What are everyones' views on this as I feel publicity etc is vital in this area?
For some time I have suffered from Intrusive T... - OCD Support
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For some time I have suffered from Intrusive Thoughts. I t seems that this aspect of O.C.D. is very secretive and not discussed subsequently
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welshchequer
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Charlotte_OCDVolunteer
Hello!
Yep, it's true that the intrusive thought side of OCD isn't talked about as much but there are some really good examples of it being discussed. In The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling, one of the characters has paedophile fears and on the recent Extreme OCD Camp (on BBC3), one of the participants had violent intrusive thoughts.
I think that it can be a problem because people are so worried that they won't be understood properly. It's tricky to say to someone "I think I might hurt someone", but with proper education into what OCD actually is, I think people can understand.
So yes, it does need to be talked about more, but I think we have a good start.
Lottie :o)
Hi,
I too have intrusive thoughts and agree that there is not enough publicity on OCD.
People do not realise it is an illness and it winds me up when people use the term loosely.
Like,"he is so OCD" when someone just likes things to be in order.
I was out once and in a well known dept store I saw a mug that said, " I am obsessive compulsive"
With the recent press of 2 super markets selling Halloween clothes advertising mental illness I wish I had said something to the manager in the store about the mug.
Sammy-jojo in reply to
Hi dyanna, I absolutely agree I too get very angry even to family when I try to explain that my children struggle so much since about age 4 I noticed my girl had to have a certain amount of chips on her plate she was a quiet good child stayed in her room for about 10 years I actually didn't think deeply about it, I sadly didn't seek any help as the OCD term is so 'oh my I'm sooo OCD blah blah' your sadly right in saying casual and loose , also being the reason why I didn't seek help !!!and I could punch myself repeatedly for not seeking, my girl is now 17 and we have seeked help after just surviving an overdose that she didn't tell anyone and 6 hours in resuscitation then you know you need help, it has now come to light that she has over 60 obsessions with compulsions and they are controlling her whole life ' jump on the tracks and climb back up onto the train station platform before the train pulls in expected arrival 1.30 mins' double touch everything, throw and catch your iphone5 above a running bath, put your head on the floor when in public, look at your belly button when in a shop..the list goes on & on, flicking lights ten times and plugs.. my son has intrusive thoughts with all the extras including sleep problems and nasty thoughts saying what will happen to me if he doesn't do a task, hes now 18 and knows that these threats won't happen but he said he didn't want to risk it and imagine if it did happen just because he said no!!! so he completes the task , task example: at age 6 he set fire to the brand new bedroom carpet !!! Err we could of all been ....I never knew what was going on in his head I just thought he was a very very naughty impulsive yet over emotional boy super bright in maths but sadly removed from ten schools even naughty boys school, he has 28 police convictions 25 with court fines and probation. So for anyone who uses the OCD phrase lightly in my presents beware as I may get a compulsion to retaliate . Getting help now but doctor receptionist ....what is there problem!!! Kindest regards Sam please check out my questions to see if you have any info that may help me
Hello,
I also suffer from intrusive thoughts. I have told people that i have this as it does affect me but some people do just brush it off because they sometimes do not understand the severity of it. Because it is a "taboo" subject, if you tried explaining it to even your nearest and dearest you feel there is a chance that they will see you in a different light and think that your a weirdo. People do not understand that OCD is more than just cleaning, to be honest, i didnt know it was OCD until i had a few sessions of my therapy left. TV only shows the cleaning side to it which i personally think is painting the false picture to people who do not understand the disorder. Its not fair as when we tell people they think there is some thing else wrong as we arent as tidy and organised as other OCD sufferers. There should be more coverage as what I say is the darker side of OCD.
Hi,
I totally agree with you. For years I have told my husband and mam that I felt I had OCD. They would laugh about it (not nastily) as it is a bit of a running joke that I hate housework. However I always said to my hubby I felt I had it in my 'mind.' That was the only way I could explain it. I've been seeing a psychotherapist for about 6 month now. It's only recently I understand, through research, that you can have OCD without being obsessively clean. I think I may have bdd too 
There needs to be more focus on the obsessively thinking OCD as people are just using it as a badge of honour to show how clean they are!
I totally agree. It's great that the cleaning side of OCD is opemly discussed,although I know people with very severe cleaning ritualistic problems that destroy their life. The fact as you say 'badge of honour' undermines the very severe sufferers whos life is being destroyed.Hopefully if we all keep talking, 'intrusive thoughts' may lose its stigma and great steps made forward to the public of this evtremely isolating and suffering cruelly of this side of the disorder. Thankyou.
with intrusive thoughts i find that laughing at them helps,,treat them as nuisance children, if you try to block them they really do affect you,,,there is EMDR,,where you move your eyes to the right or left and blink very fast,,this replicates REM sleep in the brain and should clear the thoughts to some extent,,,it is used mainly for people having flashbacks as in PTSD but it works quite well on intrusive thoughts as well...
Charlotte, I once told my counsellor that i accepted that I am capable of killing someone ( as we all are) and she totally freaked out,,but if you think about it, knowing that we are all capable of killing someone, it takes away a certain fear of society/people and, because we are normal and because the fear is taken away/reduced it brings a certain peace to your life and noxious people fade into the background,,,fear is the basis of OCD and many related conditions, control the fear and the rest will fall like dominoes.
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