Constantly go over in my head what I've just done

I have ocd and have been to the dr. I make mental lists so I don't forget to do things. I am taking an antidepresent which has helped. Some of the things I did ocd wise, I've gotten past. I used to wash my hands when I was 18, but I quit that somehow. I used to be so bad that I had to make lists to take my meds etc. But whats been bothering me lately is my memory. I can't seem to remember without thinking what I've done today or yesterday. I think since I continually go over what I've just done (laundry-put the soap in- turned machine on ect) in my head that there isn't alot of room for other things. I can't seem to get past this. Anyone else feel like this?

Hi,

I am indeed like this, and I have been for a few years now. It is caused by an 'over-active' brain (or mind) - That's the best term I can think of to describe it. Our OCD takes up a lot of our cognitive thinking, and we thus fail to take in bits and pieces of info around us. This gives us the impression that we are forgetting things but, in reality, we never remembered them in the first place. They were picked-up by our eyes or ears - yes - but they were never stored anywhere in our brains.

Admittedly, a combination of an anti-depressant and Cod Liver-Oil has boosted my memory somewhat. The anti-depressant calms me down a bit (so that my brain is not 'over-active'), and the Liver-Oil is known to improve memory anyway.

Kevin

Thanks for the reply Kevin. Have you done the cognative therapy stuff? I made a dr. appt today and go next week, just my normal MD and then he will schedule someone for me to see to start this cognative therapy, or at least thats what he told me last time we discussed the ocd. This is driving me crazy, does it not drive you crazy?

Ramey, it drove me crazy indeed; and it turned me into an immensely anger person. I would shout abuse at my family even. I did get therapy though, and - yes - it was Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This is highly regarded in the field of psychology as being the best form of therapy for treating a lot of different disorders. Basically, you're lucky if you get a place with such a therapist.

I had about 15 one hour sessions with my therapist over the space of about two years. She basically 'rescued' me, but didn't cure me. What she did was helped me learn how to cope with OCD, and learn how to keep it in check so that new obsessions wouldn't arise! I'm still using her techniques that she taught me to this day.

Take care,
Kevin

So there is hope for me

There certainly is - there is hope for everyone who tries. Tell me how it goes anyway. I will be interested to hear back from you.

Kevin