Wellness: CBT (ERP) works for OCD so why arent we given it as a human right? ******************************************************************************************** OCD: Getting ill. Here are the facts from my experience of severe OCD over a 50 year period. 1. OCD can come on very fast once it gets triggered in the first place. It can turn from mild to severe overnight - it did so with me. 2. We lose our ability to reason when we have severe spikes. A part of our brain knows the thoughts are not true but we cannot access it and this is why we get distressed. Its like that horrible moment when you see someone you have known for years and her name slips out of your head. You dont have dementia you just cant access the part of your brain with names in it. 3. If we wash, check, stare etc more than once our brilliant analytical abilities switch off as if the sand in the egg timer has run out. Each additional time we do your compulsions the sand refills but to an increasingly lower level. In the end we feel physically sick as well as mentally drained. ******************************************************************************** Getting well. 4. OCD takes a lot lot longer to get under control than to get out of control. It can take months of ERP and CT. 5.This means having to sit with our doubt and fear for hours and most of all not going back to check, wash, stare, clean etc 6. This necessitates learning not to ruminate as we OCDers cannot find the answers we want by ruminating. ***************************************************************************** Answers. ************ I personally feel that whatever our age, if we have sudden onset severe OCD: 1.The quicker we have CBT the more likely we are to get back our control. 2. We sufferers need to be shown the research that suggests OCD is biological I argue this as it takes away guilt and shows us that we can get control with hard work. 2. We need better access to group therapy and occupational therapy to keep us well. It is not point giving us twelve weeks therapy and then leaving us without support. 3. Handing out meds with no therapy is not in our interests as: a. They can and do (in my experience) worsen symptoms initially and dont (in my experience) get rid of OCD thoughts or unstick our brains. b.There is not enough follow up and as a result patients can and do increase meds without advice or come off them just like that which is dangerous! 4. More research is needed. Neurofeedback looks very interesting and should be trialed and used to find out what is most likely to work best for sufferers. 5. GPs need to understand OCD more. Beoing told that we are the experts and then shown the door is disgusting 6. Doctors and all therapist need to listen to their patients and empower them. 7.More mental health nurses and therapists need to be trained. An OCDer with good control will make a brilliant nurse or therapist. ********************************************** Annes progress in 2014. ******************************** These photos of me were taken before and after intensive self help ERP. The first (me on the drain in blue) was taken in June. The second (me in blue looking confident) was taken in November, and the third two weeks ago. I have been doing daily ERP since sitting on that drain. Well yes sitting on the drain was at the top of my scary list but I had loads of other habits, rituals, compulsions and rumination situations to deal with before I got well. Today the thoughts are almost gone... dare I say...., and I am much freer in the house and almost totally okay down town. If a drain looms up at me I ignore it and the fear goes down immediately. I can walk on drains too. I still have trouble some nights but when I stand up to them my OCD recedes and the following night it is much easier. I now feel so much happier, freer and am really loving life. The difference between this December and last December is truly amazing. As I always say, ERP is not easy and you need: Huge determination and mental strength to do it and.. Belief in yourself and your therapist (OCD friend). Courage beyond and above. I read in Good Housekeeping today that all fears are the same.... rubbish. OCD fear is the tops because it takes longer to beat and because we have to keep on facing it to stay well. Sorry, in my opinion dear doctors, medication is not the answer for OCD. I say this because we can get and keep well without them if we are lucky. I can... What we need is CBT, support and the use of the latest technology to refine treatment. I like the idea of neurofeedback. I do think that scans would help too. Ironically, very few OCD sufferers can afford private treatment as they are more likely to be on benefits or in poorly paid work. It is hard to get promotion when you have OCD.. dont I know it. So if we do have to pay then we need a much reduced rate.. or as I keep saying group therapy with a therapist and a recovered OCDer. simples!!! she yells loudly as noone listens. I wish you wellness and implore governments and health authorities all over the world to treat us OCDers fairer and give us the treatment we deserve and need Anne. December 2014
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 20:28:15 +0000
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