dirty and contamination OCD

[shadowcolor]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone here has felt like medication (such as Zoloft) or therapy, such as exposure without the response in behavior therapy, has helped them with their OCD.

I have had OCD in varying levels since I was a kid; as an adult, my main problem has been in regards to trying to avoid things that I feel are dirty, such as public restrooms. So it's pretty much impossible to get a regular job or be in a relationship. I have started taking Zoloft (now at 100) but it hasn't helped my OCD. I have considered behavior therapy, but it seems very scary to me to have to touch things and deal with the contamination fears, and I feel that I will fail and disappoint people. It's also expensive.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has had any success for this type of OCD problem as the result of medicine or therapy. Thanks very much for any responses.

 

[txjeepin]

i had that type of ocd when i was younger. i only overcame it by facing my fear and purposefully touching things that i believed to be contaminated. Your brain starts to realize that things are not such a big deal and starts to ditach meaning to germs/dirty things.

I once believed that people put poison in every food that i ate. i only overcame that by not picking apart my food for impurities and just ate it whole. VERY STRESSFUL but for me it was the only way. Once you get over this you will laugh at yourself and realize just how silly worrying is!

Now i have pure obsession and it is very debilitating for me but i am going to deal with it. anything is possible, remember that.

 

[shadowcolor]

Thanks alot.

So, you don't take medication for your OCD?

 

[siren_0_0]

edit

 

[shadowcolor]

Thanks alot siren_o_o.

I must say, despite alot of research and counseling on ocd, I have never heard of neurofeedback therapy. Could you perhaps explain to me what this is, or maybe give a reference to learn more about it? Has it helped you in some way?

It is interesting to me that you suggest jobs that require the use of the brain alot; that is exactly what I would like to find. Academics is what motivates me the most. I recently had a job delivering pizzas, but it was very stressful, and now I have alot of stomach pain and some other small health issues, while looking for new employment, that may have been caused by that stress.

Thanks again for the encouragement.

 

[Tressa]

i had mainly the germ phobia thing, but it's pretty much completely gone since i started taking Luvox (aka Fluvoxamine)

the only symptom i have now is that i lift up my foot when i pass a driveway while i'm in the car...thank god it doesn't happen when i'm driving though

 

[shadowcolor]

Thanks Tressa.

I wonder, have you had many bad side effects with Luvox?

 

[indigo91]

paxil

Im going to be starting on paxil next week its supposed to help with anxiety and ocd,I hope so!