CPN thinks I have "strong OCD traits" - anyone else?

[Wellingtons]

Just finished seeing my CPN, which had a very surprising outcome! I've never thought of myself as having OCD, I'm not one for cleaning or checking. However I have certain obsessional thoughts, which she calls fixations, which I dwell on and obsess about over and over.

ATM it's cooking and food, almost every day I get myself worked up to the point of sweating thinking about what am I going to cook, do we have it in, will it defrost, will I be able to cook it, are there the right ingredients, will I have time, am I sure I have it in, will the recipe work etcetc. I'm diagnosed bipolar I, my last 'episode' which threatened to spill into mania was obsessing over Richard III, which I think I must've posted about on here enough to annoy everybody. I also do a lot of counting and play word games in my head with every sentence I say or hear someone say, I've memorised my mothers old bookcase (which she got rid of when I was 10) and the layout of the book titles, and I fit words into those titles, counting how many words it takes to fit the word in. So for example the word "pragmatic" would fit into books with titles with DIY, WORLD and OF in them (adjusted to lowercase). DI=PR, D=A, Y=G, W=M, OF=AT, L=I, O=C.

I have other obsessions and fixations which I've always just put down to general anxiety.

So yes. Struck me completely left field.

[Morpheus]

I also have traits of OCD but not enough to get actual diagnosis.

Since i was a child ive had to pray to God every night, naming everyone i loved and wanted him to take care of. Praying that no harm came to them. It included family, pets, boyfriend, friends etc so it could take quite a while. If i didnt i was a hundred percent sure something bad would happen to one of them. I still do it to this day. I think i have done it since my grandma died when i was around seven and i am 26 now.

I also count. Every day all day long. Mainly numbers to do with weight. And years and the weight i had that year. And if i lose this amount of weight my weight will be this, how many calories is in this, how many calories will i have eaten that day. the amounts of minutes i will have to exercise to bring my weight back to this number. and back and forth, back and forth. I do it more when i am stressed and it is a huge issue actually. It keeps me from concentrating on anything else, ive even done it during sex at times. I think to myself, i need to stop and then 30 seconds later it starts again all over. Its frustrating.

I honestly dont have a lot of advice. Ive never been treated for it but i wanted you to know that you are not alone and i feel for you.

[Ballerina123]

I'm diagnosed with schizo affective disorder but i also have obsessional traits. Like you i have obsessional thoughts that i'm going to hurt someone or embarrass myself in public. My doctor was thinking about starting me on an SSRI for it but because of my bipolar it may effect my mood too much so I'm trying mindfulness and CBT techniques first. He said if that doesn't work he will consider medication.

It's really horrible and debilitating when all you do is obsess over things and can't get day to day tasks done because of it.

Sorry your going through this too.

[sherlock holmes]

I know I have OCD traits, but no diagnosis of OCD.

When I was a child I used to have to pray to God for certain things to make sure nothing bad would happen. I had to pray my family would be okay and none of us would get ill etc.

I get very obsessional thoughts that spiral into huge anxieties over things that would probably never even happen. Sometimes I get scared I'll turn into a paedophile and I obsess over it and panic.

I get a lot of anxiety over raw meat and sometimes when someone's cooked me something like chicken I get it into my head that it's 'bad' so I can't eat it. I had to go home from my boyfriend's the other week because he ate chicken and I convinced myself he'd get food poisoning in the night. He was totally fine.

I also will get thoughts like "I have to touch this or I'll get ill" or "I need to do x before y happens or I'll get ill" which keep popping into my head.

Look up 'pure O' OCD it fits me totally!

I once had such bad anxiety thoughts in my head that it sounded like voices and I got really distressed. My psych said it was anxiety/OCD type thinking, but that was horrible.

[Ballerina123]

Sometimes I get scared I'll turn into a paedophile and I obsess over it and panic.
.

I get this to. It's a horrible experience. It causes anxiety and you feel bad about yourself because you fell like a bad person. Sorry you get this too.

[Ballerina123]

These things help me with intrusive and obsessional thoughts

1. Make a list

Make a list of all your obsessive thoughts. Then write down what type of things trigger each, and what you do after.

2. The 3 Second Rule

Allow yourself 3 seconds to think about the obsessive item, and then purposefully redirect your attention to something more positive: a feeling, a happy memory, a pleasant vacation, or a kind word.

3. Learn how to Relax

Say the word “relax” softly in your head and take a deep breath. Tell yourself “You’re going to be okay.” Do a relaxation exercise (positive visualization, deep breathing, yoga pose.)

4. Learn to Live in the Present

Redirect your attention from thoughts to actual experience. What is real today? What do you need to accomplish, what are your daily tasks (e.g., work, taking care of your child, cleaning, chores etc.)

5. Use Distractions

Many people reported that distracting themselves with other activities helped them to stop obsessing.
Read a novel, watch movie, play a video game on your computer or phone, go for a walk, work out at a gym.

6. Thought Stopping

When you notice yourself obsessing, tell yourself “STOP” in your head and then move on to another activity. This is different than trying not to think about an obsession – which only makes the obsession stronger. Rather it is interrupting the obsessive process. We cannot keep ourselves from having obsessive thoughts, but we can refuse to “dwell” on them; we can immediately try and think about other more positive things

7. Practice Mindfulness

Imagine you are on a moving train, looking out of the window and watching your thoughts passing by, as if it was scenery, without judgment. Just let these thoughts pass you by with you observing, as if these thoughts are not yours.



http://www.drmayatherapy.com/7-coping-strategies-for-overcoming-obsessive-thoughts/

[Wellingtons]

Thanks that's really helpful x

[EvanO]

Personally, I've never known anyone who did not have "ocd traits"
I have them. I like to take comfort in that fact, and it helps me feel better.

[Wellingtons]

EvanO- I think the difference is, as with all mental health diagnoses, the degree to which it affects your life and impacts on your ability to function. My obsession with food and cooking gives me panic attacks and prevents me from calmly planning meals, which as I have a family to feed is a problem.

[Ballerina123]

EvanO- I think the difference is, as with all mental health diagnoses, the degree to which it affects your life and impacts on your ability to function. My obsession with food and cooking gives me panic attacks and prevents me from calmly planning meals, which as I have a family to feed is a problem.
This.

my OCD traits cause me me great distress and stops me doing day to day tasks

[EvanO]

EvanO- I think the difference is, as with all mental health diagnoses, the degree to which it affects your life and impacts on your ability to function. My obsession with food and cooking gives me panic attacks and prevents me from calmly planning meals, which as I have a family to feed is a problem.

Completely understood. I guess as with all things, there are different levels. Perhaps most people I've known have relatively minor ocd in contrast to those with cases that negatively effect thier lives in a profound way.

[Cryptic.]

Just thought I'd say you aren't alone, many people have traits of OCD or a diagnosis of OCD, myself included.
xx