Posted by BRC on September 12, 2004, at 20:07:36
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR FOR OCD » BRC, posted by dave1 on September 12, 2004, at 11:53:01
Hi, I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through. OCD can be "hell". I am 28 and have had OCD for most of my life, but didn't know it. When I was a kid I had rituals and would have to touch and tap things a certain number of times, turn the light switch on a certain number of times, etc.
But I did not start having Obssessional thoughts until the age of 22 as a result of a panic attack. I didn't know it was a panic attack at the time and spend years and thousands of dollars going to doctors and specialists for a host of problems that I thought were medical. Turns out it was all anxiety.
I graduated from a major university with two degrees and used to work at a major military intallation. But because my OCD became so severe I was no longer able to function. I to suffered major finacial setbacks with no way to work and pay the bills. I ended up in the hospital five times due to the stress and worry.
I also have an obssession about death. Due to the physical senations my body produces due to anxiety such as heart palpations, muscles spasms, headaches, numbness etc. I am always obssessing that my body will no longer be able to handle all the stress I am putting it through and I will suffer a heart attack, stroke, or develop cancer or something.
So, don't feel alone when it comes to that part of OCD.
I have really never found a mediation that takes the obssessional thouhts away. I take 60mgs of Lexapro, 30mg of Remeron, and 4mg of Klonopin. But this just keeps me stable. It is not a cure.
After being in college for so long I learned how to research and study pretty good. So, I have done alot of research on OCD. Did you know that OCD is actually a nueroligical disorder and is sometimes treated by nuerologist. There are certain parts of the brain that doesn't communicate properly with the other and causes mixed singnals and produces the thoughts and symptoms of OCD. Stress can futher compicate the situation.
So, try not to beat yourself up to bad. It is a medicat condition that has to be treated with medication just as someone with a disease such as diabetes has to have medicine to function.
All reasearch shows that SSRI's are the best way to treat the OCD. But in rare cases with severe OCD a small dose of an atypical anti-psychotic is sometimes used.
Let me know how you are doing and feel free to ask anymore questions. It is nice to have someone to talk to about this condition because most people out of the psychological field to not understand this unusual behavior.
BRC
poster:BRC
thread:389363
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040909/msgs/390103.html