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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on April 18, 2004, at 13:50:03
Suddenly I have this huge awareness of how perilous the world is. There are countless opportunities for me to bring shame on my self and on my family. The car, work - opportunities for disaster are everywhere.
I just want to curl up at home where I can't possibly bring harm to anyone.
I know what my therapist would say. I can say it to myself. I can answer myself and give his responses to my answers. Sigh. After nine years of therapy I've got the OCD flareup episode down pat.
I'm not looking for reassurance or anything. I am just kind of discouraged, that's all. It'll pass.
Posted by justyourlaugh on April 18, 2004, at 17:15:47
In reply to OCD flareup, posted by Dinah on April 18, 2004, at 13:50:03
dinah,
i think it is remarkable your ablity to see that all things pass.
dont curl up at home dinah..
we need people like you out in the world.
j
Posted by Dinah on April 18, 2004, at 18:37:05
In reply to Re: OCD flareup » Dinah, posted by justyourlaugh on April 18, 2004, at 17:15:47
Yeah, I know it flares up and subsides again. I know the tricks to make it subside quicker, or at least not to feed it.
But it still feels rotten while it's happening.
Posted by All Done on April 19, 2004, at 2:15:13
In reply to OCD flareup, posted by Dinah on April 18, 2004, at 13:50:03
(((Dinah))),
I know you're not looking for reassurance, but I want to say that you are such a beautiful person and while I know it's difficult sometimes, try not to be so hard on yourself. No reason to feel shameful and I bet you couldn't harm a fly.
You are a wonderful mom, wife, doggie mommy, daughter, sister, therapy client, employee, Babbler, friend... You've just been through a lot at work, right? So now, you need to focus on you for a little.
Take care of yourself,
L
Posted by rainyday on April 19, 2004, at 8:02:42
In reply to OCD flareup, posted by Dinah on April 18, 2004, at 13:50:03
Dinah, I hope this passes swiftly for you. You are the rock of PB!! It hurts to see you upset at all. I find that my panic attacks come up and bite me in the behind when I least expect them now, although I guess I deal with them a bit better. It's still hard to experience an episode when you think you have made so much progress.
(((Dinah)))
rainyday
Posted by Dinah on April 19, 2004, at 9:05:32
In reply to Re: OCD flareup » Dinah, posted by rainyday on April 19, 2004, at 8:02:42
Thanks guys. I am trying to take good care of me. I know it will pass. And awareness of the pattern *does* help. I can't decide whether to call my therapist or just have the conversation in my head instead and save him the bother.
Posted by Tootercat on April 19, 2004, at 11:01:15
In reply to Re: OCD flareup - All Done and » rainyday, posted by Dinah on April 19, 2004, at 9:05:32
Dinah,
The Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety.The woman who started it is named Lucinda Bassett and she is a "surviving" OCDer, etc. They have a 15 tape "program" for dealing with OCD, Panic Attacks, etc, etc. It (I believe) saved my life back in December and January when I wanted to leave the planet permanently (or so I felt). The tapes with sessions with real people replaced the "voices" having a doomsday conference in my head with what really was happening and how to recognize and deal with my particular symptoms. If you'd like I can give you their web address. The program isn't cheap but it has been worth every penny because I am alive and "okay". Yes it will pass on it's own. I'm just offering you a way to move it along a little faster with less "damage". And NO I don't work for them (LOL).Hang in,
Love,
Toots
Posted by Dinah on April 19, 2004, at 11:28:49
In reply to Here's what helps me » Dinah, posted by Tootercat on April 19, 2004, at 11:01:15
I'm glad you found something that worked for you!!
I've pretty much got the OCD under control with the exception of flareups that I think are as much of my mood cycles as anything else.
In fact, predictably enough, I think the OCD flareup is lifting to give way to a depressive drop. Which too, will pass. And come back. And pass. And come back. And pass. And come back.
Well, you get the idea. :(
Posted by spoc on April 19, 2004, at 17:54:14
In reply to Here's what helps me » Dinah, posted by Tootercat on April 19, 2004, at 11:01:15
> Dinah,
> The Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety.The woman who started it is named Lucinda Bassett and she is a "surviving" OCDer, etc. They have a 15 tape "program" for dealing with OCD, Panic Attacks, etc, etc.
=======
Dinah, you might really want to consider keeping something like a tape set around.... Tootercat, I bought this program myself many years ago (the tapes have probably changed by now). What I used it for then and still pull it out and use it for sometimes now, is the times I absolutely must Must MUST shut my thoughts up, and no way will TV or radio do it. It has to be something more specific to the situation or general "predicament" of being a person with complicated head problems to work on. So what I mean is that I think it could help someone with just about any nature of problem, even if not the ones named in this set. Any type where a big part of what they need is to *stop thinking*! To me it's like applying someone else's voice *directly* to my brain, like a salve, to mute my own. And that's 90% of it. If I need that in a concentrated dose, I even listen to the tapes through headphones instead of on the stereo.This doesn't crop up that often -- much of the rest of the time I can even be in silence with no TV or anything, just thinking -- but I have been glad it's there when I need it, and during the period I first bought it for, it was immensely helpful in making sure things didn't get worse when the intrusive thoughts set in.... I think this and other kinds of tape sets could be useful on that principle, so I also recommend keeping a couple around! Dinah, just to stop the thoughts, you could even try books on tape or language tapes or something! I recommend headphones, somehow that way your brain has even less of chance of wresting control from the speaker! : )
Posted by Mrs. C on April 19, 2004, at 19:00:31
In reply to OCD flareup, posted by Dinah on April 18, 2004, at 13:50:03
Hey Dinah, I would be interested to know what your therapist would say about OCD flareups. I just recently started therapy for my OCD and haven't been given any tools yet to help me through the difficult times. Mrs. C
Posted by Dinah on April 19, 2004, at 19:21:31
In reply to Re: OCD flareup, posted by Mrs. C on April 19, 2004, at 19:00:31
Well, at this point he would probably just remind me that I'm coming off a deadline and I always have an OCD flareup afterwards and that if I just ride it out it will go away. That it's perfectly normal (for me) and that I've lived through it before. And that I'm doing way better with it than I used to. I'd be torn between appreciating him and wanting to yell at him.
But when we first started he worked a lot from "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" and I really enjoyed "Stop Obsessing". I combined whatever cognitive behavior therapy techniques worked best for me. I really liked the one about singing the obsession. Anything to rob the obsession of power. Then breathing and grounding techniques to minimize the panic. CBT worked really well for my OCD.
Is that what you're therapist is using?
Posted by Mrs. C on April 19, 2004, at 19:32:01
In reply to Re: OCD flareup » Mrs. C, posted by Dinah on April 19, 2004, at 19:21:31
Dinah, Thanks so much for replying. Mine is using EMDR therapy. I have only gone once so far and it seemed a little strange to me. He has me think of something that will cause me to obsess and then he moves his hand back and forth while I watch it. It really calms me down. He also has me listening to music with headphones. The music goes from one ear to the other. The therapy is supposed to get both sides of the brain working together to help you see things clearer instead of obsessing. Tell me about your therapy techniqe sometime. I am very interested in learning more. Thanks, Mrs. C
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