what triggers ocd?

[Queer Fringe]

I know OCD usually starts in childhood, but what excactly starts it off? I think I have ocd...no, wait I know i do...its embarissing to talk about in real life...I just want some insight into how it develops...
Thanks in advance
Hazel
xxxx

[Mrs Sam]

I think it depends from person to person to be honest. I mean i dont even think i had one specific trigger, i've always been a perfectionist and some of the traits came from my mum (especially food and cleaning issues) and then washing is to do with abuse.

I can see where all my little "traits" come from and putting them altogether makes my OCD.

I dont know if that is the same for everyone but i know it is for me.

[Queer Fringe]

Cheers, but there is an 'in general' sort of thing isnt there?

[Mrs Sam]

well its an anxiety disorder in general so is mostly brought on when someone is in an anxious state.

doctors generally believe though that its a mixture of psychological and biological. so sort of nature and nuture type thing.

[IcarusDrowning]

Stress tends to be a big one...and for me the threat of change or expectations.

However it tends to highly individual so if its different for you thats to be expected too.

Yes it can be really hard to talk about in real life...you feel completely nuts sometimes.

Good Luck..if you want to PM feel free.

Amy

[You! Me! Dancing!]

Mine started at a very young age so I have no idea what caused it. I can't really remember NOT having it, so I kinda wonder if I was just born with it..? If that's even possible.

[Stellata]

It can be seen as an attempt to bring control into an environment/world/mind that otherwise feels out of control and frightening.
I developed some OCD symptoms after two burglaries several months apart when I was 16. Mainly of the door and window lock checking variety.

I don't know what triggered it for me. But I know anxiety and stress definitely causes some of it now. I also used to be very isolated and not really talk to anybody, so I started living in my head. That kinda started me organizing numbers in my head. I had nothing else to do, and I was in my own little world. Also just a passionate/obsessive personality in general is some of it. Which can be used for good as well as be annoying. For example, when I get into something, I do everything I can to be the best I can be at it. That's a good trait. But when it comes to the tiny things, it's bad... like washing my hands over and over. But then again, it's good that I keep the condo I live in fairly organized. So don't see OCD as bad or good... it has the potential for both.

[Cryptic.]

My first rituals and obsessive thoughts began a few years ago, probably when I was about 10 or something, I don't remember, was so long ago, but I was young, it was (I think) triggered by a person who wouldn't stop calling, it scared me and made me VERY anxious and uneasy and think bad things, I'd unplug the phone, check the doors, and since then, It's got A LOT worse. Not only checks/rituals, but very intrusive, uncontrollable, obsessive, disturbing thoughts. Moving house did NOT help AT ALL. Things got WAY WORSE when we moved. OCD is a huge part of my life and it disrupts my life quite badly. It's very difficult.

[hope51]

*walks in, and sits in a quiet little corner* Shrugs i have no idea what to say on the subject it's just so difficult for me to explain, well that's the case for me anyway, i wouldn't know where to start. Just reading this thread has made me want to wash my hands, which sounds is stupid. For me i'm deffently worse if i'm anxious, i dunno i guess u could say it complety rules my life at the moment. *goes back and sits in corner*

[Horizon]

My OCD began when I was very young and I would do everything four times. Turn around four times each way, open and close things four times, blink in fours, etc. If I didn't, I felt like I was being suffocated. Then it progressed to me ripping out my eyebrows and eyelashes. Now it's becoming less and less of an issue for me, but OCD can definitely get in the way of your life. I am still dealing with the repurcussions.

All the best,
Megan

[Queer Fringe]

Thanks guys, it's helped what are your experiences with getting help with OCD? Especially for people and CAMHs...xx

[You! Me! Dancing!]

I've had CBT for it.. which really helped a lot. It was hard work, but in the end I had my OCD under so much more control.

I've never been on any meds for it because the CBT worked so well - I am starting to go backwards a bit now but I think that's stress related, so hopefully will have back under more control soon..

[Queer Fringe]

Thanks,
I did CBT, not for OCD though...do CAMHs take you seriously if you say "I think I have OCD" because I'm supposed to be going back there soon, and I want this OCD gone...

[You! Me! Dancing!]

Basically I went to my doctor when I was 15 and said look, this is what I've been doing/thinking, it's being going on as long as I can remember, gradually getting worse, and I realise that this is not normal. It affects my every day life massively, I get bullied at school because of it and I just want to know if there is anything I can do to fix it, he asked me a few questions and then referred me to the mental health bit of the surgery.. then when I saw the counsellor there, we had an interview so she could build up an idea of what problems I was having, and then after a few sessions of talking about things, she decided CBT would be the best way to help me. They got my parents in and stuff and explained everything to them aswell.

If anything they were impressed that I had decided to ask for help. To be honest though, It was pretty obvious that I have OCD.. I didn't say 'I think I have OCD' because I didn't really know much about it - as most people don't know about the obsession bit, they tend to think OCD is just washing hands a lot. I pretty much listed off the generic symptoms, because I was experiencing them and they took me seriously because it was clear that I was struggling, and I asked for help. During the time I was talking to the doctor I had to get my alcogel out twice because I'd touched the door to open it - even though I had touched it with my sleeve over my hand, and I was noticably anxious. He would have known something was wrong before I said anything..

[Cryptic.]

I was going for CBT but I dropped out after a few sessions. I have been trying to fight it by myself, and to be honest, it has got a lot better, I have forced myself to resist somethings, however, it impacts my life still major...

[Queer Fringe]

Thanks, I hope CAMHs take me seriously when I tell them, seeing as they havn't really taken me seriously before...I think they may have known that I've experienced things to do with OCD since they gave me CBT or maybe it was that they didn't know what else to do with me...

[Starburst]

Before they diagnose OCD, they often give you questionnaires (sp?) and something else to fill in. It's called the Yale test, I think...? It's been so long, for me, I can't remember. I had some CBT but it was while I was IP for anorexia.

Mine was triggered off by;
- Childhood abuse and I used rituals to distract myself.
- I was an anxious child.
- My mum was very neurotic (she has recently been diagnosed with some form of mild OCD, which explains a lot).

[Littlelostlamb]

I've had my OCD on and off since I was about 8. My stepdad was abusive and I was living on edge, terrified all day, and a cleanliness habit began which involved washing endlessly. It then faded a bit, and came back when I was about 20. This time, it was toilets which were a major problem. Dog poo in particular was a terrible worry too.

It got really bad again about 2 years ago when my ex was being abusive and my world was falling apart. I started getting IBS and as a result I got terrified of being clean and ended up showering at least 2 or 3 times a day, and wahsing my hands for at least 2 minutes at a time.

I wash my hands less now but I'm ALWAYS cleaning my clothes and I'm terrified of using the loo. Gah. Hopefully working with my psychiatrist will help with it, because its exhausting.

I think mine is made worse by anxiety somehow.

[Gordon.]

Haaazzzeeeeel, my little kidnapper!

How is the OCD thing going?

I'll text you later actually, I've had a broke phone for a while so I havn't had a chance to text :(

<3