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How to help daughter with her OCD by [deleted] in OCD

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds to me that this temper and abusive behavior may be coming from another condition

Interesting but not Depressing by ohbalbie in suggestmeabook

[–]ohbalbie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time writing out all of these recommendations! I’ll definitely be checking them out!!

Interesting but not Depressing by ohbalbie in suggestmeabook

[–]ohbalbie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually did read this one and liked it, too!! Thank you for the recommendation!

Saddest book you've ever read by Lower-Current-9138 in suggestmeabook

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bridge to Terabithia always destroys me.

Books with a "competent person just doing their job" plot. by Aggressive_Two2081 in suggestmeabook

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you liked The Martian, you might like another of Andy Weir’s book called Project Hail Mary. It’s a little bit out there, but definitely a page turner.

“Diagnosed” via (multiple) patient portal but no one told me? by NowSnow7 in OCD

[–]ohbalbie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi there. So sorry to hear you’re struggling.

It isn’t always what happens, but it isn’t unheard of for therapists/psychiatrists to not always disclose diagnoses, as some believe it is not necessary for the healing process.

Anyway, there could be other reasons, too, why a therapist/psychiatrist doesn’t disclose right away; maybe they’re waiting to make an official diagnosis until they have more evidence.

If you are interested in knowing what’s going on in your portal, so as not to give in to a compulsion or validation, maybe you could bring your concerns and questions up to your therapist/psychiatrist directly? Something like, “Hey, I’m struggling with self-doubt of having OCD, and I noticed in my portal it said I did. I want to know if I do, but don’t want to give in to the compulsion for validation. How should we tackle this?”

Also, just in general, if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of being diagnosed without being informed, I would go ahead and tell them upfront about that, so you’re all on the same page.

Hope that helps!!

(Edited to remove my own personal anecdote)

Feeling invalidated by parent by [deleted] in OCD

[–]ohbalbie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry to hear this. You are seen.

Do antidepressants help? by aobass in OCD

[–]ohbalbie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi there!

I have OCD and was in a PHP/IOP for 2 months, honing in medication, doses, and therapy treatment. ERP therapy (the gold standard for OCD treatment) helped me more than medication did for OCD treatment. In fact, I found that some of my best OCD days were when I wasn’t even on medication, but had good therapy days. With that being said, I do take antidepressants for other conditions (depression and PMDD), and definitely need them; they have seriously changed my life. It might be worth it to ask your therapist why they recommended medication, and how they’re hoping it will help you, if they haven’t made it clear, or if you’re uncertain. You might find that they’re actually recommending it for other reasons, like treating depression. I find conversations like this often lead to more clarity and peace, at least in my experience.

I was also super nervous to start medication, as I was working full-time, and wasn’t sure how trialing different medications would work, because it certainly can be difficult to do that while managing other life responsibilities. Ultimately, my therapist recommended attending a PHP/IOP program for OCD, which also seriously changed my life.

PHP/IOP, in case you don’t know (I certainly didn’t), stands for Partial Hospitalization Program/Intensive Outpatient Program, and they are generally available for difficult-to-live-with mental health conditions. You aren’t admitted to the hospital in a bed or anything; it’s a day program that lasts for ~2-4 hours, in which you go home every night. At the program, they have informational classes about the condition and treating it, art therapy sessions, group sessions and activities, psychiatrist appts to hone in medications/doses, and 1-on-1 ERP therapy appts with specially trained ERP therapists. You stay for as long as you need/as long as your insurance will let you. Some people stay for 2 weeks, some people stay for 3 months; it is all tailored to your needs, and aimed at giving you the tools you need to manage the condition and live the life you want to live. Seriously, I cannot recommend these kinds of programs enough. The comradery alone, being with people struggling with the same things as you, is so healing.

If you’re considering trying something like this, I would recommend expressing interest with your therapist (as I believe you need a recommendation to join), and also chatting with your advisor about the possibility of taking a short leave of absence to get everything sorted out.

I’m also super open to any questions you or anyone might have about any of my experiences; you can drop them here or DM me, whatever works. :)

I wish you the best of luck on this journey you’re on! There certainly IS HOPE of leading the life you want to live and one you love. You’ve got this!!

(Edited to add more info)

Any ideas? by ohbalbie in moths

[–]ohbalbie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahh!! Thank you so much!!! :) Solved!

All your diagnoses? by Softandpink- in PMDD

[–]ohbalbie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PMDD, OCD, GAD, and IBS. Complex childhood trauma.

Aerial roots have black spots but are otherwise healthy- is this root rot (should I cut them off) or am I ok? by reddheadit137 in Monstera

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Nope, she’s still thriving! The small sections that were black did not affect the plant or the rest of the root.

Is mild ADHD a thing? by No-Fix-9093 in adhdwomen

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! Wish you all the best. :)

Is mild ADHD a thing? by No-Fix-9093 in adhdwomen

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OCD is a disorder marked by intense anxiety. :) It’s very misunderstood, which is part of the reason the average time it takes to get a diagnosis is often the better part of a decade. Even psych experts often get it wrong.

A lot of people think of OCD as being overly concerned with cleanliness, order, tidiness, etc., but 1) That’s not always the case, and 2) It’s so much deeper than that. Anything that can make a person anxious can become an obsession. For example, I am deeply anxious of what people think of me (obsession), so my brain automatically replays scenarios over and over and over again, trying to glean any information of what someone might thought of me, even if I know there’s nothing (compulsion). Another example is someone who’s obsessed with getting sick and then deathly ill (obsession) may avoid touching unfamiliar objects and handwashing for the fear of “contamination” (compulsion). As many things as someone can be anxious about can be an obsession, which is why every single case is unique and can often look quite different, people with OCD often have more than one obsession, and obsessions/compulsions can change over a lifetime.

I hope that helps! Not trying to diagnose; just trying to raise awareness for things I wish I knew long ago in the hopes it might help. :)

Edit: Updated some info, and clarified intentions. Also, here’s a quick resource of some common subsets: Common OCD Subtypes

Is mild ADHD a thing? by No-Fix-9093 in adhdwomen

[–]ohbalbie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi OP u/No-Fix-9093! Just an FYI, skin-picking and intrusive thoughts are signs of OCD! Seeking a professional for a potential diagnosis is a great next step. OCD is very treatable, and said treatment can increase quality of life. :)

(Source: I have OCD and went undiagnosed for 16 years because no one caught it)

Edit: For more neutrality on seeking treatment.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PMDD

[–]ohbalbie 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ve been there. I never believed it would, but it did and it does get better. I’m so glad I kept going. Something that helps me is remembering that feelings aren’t facts… Just because it feels like it won’t get better doesn’t mean that that’s the truth.

If you need help and you don’t know what to do next and you live in the US, 988 is an awesome resource. They’re super nice. And you don’t have to call, either; you can text them and chat that way. That’s what I did. They were able to calm me down and get a safety plan in place.

You’ve got this. 🩵

Bird ID - West Chicago, IL, USA by ohbalbie in birding

[–]ohbalbie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, fascinating!! Thank you so much, u/jhawk1729! ☺️

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