Hi again. A few questions:
Hi PinkBee,
First off I just want to encourage you to really take Seajoy's wise counsel to heart. She was the one who really made me understand the concept that to win the war with OCD you really have to in effect, wave the white flag. As she has said, "No war, No OCD".
What tipped everyone off to the realization they had OCD? I've noticed so many forms of this spectrum disorder that I was curious what brought people to a diagnosis, either by self or therapist?
I had OCD for well over 26 years before I realized that it was a huge player in my anxiety disorders. I always blamed the obessions on my Panic Disorder. I really diagnosed myself but then went to a psych. to kind of confirm that this was what was going on with me.
It even took a very long time for me to get the diagnosis of Panic Disorder, I had to find that out on my own too. Pure "O" ocd can be particulary hard to diagnose because there aren't any outward compulsive behaviors to observe so the person must be willing to openly share the content of the disturbing and obsessive nature of their thought life. Not easy.
What does recovery "look" like? As in, do we always have this predisposition (I believe we do) and how do we deal with relapses? I've noticed my set backs always feel like the first time again, meaning I am surprised I'm even having these fears/attacks.
For me recovery is learning to live with the presence of certain obsessional themes in my head from time to time without letting them take center stage in my mind. They can hang out back stage all they want but I refuse to let them have a starring role. In this way my brain becomes habituated to their presence to the point that they eventually just die a natural death. If I put them in the spot light by giving them intense mental attention then they grow stronger and more disturbing.
Yes - OCD is a chronic condition that can come to a head from time to time or be exacerbated by stress.
Yes - new obsessions/spikes can feel extremely dreadful with that, "Whoa!! where did that come from stab of anxiety". This should be the tip off to us that we need to employ the proper therapy to them right away.
Is anyone on this planet free from all obsessiveness and compulsion?
Probably not, but having the occasional obsession does not mean you have OCD. Having disturbing, unwanted, instrusive, thoughts in your head day and night where you can think of nothing else and that you feel compelled to fight with every fiber of your being does.
What defines abnormal obsession/compulsion?
I mean, I know there are times when I am fixated on research of something but it has a different quality of tenacity than my usual OCD checking research. Know what I mean?
Anxiety, intense fear, feelings of impending doom and dread over the obsessional content with the urge to undo it, solve it, get reassurance about it etc. is how I am able to discern the difference between OCD and constructive concentrated efforts.
Do we not believe that some of these outrageous thoughts are from the enemy, roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour? When does OCD end and spiritual attack end? And, isn't the answer the same either way? Turn toward the LORD!
In my opinion every affliction can be viewed as a part of living in a world that "groans under the weight of sin" - OCD is no different. It is a true affliction. But no matter how the enemy attacks, by physical illness, difficult circumstances,relational difficulties etc. Yes. You are right we should turn to the Lord. For the Christian all these things are intended to be used by God for our spiritual growth - to make us more useable in His hand. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purposes." (even OCD)
Having said all that -I'm quite sure that if you had high cholesterol you wouldn't only just turn to the Lord about it but you would, very sensibly, take advantage of the blessings of medical advice, medication and/or lifestyle changes in order to do your level best to manage it. All of this sensibility in dealing with high cholesterol should and must be applied to dealing with the disorder of OCD in order to manage it to the best of your ability.
Above all else you can be assured that - "God's grace is sufficient for you," that He can bring you to the place where you can come along side the apostle Paul when he said, " I will therefore glory in my affliction, in order that the power of Christ may rest more fully upon me - for when I am weak I am strong." Strong in the power of Christ - not our own. For truly faith is not found in us - but in all that He is to us and for us.
Praying for you,
Mitzi
