over Thanksgiving and that everything went okay? Please let me know. The holidays are particularly tough for OCD, and I dread them too in that sense. I love the holidays and I used to really enjoy spending time with my family, but I just can't deal with the contamination anymore. I do fairly okay when I avoid, but I know I just can't keep doing that all the time. My husband and I had a big fall out this past weekend b/c I just couldn't do Thanksgiving with his family. I have checked into some centers and the closest "anxiety treatment center" is 3 hours away. There are lots of psychologists in my city (I live in a fairly big city), but the problem is finding one that takes my insurance. . I saw a therapist about 3 years ago, but would say my OCD was only mild now (compared to what it is now). I didn't find that therapist particularly helpful unfortunately. I am so glad that your daughter is getting help! And thankful that you are there to help her. If we as OCD sufferers don't have that family support, it can be really hard to beat this disease. Prayers and big hugs to you, too! And please tell your daughter from me that I am very proud of her! This can be a terrible disease for the sufferer and family. Every step (now matter how big or small) that she takes is truly a giant victory in this fight against OCD!!! Please stay in touch! :)hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-68308012313572755372014-11-22T08:16:04.607-08:002014-11-22T08:16:04.607-08:00hopeful, my heart aches for you when I read your p...hopeful, my heart aches for you when I read your posts. My daughter (she is 12) is fighting OCD with Zoloft and a child psychologist right now (and a lot of pushing/encouragement from me). I, too, am dreading Thanksgiving this week. She was told by her psychologist that she has to go to her Grandparents and she has to eat at their table, but she can eat the food I bring. She agreed, but I am expecting a very bumpy ride that day. Prayers are needed and appreciated.<br />I agree with above posters who suggested CBT/ERP (and meds). I understand how trapped you feel since the nearest anxiety treatment center is not convenient. We, too, do not live near an OCD specialist or treatment center. I would ideally love for my daughter to be in an intensive program. However, I don't know if you live in a rural area, but there are psychologists available that aren't that far from most rural areas (at least closer that 3 hours away). They may not be specialists, but many of them do understand how to use CBT/ERP. Antidepressants aren't usually a fix-all, but they help to ease some of the anxiety so you can do the work needed to fight it better. You already have an advantage in that you know the OCD is a problem and you want to defeat it. That's the first step, I think. Now you just need some ammunition. Please, please check into what is available in your area. Prayers and thoughts are with you. Stay hopeful!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955080079447379871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-85116293051683373452014-11-20T11:45:32.981-08:002014-11-20T11:45:32.981-08:00Hi--thanks so much for stopping by, and for your c...Hi--thanks so much for stopping by, and for your comment. I really appreciate your prayers. I will put you in mine as well. I'm glad to know that a combination of meds and therapy has helped you so much. Sometimes it feels there is no way out of this. I fight enough to get bits and pieces back, but the bigger issues are still there and really preventing me from being free from OCD. I really like what you said about being a strong person for pushing through despite these struggles. That is something that all of with OCD need to remember. We do continue to fight, even though this disease wears on us 24/7. I hope that you have enjoyable holidays as well! I hope you come visit my blog again! :)<br />hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-26538618376631946932014-11-20T11:43:14.825-08:002014-11-20T11:43:14.825-08:00Hey there! The only place for me to get into a re...Hey there! The only place for me to get into a reputable anxiety center is somewhere that is 3 hours away. Right now, I'm just unable to be able to travel that far away that frequently so much. I feel like I have taken out "bits and pieces" through self treatment, but you are absolutely right...I think a psychologist really needs to be there to help guide you through the higher exposures.....thanks for your thoughts!!!hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-62171947869909473132014-11-20T11:41:36.629-08:002014-11-20T11:41:36.629-08:00They would all be at the highest on all of my hier...They would all be at the highest on all of my hierarchies. It would be like confronting everything at the top of my list all at once. You and I are always thinking alike! I have contemplated a car seat cover, but not for this trip. I have to have a mechanic work on my car soon, and that is my fix for that situation. We may not be traveling after all this year, but I still need to work up some higher up exposures to try to nip this thing!!!hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-12927136585224947532014-11-20T10:15:29.392-08:002014-11-20T10:15:29.392-08:00I struggle with contamination OCD as well and can ...I struggle with contamination OCD as well and can relate to a lot of what you said here. OCD truly can be a nightmare and I really feel for you. Please know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. My OCD has gotten significantly better with meds and therapy (although I'm still working on it), and I wish the same for you. Even when it seems that the OCD is winning, please realize that you're an incredibly strong person for pushing on through life despite the struggles and it can absolutely get better. OCD is truly a monster at times though. I really hope that you're able to enjoy the holidays in some form this year. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-17429508230911343182014-11-19T14:05:27.931-08:002014-11-19T14:05:27.931-08:00Oh hun, I'm so sorry. I know what it is like t...Oh hun, I'm so sorry. I know what it is like to feel totally trapped and like there is no way to turn. If it is at all possible, I highly encourage you to get into CBT/ERP. It really is the best way to get your life back. It's not impossible to do it on your own, but when the OCD is severe, it is really hard to do it on your own. I know I could not have done it without my psychologist. Try to hang in there. Big hugs.71º & Sunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09981113989131619635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-14513314119316900742014-11-18T19:13:32.401-08:002014-11-18T19:13:32.401-08:00So all of these things you grouped together, they ...So all of these things you grouped together, they are all at about the same distress level on your hierarchy? So would doing one kind of like be doing them all? What would happen if your husband sat on a car seat cover? Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10315632629477590150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-5427182046256130242014-11-18T12:13:59.321-08:002014-11-18T12:13:59.321-08:00Hey C! Thanks for your comment--I noticed you rec...Hey C! Thanks for your comment--I noticed you recently posted about the holidays/stress and OCD too. It's good to see that you've been making such progress and I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays this year. As far as your question if all of my concerns are related to contamination....they are. I feel like exposing myself to one of these things would be at the highest level on my hierarchy for each group of problems I have. Accomplishing one exposure alone would be quite a feat. To face everything at once just 9 days away, doesn't seem like I'm ready for that yet....I know I can't have my husband drive my car (because he is contaminated to me). I would never be able to wash the contamination off my carseat enough, and I don't want to get worse than I am right now. hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-46538777275300702242014-11-17T22:09:03.522-08:002014-11-17T22:09:03.522-08:00Oh gosh, this is SO HARD. I am so sorry you are ha...Oh gosh, this is SO HARD. I am so sorry you are having to deal with all of this and I know it seems impossible trying to do Thanksgiving with so many restraints. I don't know if this gives you a glimpse of hope, but two Thanksgivings ago, I couldn't be with my family bc of ocd so I was planning on going to a friends house for Thanksgiving, drove to the house, and ended up turning around and driving to the movie theaters because I couldn't stand the contamination with other peoples plates, silverware, contaminated people in the house potentially, etc. It was very difficult to loose a holiday like this to OCD. <br /> I know you need to do what you feel like you can handle, but sometimes you can handle way more than you think you can with this kind of stuff. Maybe thinking about the stuff with someone else driving your car could be a good place to begin, since sometimes the newer developments can be a little easier to fend off than older compulsions? <br /> Also, is the silverware, food, driving your car, etc. all due to contamination? Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10315632629477590150noreply@blogger.com