Need some help/advice..

Hi guys, I'm going post something I posted to the Sexual Abuse section, because one of the replies I received on there was that it sounds like I have OCD. I was wondering if you guys can help me out. Here is my post(s):

"Hi, my story is a little different. I haven't been raped or sexually assaulted.. I was molested when I was 7 years old by a 15 year old boy... but I don't know that it has anything to do with what I'm gonna talk about. I have been mugged before, and semi-stalked by a former co-worker who wouldn't take the answer no to a date, as the final answer, this was years ago though. What my problem is, is that I am very paranoid when it comes to being attacked by a man. One of my biggest fears is getting attacked/raped/murdered, etc... by a guy. I think I've kinda let the fear become obsessive. The TV news so doesn't help either, when you hear the stories of attacks and whatnot. The reason I say I've become paranoid/obsessed, is that I get scared at night in my house. I'm 24 and still live at home while attending college, but my Dad works nights, so I'm here with my little brother and my mother.. they sleep fine, yet I'm usually up until 5am, just cause I can't really sleep at night anymore. I check almost every room in the house, closets, etc, sometimes, because I just let this fear that some man will be hiding in the house somewhere get to me, and when I check, I can breathe a little easier... I saw on the news this guy broke into this woman's house, hid in her closet until she came home, she went to bed and then he raped her... since then, I've been even more freaked out, even though it would be impossible for someone to sneak into my house as there is someone always here, and its not that big a place. What do I do to get over this? How am I ever going to live on my own when I am this scared not living alone?"

She responded back about possibly having OCD, and then I tried to look OCD up and one of the other symptoms was having disturbing thoughts as well. I replied to her:

"I never thought of that before. Would symptoms also include constant fear or worry that I might repeat what happened to me when I was little (being molested), to any future kids I may have, nieces, nephews, etc? Cause I know in my right mind I would never do anything like that, it's completely wrong and horrifying, but that doesn't stop me from worrying about it and those disturbing thoughts, and then I just feel disgusted with myself."

Can anyone help me out?
Thanks
Trish

What you have described is definately OCD. There are two apparent workings of it with you: You are a 'Checker' (Checking closets & rooms) and you have intrusive thoughts in your mind. Both of these are symptoms of OCD.


The things from your past are deplorable and would have given you a very bad view of the world. As a young girl that view was imprinted onto your brain. I believe that this is the root to your problems now. They have made you scared of the world and scared of your fellow human beings.


There are two things that you can do to help yourself:

--> Go to your GP, tell him / her what is going on, and ask to be referred to a psychologist.

--> The other thing you can try is self-help.

Firstly, try not checking the closets and rooms for at least one night during the week. Perhaps you can alter this by just ensuring that doors and windows are locked / shut. This is a common thing to do. However, don't start repeating the action - Once is enough. Also, do not watch the news or read a newspaper for at least one day in the week. See how you feel then.

Finally, the thoughts in your head should not upset you. Just dismiss them as irrelevant.

Chucky wrote:Finally, the thoughts in your head should not upset you. Just dismiss them as irrelevant.

What?? If someone can simply dismiss their intrusive thoughts as irrelevent they don't have OCD. There's no way I could have just dismissed mine when I had it.

I was referring to the thoughts about her harming her own children in the future. The other thoughts are not so easily dismissed.

Chucky wrote:I was referring to the thoughts about her harming her own children in the future. The other thoughts are not so easily dismissed.

Intrusive thoughts are, by their nature, irrational. It won't matter that the person knows they would never do it, they are still just as hard to dismiss.

I disagree totally. Sometimes the ideas in our head are so far-fetched that we can use common sense to dismiss them as irrational. These are the thoughts that require the least effort to dismiss.


Other thoughts are harder to dismiss because they are not entirely irrational but actually seem very rational to the person.

Chucky wrote:I disagree totally. Sometimes the ideas in our head are so far-fetched that we can use common sense to dismiss them as irrational. These are the thoughts that require the least effort to dismiss.


Other thoughts are harder to dismiss because they are not entirely irrational but actually seem very rational to the person.

Since when is OCD a rational disorder? You cannot out-logic OCD. I had ITs that seemed rational to me and some that made no sense, the latter were sometimes easier, sometimes harder to deal with, it usually varied simply on the level of obsession which wasn't determined by how rational they were. Certainly there was no way I could just dismiss any of them as irrelevent. If I had been able to - it couldn't have been considered a disorder.

I'm quitting this argument for it is getting too technical and will therefore cease to end. Take care my friend.


Stick to good Karma.

Chucky wrote:I'm quitting this argument for it is getting too technical and will therefore cease to end. Take care my friend.


Stick to good Karma.

Thanks, anymore and I think I would have gone cross-eyed