Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Help.?

I havent been diagnosed with OCD, i might be seeing a doctor soon, but does anyone know how i could stop having to even sides. E.g if someone poked me on my left side on my shoulder i would have to even it out by poking the right side. It's really anoying because i am bumped at school everyday. I know some symptoms like trying to get your mind off it by exercise video games etc. But if there is anything else, please share.
Thanks

Do You suffer Pain?

maybe you should seek help before it gets worse. try speaking to a therapist or councellor.

Distraction is a good technique, but the basis of your problem is anxiety. Once you talk to a therapist/psychiatrist, they will probably prescribe you anti-anxiety meds. After a couple of weeks of taking these meds, you will notice a difference in the level of need you feel to be 'even.' Medication is even more beneficial if used with therapy. Hope this helps.

So you like even things...sgniht neve ekil uoy oS
Does that make you OCD?...?DCO uoy ekam taht seoD
LOL!!...!!LOL

I'm sorry your OCD is upsetting you so much. It's not easy to live with, I know, as my son and I both have it too. We both have the "evens" thing, and to be honest, neither of us have been able to do anything to stop it. The only way to make it more bearable for us to embrace it, and try to see it as just a part of us. We've told our close friends about it, so they understand and dont think it odd when we do it, and we try to have a positive attitude towards it. I know that's not much help, but that's our personal experience. There are many people who have OCD, with greatly varying symptoms, once you've been diagnosed and are confident enough to speak to people about it, it's truly amazing how many people have strange "quirks" due to OCD. Does it help you to know that you are not alone, that many people you see walking around the streets are doing the same, many of them trying to hide it. After some soul-searching and much thought, I decided that the reason it annoyed me so much was that I didnt want people to think I was "odd", but now I know a lot of people have these traits, I dont feel so bad about showing the "real me". I'd rather worry about keeping myself right, and not suffer for not following the compulsions, than worry about how others see me, when most people have something they are trying to keep secret too!! The only opinions that matter to me now is my friends' opinions, and they know why I act the way I do, and it's not a problem. It's far worse to try and live with supressed compulsions.

OCD can be challanging to live with, but if you can overcome the fear of what others think of you, and learn to like yourself the way you are, you'll be a much happier person. I know that some people with OCD have great problems functioning because of their compulsions, which totally take over their lives... This symptom is annoying, but wont threaten your lifestyle.

If you find you're worrying about it excessively, talk to a doctor, there are treatments, but I would try to control it yourself if possible. Now you know what it is, you have a reason for it, and that does help make it easier to live with.

Best of luck, and if you want to talk, send me an email

Tracy xx

TRY COUNTING BACKWARD FROM 100 WHEN YOU BEGIN OBSESSING.

OCD is now called OCSD (Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder), due to the many different behaviors and rituals; the compulsions and obsessions cause us to engage in.

Things like: Anxiety/Panic Disorder, Contamination Fears, Checking and Counting Behaviors, Social Phobia and Social Anxiety Disorder, Eating Disorders, Body Dismorphic Disorder, Addictive Behaviors, Sexual Acting Out Behaviors and Sexual Obsessions... to name just some of the "spectrum" classifications...

For what it's worth... statistically, 5 out of 10 of the world's population have OCSD... (the U N's World Health Organization classifies it number 8, on their TOP TEN list of disabling illnesses)... but, only 1 in 5 know that this behavior has a name and that it's a treatable illness...

Distraction is a form of activity that seems to help, at least temporarily; because it "cuts" into the compulsive thought process to ritualize... by increasing certain brain chemicals that affect our thought processes and behaviors.

Try wearing a rubber band on one of your wrists... and, when ever you are feeling the urge to perform your ritualized compulsion... distract yourself, by pulling the rubber band, and snapping it against your wrist.

The pain produced, will temporarily create enough brain chemicals to disengage your "even-ness" behavior.

Also, get yourself a copies of "The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing" by Judith L Rapaport, Ph.D, or, "The Sky Is Falling" by Raeann Dumont... and "educate yourself" on the subject!!!

the MORE you know about it (and, names of SOME OF THE FAMOUS PEOPLE who've suffered from it)... the BETTER you can DEVELOP SOME SKILLS in MANAGING IT... by yourself... and, "feel comfortable" talking about it with your friends, your family, and others...

Medication often "make the behaviors worse", rather than better... so, look at "alternative ways" to deal with your OCSD...

good luck,

i've had it since the age of six... and i'm now 58... and, still dealing with it!!!

Learn the art of ignoring what isn't important and doing what is instead.

What you are describing is typicaly OCB, This is fueled by Anxiety, Leads directly to the point of why it is classed as an Anxiety Disorder. The most important thing is to let the thought fade out of you mind and keep telling yourself that its a thought which is trying to upset you. Talk to your GP about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Good Luck.