OCD Intrusive Thoughts

[reddot]

I've had OCD for about 8 years, thought it would go away in a short time and here I am today. My problems: constant crazy but also sometimes logical thoughts flood my brain: Jack the Ripper, volcanos, Charlies Brown, etc. I've been on meds, go to the gym, get enough sleep, have gone through counseling including CBT etc. no real change.
I have such a hard time making decisions. I try to distinguish between the Holy Spirit and my OCD and it's really really difficult especially over preferential decisions ie. should I go on one or two mission trips this Spring? Any suggestions?

 

[OCD=Owie]

What is it about Jack the Ripper, volcanoes, and Charlie Brown that bother you? Maybe you could give us some examples of your obsessions and/or compulsions?

Also, how long have you been to counseling, and how long have you been taking medications?

I'm sorry that you're having a rough time. I look forward to your further posts!

 

[reddot]

Hi, those are examples of things I hear in my head a lot. I really don't even know who Jack the Ripper is. My point is, they come out of no where but some make sense, i.e. I heard volcano at a recent continuing education class I went to for my job.

Meds I've been on: zoloft, effexor, lexapro, luvox, prozac, I can't even remember them all. Basically I feel the need to drink more coffee when I'm on them, because I feel sleepy but no big change. They also deaden my emotions, meaning it takes a lot for me to cry when I'm on them.

 

[reddot]

P.S. I've been to counseling and tried the meds since the fall of 2003

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Try to ignore them, they have power over you only when you give them relevance. When you have an intrusive thought don't keep thinking about it, just let it pass and try to continue on with what your doing. Focus on what's real and now and not on the compulsiveness of your thoughts. Let them pass and they will lose intensity and power over you over time.

God bless.

 

[OCD=Owie]

Exactly what SoS said. That's how you beat OCD in the end.

I still don't understand, however, what you are saying your symptoms are. You have random things such as volcanoes pop into your head? That's troubling to you?

 

[reddot]

Thanks for reply about OCD. Yes, I have constant, constant thoughts pop into my head like firecrackers going off. Why wouldn't that bother anyone? It's like a person with ringing in their ears--they just want it to stop. If you heard words often nonsense, sometimes strung together, lately it's capital vs. small letters in my head...yes it would drive me crazy. So the volcanoes were one example of thousands.

I just had a three hour nonstop episode and tried very hard to ignore them and they just kept coming. Then nothing for a while, then it will start up again--that I can be sure of unless a miracle.

 

[OCD=Owie]

Hmm. Never heard of an OCD symptom like that, though I guess it makes sense. Sounds kinda like getting a song stuck in your head, only a lot more annoying? (There's some who think a similar thing happens in the brain when you get a song stuck in your head as when you're suffering from OCD.)