Is OCPD/OCD connected with depression?

Hi, I'm new to this site.. I'm 15 years old,female. I've been clinically depressed for about a year. I'm on medication. I also have OCPD, which has recently started getting worse. I was wondering if anyone knew wheather my depression could have triggered my ocpd or maybe ocpd lead me into depression?
Another question, does counting things continuously fall under OCD or OCPD?

Hello my dear,

I think that counting would fall under OCD but that doesn't mean that you are OCD and not OCPD. Your symptoms can show varying degrees of both disorders. What are your other symptoms anyway?


It'd be tough to say which came first - Depression or OCD/OCPD - And I believe that the only one to really know for sure would be yourself. Through self-analysis and research (On Depression and OCD/OCPD) you might be able to form a clearer picture of how you got to the painful state that you are now at.


The OCD/OCPD symptoms were probably the first to be noticeable for you. However, the depression was already there in a small way. The OCD/OCPD might have just brought you deeper into depression. I don't think it's possible that one caused the other directly. It is more that they both began to emerge their ugly heads slowly over time.


Take care always and forever my dear,
Kevster

hey there,

Having ocpd my self, not ocd. Rituals that you spoke of are associated with ocd.

And it stems from anxiety.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/HealthInformation/ocdmenu.cfm

depression can be related to other disorders tho, or can stand alone. Or even as simple as diet and exercise. But if it is chronic, it could be a seperate issue and needs to be addressed as such.

You might check the thread on the difference between ocd and ocpd. They are quite different. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive- ... y_disorder

Best of luck, PMFJI chucky. Just wanted to add that from my experience and view point.

I have found that my ocd and depression are connected. When I go through a really bad episode with my ocd, I go through a deep depression. It's like an on going cycle for me. when all the stress and anxiety caused by my ocd starts to fade, it gives me more time to think about where my life is going, and I'm actually able to put my disorder in perspective, it really gets me down.

I think there could definitely be a link between the two. Depression is commonly comorbid to ocd. So there has got to be some connection.

Like Ddee said excersize and a change in your diet could really help a great deal. Try taking up a new activity. I have recently started playing tennis and it is a great stress release. Yoga is also something that has helped me with my mental anguish. Finding something that you are good at and something that gets your heart rate up can really boost you mood.

Best of luck to you
Amy

Thanks for the replies, they were useful.
My other symptoms of ocpd (or ocd, I'm not quite sure yet) are having to always be in control of everything, arranging things in perfect order, checking things, grouping objects according to colour..ect. People say I'm a perfectionist and I get easily upset if things don't go the way I planned them to go, or if something happens that changes the way I planned out my day to go.I also have a thing with the number 8, and have to do things 8 times or touch things 8 times to get them to feel right. I don't like odd numbers so I try and avoid them as much as I can.

I found that whenever I have an episode of deep depression, my anxiety doesn't get worse, it gets better (I suppose)..I don't do many of my "rituals" as much, because I'm usually in bed the whole day or just preoccupied with my suicidal and negative thoughts in my head. I feel too tired to do anything,so sometimes I don't do all of my "rituals". But then after my depression gets a bit better, I feel guilty for not doing all my rituals and such so my anxiety gets worse...

Hey ..bbg..

I believe that it is all a big cycle. When I have bad episodes with OCD I go into a deep depression that last a really long time. Also (like you) I hate odd numbers so when I do something an odd number of times and theres no way of changing it I get really anxious and when I get extremely anxious I start to get really depressed and when Im depressed I start to have intrusive thoughts, which are part of my OCD. So like I said to me it is like a big cycle that just keeps going.

I think that it is a big help to keep active. If your active a lot then it will keep your mind off of things, but once your already in a deep depression it is hard to be active because you dont even want to move so you should try to do something active everyday to keep your depression from getting that bad. I know some people are'nt really active but it doesnt have to be anything extreme, just something you like to do that gives you some exercise. I hope things get better for you.
Take care,
Kayty

Hey,

Like Kayty said, it is all one big cycle. I have been going through a similar cycle to yours for a long time now. Basically, I go through days of stress, anxiety, and obsessions but then crash because I have over-exerted myself. I have managed to control this somewhat though: Whenever I feel that I'm near a big crash I take a day off work / college and that usually suffices for recovery.


Oh, this might be weird - I have an 'obsession' with ODD numbers. I much prefer them to even ones.


Kevster

Thanks again, I looked up both OCD and OCPD , and I think that I have ocpd, because I'm not obssesed with dirt and germs ect...I heard Prozac helps with ocpd , and I'm taking prozac for depression right now, so I'm hoping it will help with ocpd as well.
The toughest part of me going through this is that it's hard for other people to understand how I have to be in control of things. I had a really bad episode of ocpd recently when I was at my boyfriend's house and it was really hard for him to understand what I was going through because he doesn't understand ocpd and he got angry with me because of some of the "rituals" I had to do and we got into a fight about it which made me even more depressed later. we're fine now, but I don't know how to explain to him all the thoughts and everything that goes through my head because he thinks I should just "get over it".

Depression can be treated with certain psychiatric prescribed medications like LEXAPRO- http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s3258-s-LEXAPRO.aspx - but about ODD and OCD, these need special attention: you cannot just treat it with medications, and you need precise doses. Well, my grandfather took LEXAPRO because of his depressive nature, he got mentally unbalanced when he lost his wife ( my grandma) and since that, he's been suffering from acute depression, and sometimes I feel that OCD and ODD maybe part of it..

I have been on Lexapro for nearly two years now (At varying doses). It was slow to take effect but it eventually kicked-in (after about two months). It appears to have a mild numbing effect on the mind. I use the word mild because I have seen people being put on other medication that just shuts their whole body down completely.


In essence, Lexapro is a neat drug but is no guarantee for a cure.


Kevin