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The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

theguardian.com

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Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#121

Post by coldtea »

193 wrote: post #20
inertiatic wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you pull a logical trick to reduce every discomfort to fear, I don't agree that everyone that suffers from OCD is afraid of something and anxious about it.

I don't think that fear and anxiety are exactly the same thing. (fear being a very basic response to a very concrete (perceived) threat, while anxiety is more diffuse, constant, covering larger timeframes) Assuming we are talking about the same thing (anxiety), why do you think that not everyone suffering from OCD has that as the cause? What other types do you know of? It is possible that I was focusing too much on i…

>I don't think that fear and anxiety are exactly the same thing. (fear being a very basic response to a very concrete (perceived) threat, while anxiety is more diffuse, constant, covering larger timeframes)

That could just be a historical product of the English language. Other languages don't necessarily discriminate this way between fear and anxiety.

E.g. we can equally talk about someone "fearing" they have forgot the stove open or "being anxious" about it in this here parts.

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#122

Post by anonytrary »

merinowool wrote: post #54
anonytrary wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a moot point given that: > I realized that my entire bathroom could be done without me touching anything so I could keep myself clean.

So would you be fine with staying in the bathroom forever?

IIRC many stores have automatic doors that actually open when you walk in front of them. I don't see why the same technology couldn't be used for OP's hypothetical bathroom.

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#123

Post by jjtheblunt »

rndmwlk wrote: post #65
_xlr2 wrote: post #2

I'm appreciative of somebody who also has OCD writing an article like this detailing how the disorder isn't at all like the stereotype of a neat freak. What's funny is, I myself am actually a terribly messy person with books and papers always strewn about (among clothes not quite in the hamper, &c). What's interesting to me from a personal history viewpoint is that one of my earliest compulsions also centered around…

I have the exact same compulsion with locking my door. If I leave my apartment and I don't do my little ritual then I'll either be worried all day, or some times I'll drive back to my apartment and "properly" close the door.

I used to do it too. I figured it was a short term memory flaw, then it became a habit, so it just feels "off" to not double check. I'm actually comforted seeing i wasn't the only one.

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#124

Post by 1996 »

Chazprime wrote: post #30
56chan4 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would want to measure dietary Taurine levels in the body for a start. Experiments consuming 3g/day have shown no side effects, but your main source is limited to energy drinks so you have to contend with caffeine, and Taurine does not last long in the body (can start to be expelled in urine within 10mins), much like many of the water soluble chemicals classed as vitamins or minerals. Cooking actually destroys it fr…

Ironic, in this case, as taurine was once extracted from bull semen.

so what if it is good for the health?

I do not ask how hot dogs are made, and I care even less for things I take for my health

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#125

Post by sanotehu »

classichasclass wrote: post #50

I'm one of the "chronic checker" types. I used to be really bad about checking and rechecking door locks, particularly, but also the fridge and the garage. If I check absentmindedly and without intention, I'll have to do it all over again. What really helped me get out the door in the morning, and still does, is actually to video myself doing it. When I got a Palm Zire 72, for the first time I could actually leave wi…

I'm a doctor of four years now and I completely empathise with you. The one thing I have learnt doing the job is not to fully trust anything but to check it yourself. That's how you get outstanding results.

It's unfortunate that it seems to take a toll on your private life. This past year I have developed a habit of double checking the front door even though I remember bolting it.

It's an interesting thing to ponder whether some mental disorders are extreme versions of adaptive behaviours that we all do from time to time.

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#127

Post by DenisM »

fb03 wrote: post #117
DenisM wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a large group of people who are similarly obsessed with low blood sugar when their blood sugar is in fact just fine. There is even a term for this: "functional hypoglycemia", as opposed to actual hypoglycemia. Exact same story. It's basically anxiety, and it can be treated by a psychiatrist. A combination of drugs to calm you down and psychotherapy (cbt or emdr) to address any underlying "stuck" reactions or…

I have been reading more and more about CBT. I will research about it and if things swing the right direction I'm going to try it. Thanks, man!

Hallmark of anxiety is warped perception of own health. Don't fall into the trap of incessant research. Instead schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist as soon as you can get enough focus to make the phone call. Or ask a friend to do that for you.

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#128

Post by tk75x »

cheeko1234 wrote: post #57
stealthmodeclan wrote: post #45

I've OCD and i was on a verge of complete failure. Untill a friend recommended me to try Ashwgandha (Withania somnifera) After that my life completely changed positively. I've lost my anxiety since then. I usually take it with a glass of milk. Now, I've very less stress.

My preliminary research shows it's in the realm of homeopathy and folk medicine. But still might be worth a shot if it can reduce anxiety. Can you elaborate a bit on how to find it and how it changed you?

How to find it: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Withania+somnifera&t=ffcm&ia=produ...

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#129

Post by august9 »

fb03 wrote: post #113
august9 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, this is so me. Except I'm constantly convinced I'm having a heart attack. For some reason I associate a fast pulse with imminent death. Then I start to panic and the adrenaline floods in and guess what? My pulse gets faster and the cycle continues. It usually comes up out of nowhere when I'm alone, like I'm convinced I'm going to pass out and nobody is going to know and I'll die for lack of treatment. My doctor a…

Reading your answer made me feel a little less crazy (thank you?). It is actually reassuring to know there are people experiencing the same stuff and doubts, and that i'm not alone. We all should really talk about this with our friends, coworkers, etc. We should let the word out. I don't know about you but I feel embarrassed of this condition, like I'm a lesser person because of this. And not talking about it makes m…

Well, reading yours made me feel less crazy. I feel like you don't hear about this aspect of mental illness that often. It's like a weird cross-section between anxiety, hypochondria, and OCD (which I hadn't considered before). My doctor referred to it as "hypervigilance" and it seems like there is plenty of literature out there concerning it.

This study actually looks pretty interesting: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862826/

I stopped actually counting my pulse a while back. It wasn't exactly willful... more like I just don't want to know because it's probably artificially high and it's not like I've ever felt better after checking it anyway.

I know I'm in good health, which is where the "I'm not dying, just a little crazy" thoughts come in. When it gets really bad most of my energy is spent remembering that I can do things like ride 16km and feel just fine, despite feeling like I can't breathe and my heart is going to jump out of my chest and my nerve endings feel like they're on fire. Xanax has been recommended to me but I'm very reluctant to start down that road. I can't really justify why, it just seems slightly scary or somehow unpleasant.

Also, you're right. I should communicate with those around me a little better. It gets very awkward trying to explain an attack away.

Thanks for talking!

Re: The terrible 'what if': how OCD makes every day a matter of life or death

#130

Post by Chazprime »

1996 wrote: post #124
Chazprime wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironic, in this case, as taurine was once extracted from bull semen.

so what if it is good for the health? I do not ask how hot dogs are made, and I care even less for things I take for my health

It’s ironic when the author describes a fear of food contamination by semen, that possible relief might come in the form of bull semen, that’s all.
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