Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD is something I struggle with on a day to day basis. Some day's it is worse than others, but in general I have it under control. I have found that listening to my iPod helps me to tune out the thoughts that I experience when they are really powerful. I have also started to realise that different aspects of my OCD do have their positives. Like, I am able to work to structured and detailed schedules because of the fact that one of my OCD traits is I need things to be in order. But yeah. This factsheet was really useful in helping me to understand what I was experiencing, and in making me realise that I wasn't 'crazy' like I thought I was. Right now, I am managing my OCD the best I can, and that it making my life feel a little more in my control.

i also struggle with ocd it does realy make u worry its not a good feeling like when  think u left ur locker open out school or you have done somthing wroung and you havnt and you cant help ur emotions i just dk how to help this its diffcault when you in year eight and u cant focuss bec so many things arre going through your head and getting to sleep out night that doesnt help an i reckon that some sad songs getme thinking about stuff and yeah

Hi bennyc,

Welcome to Reach Out!
I am so sorry to hear about you OCD but I think you should be super proud of yourself for being brave and reaching out for help:)

I hope you have found the above tips on managing OCD helpfull.

Remember if you feel like talking to someone about what you are going through please do not hesitate to call Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

I hope this info helps
Roisin RO- Crew

thanks roisin i did find a couple of things helpful

I am a 14 year old boy and suffer from O.C.D. and depression. I have had O.C.D. since I was 9 years old. I have only just recently developed depression and I'm finding it hard. Although I seek professional help I still struggle in many aspects of my life on a daily basis. My O.C.D. affects my depression and vice versa. I am often anxious about inappropriate or silly things which causes me to worry, become depressed and carry out strange mental/physical rituals. I am slowly trying to rebuild a lot of my life and become a nicer and happier person.

Hi HappynessTrap,

Sorry to hear that you are going through a tough time and well done you for reaching out for help.  You should be super proud of yourself and your positive attitude is truly inspiring :)

Have you looked at our fact sheets on depression and anxiety?  This fact sheet on depression has some handy self help tips for staying positive:

http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/depression-management-and-treatment-options

Here is a link to a story by a young person about how they got through thier OCD and depression:

http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/shake-a-full-can-a-soda-and-it-will-burst

Best of Luck
Roisin RO-Crew

@ bennyc, It's so awesome to hear that . Thanks so much for sharing with us :)

Thankyou for your support. Yes, I am trying to stay positive. Those stories and tips were most helpful, thankyou. 

i find this site very helpful and it makes me feel better when i find out theres more then me that have the same diffecties.

Yeah I do agree with Bennyc, other sites make me worried and concerned all the time about my problems, but being in a community of people here really makes you aware that there are other people out there struggling like you. Using this website makes me feel more comfortable to ask for help, especially from my parents who I often feel guilty for sharing my emotions with.

yes i agree with u to 

its hard living with ocd never getting time to relax and not think about anything that upset us  its hard to get to sleep somtimes at night so tired the next day  and out school if i talk alot i stop thinking about it but when i  do stop i think about stuff its hard but i still trying hard to fight with it get distracted  and the happynesstrap i agree with all the stufff u have said i get the same stuff and i glad that i know theres more then one of us that has it

I'm a 17 year old, female.I've had OCD since I was in Year 2 and I'm now in Year 12. It was really bad when I was younger, and then wasn't as noticeable for a long period of time. Now, over the last few months, it's back. I have to do things like say 'not' in my head 5 times, when I think of a bad situation. I feel as though if I do this, the situation won't happen. I also clench my teeth together and look at an object, as an alternative to touching it. Along with my OCD I have generalized anxiety disorder. I just spent 3 days in hospital, because I was convinced I had some horrible disease, when really all my symptoms were anxiety related. When you have a thought fixated in your head, it's really difficult to shake it. I find going on these websites very reassuring. I often think that I'm alone or on the verge of going crazy, but these sites help.

Hi lackofcolour

Welcome to Reach Out!

I am sorry to hear about what you are going through and am so happy to hear that our website is reasuring and helpfull to you :)

Remember if you want to talk to someone about what you are going through kids help line on 1800 55 1800 and lifeline on 13 11 14 are always there waiting to listen and help you!

@ benny c, I really am saddened to hear about the tough time you are going through right now and am so happy to hear that you are finding the site helpfull :).

 If you are finding it helpful connecting with other young people going through similar stuff why don't you have a look in our community forums.  They are full of friendly supportive peeps who can really relate to what you are going through and I'm sure they would love to meet you :)

@ TheHappyness Trap, It's so awesome to hear such positive things about the site and your positive attitude is truly inspiring :)

Please also feel free to check out the forums if you are liking the community feel:)

I have OCD and I've just started medication and therapy.

I really struggled for about three months before I spoke up. One day it just got too much and I told my Mum. We ummed and ahhed over what to do because at the time we didn't think of OCD. Finally I went to the doctor, he refered me to a psychiatrist, he diagnosed me with OCD and I'm on the road to recovery.

This site has been soo helpful to me.

Kori.

I suffer from what my physcologist refers to as an 'extreme case' of OCD. Its not that I excessively wash my hands or possess any of the stereotypical qualities associated with people suffering from OCD, but my obsession with perfection and neatness consumes me. Currently I am completeing my HSC at school, and with the stress of this montoneous chapter of my life, my compulsions have drastically increased and my OCD is somewhat 'out of whack'. Im always on edge, always anxious, always stressed, always worried, always annoyed and always down. For me, my OCD has meant that I cannot accept a mark from school that is less than 100%. I can not accept submitting a work that isnt perfect in every way, whether it be the writing, the picture or the title. For instance, when required to draw a graph for mathematics, I cannot accept the graph unless both axises are parallel to the edges of the page, the points on the graph or equidistant, and the graph is equidistant from the page edge. Often, I can spend hours attempting to draw a graph, and often have to give up because my anxiety has become so high that I have breathing problems.In addition, my environment at school and at home has to be neat, perfect if u may, otherwise I cannot stand to bare presence in that room.

I cannot accept anything less than perfect. And the irony of the circumstance is that nothing is perfect. Consequently, I'm always in a state of depression due to lack of perfection or in a state of worry, cause something is not as neat or as perfect as I want it. It really is difficult to handle. But I think Im going along fine. Whilst it may be making my HSC that much more difficult, Im grateful for resources such as this, that advise me on how to manage my OCD.

Hi writegirl333 and danny12345,

Welcome to Reach Out :)

I just wanted to thank you both for comming on here and sharing your stories in such a positive way.  I am so glad that you both had the courage to seek help and that you are both doing much better with this help.

I am sure your words and courage will inspire others :)

All the Best
Roisin- RO Crew

is there any real explanation to how ocd is trigged bec its interesting listning to others stories and i always wonder how it triggers and wats the best possible way to get rid of it from bennyc

I have just been to my doctor and she has given me a refferal to a pshycologist. I am suspected of having a case of OCD in greater detail it is a Fear of Contamination . I am always washing my hands and going out of my way just to keep the environment that I live in a very sterile place. As a result I have lowered my immune system and I get sick quite easily. Also my worry of germs causes me to throw up etc. which increases my worry and everything gets worse.

This also causes me to suffer a form depression. Sometimes I spend days in my room just lying there thinking about how I can stop getting sick and feeling sorry for myself. Since my parents have offered to get me help I feel a lot better knowing I am on the way to recovery.

I think that this is a great website.

so sad to here that and im glad that u  feel better knowing that ur on the road to recovery

My boyfriend has OCD. I'm not sure how badly it affects him in comparison to other people, but he tells me that he can't explain how he feels. He sometimes counts things when cleaning, or washing his hands repetitively, and doing things in a particular order. I know he finds it really difficult to deal with, and he was never open about it until recently.
He hasn't had any sort of help - no counselling or anything - but he hates having it, and he can get into really dark depressions a lot of the time.
I don't know what to do to help him, other than stay positive for him and comfort him...

Thanks bennyc, it's good to know that I am not alone with OCD.

Comatouse, your boyfriend's family and friends should support him to get help. I reckon you should try to persuade him to research it. That convinced me to get help.

Hope it works, Aejk

(it's Comatose)

Aejk, thanks for the advice, but the problem is that his family don't really take it seriously. Their attitude towards his OCD is that he should just get over it.
I told him about websites like ReachOut, and he was apathetic. He's worried that psychologists will think him "crazy" and send him to a psych ward, and he doesn't want to be dependent on drugs. 

We know there are other options than drugs; should I persuade him to go see his GP about it, and get a professional opinion?

sorry, didn't mean to write "it's comatose" - I thought I'd changed my name

Omg, there is something seriously wrong with me. Hurry up psychologist! I've been waiting almost 2 months! ALMOST! I think! I need help! 

Omg, there is something seriously wrong with me. Hurry up psychologist! I've been waiting almost 2 months! ALMOST! I think! I need help! 

>_

I HATE YOU STUPID FACTSHEET!!!! Ur driving me insane!!!! I swear I am not on drugs!! I just haven't slept at all!!

i dont know what i have, yet all i seem to do is be upset and angry with the world.. like people complaining about their life when they actually did it to themselves. im not talking about anyone here. more the people on the tv or radio complaining about their daughters or sons not respect them and stuff. yet they never seem to want to spend time with them, they just buy them video games and tell them to shut up. im 20 and i have a younger sister and brother. my brother unfortunately wont achieve anything in life because my parents wont help him to achieve. not saying there bad parents but yeah. i dont know what is wrong wit me i know i need help to calm this aniexty thoses thouhts but i just dont know where to go. everyone i know always gets help from me but when i need it their not there. i stress out because of my job and get upset at the others not doing theirs. and than they all start to judge and think im a bad person. my job is a full time career for me which i love but the people i work with make me hate it. i dont know what to do..