troubles with depression and pure o?

Since my second/current obsession has began I've been feeling depressed on and off, when it first started the depression somewhat overshadowed the ocd thoughts and anxieties but recently It's gotten better or at least i don't notice it as much as the obsessive thoughts and mental compulsions anymore. However whenever i begin to make progress with the ocd by using mindfulness and not reacting to the thoughts i sink back into a depressive state until this causes the ocd to take back over and I start stressing out again. Is there anything i can do? No-one knows about my problems and I would prefer to not to tell my parents/see a professional unless i have to.

Do you think the OCD masks the depression simply because it keeps you agitated giving you the feeling you are not depressed?

At any rate it is very common to have a mix of anxiety and depression for whatever reason. Some people have depression despite the OCD and others are depressed because of the OCD.

As far as what you can do alone, maybe others can speak to "home remedies" they use. There are cognitive changes you could make, or what you call mindfulness. Diet and exercise will help. Becoming more social and staying active in things is a huge help for me.

I never told my parents what was happening because they wouldn't have understood. They would have been sympathetic, but that's about it. But if your life is too weighed down seeing a professional could do you a world of good. If you have never seen a Pysch or a therapist, I know it can be hard. I wasted too many YEARS going it alone before I finally saw someone. I wish I had done it sooner.

good luck,

Otter.

otter wrote:Do you think the OCD masks the depression simply because it keeps you agitated giving you the feeling you are not depressed?

At any rate it is very common to have a mix of anxiety and depression for whatever reason. Some people have depression despite the OCD and others are depressed because of the OCD.

As far as what you can do alone, maybe others can speak to "home remedies" they use. There are cognitive changes you could make, or what you call mindfulness. Diet and exercise will help. Becoming more social and staying active in things is a huge help for me.

I never told my parents what was happening because they wouldn't have understood. They would have been sympathetic, but that's about it. But if your life is too weighed down seeing a professional could do you a world of good. If you have never seen a Pysch or a therapist, I know it can be hard. I wasted too many YEARS going it alone before I finally saw someone. I wish I had done it sooner.

good luck,

Otter.

I hope that's not the case although i suspect that it is. I never was really depressed back when i went through my first obsession but this one hit me a lot harder. When it comes to getting help where would you suggest I go? I've read that it's hard to find help for ocd let alone pure-o but i feel like if the depressive element wasn't involved i would be able to deal with the obsessions myself. Also i'm not old enough to legally drive by myself in Australia yet so I would likely have to tell my parents which is pretty scary for me because I'm not really close with them at all.

That's a tricky situation th14. I was 17 when I had my breakdown (I am Bipolar, not something that is happening to you). I was living with my father and he didn't understand the situation at all. He was a "pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps" kind of guy. My mom, who didn't live with us, completely understand and helped me a lot. However, because I was under my Dads insurance I had to go to him, and he paid my Pysch bills, which is didn't like. But he never really made it bad for me.

You seem like an intelligent and thoughtful person. Can you go to your parents and say, "I'm going to handle this, but I need a ride here and there and for you cover the cost?" I'm not sure how the health care works there in OZ.

What I'm saying is, is there a way can approach them without confusing them or making them upset, but still dealing with it?

On the point of WHO can help you. Almost all therapists and Psychiatrists know what OCD is. They may not be specialists but I'm hoping your not THAT severe (not that I'm trivializing what is happening to you). They can work with you at this point. Also a Psych may want to try low dosage meds (SSRI) to help treat the anxiety and depression.

I know all of this sounds like a lot, but you can take it a step at a time.

Home remedies or going it alone is fine, if you really can handle it and it gets better, not worse.

At my worst my OCD was taking up 50% of my day. That is way out of control! These days when things flare up my meds help and my own method also helps, and it comes and goes rather quickly.

Like so many problems, we see what we can do alone. If it is beyond our ability to handle then other steps need to be taken.

Otter.