Anyone here familiar with obsessive/compulsive disorder?

[Droopy]

I know someone who seems to be developing the disorder. She washes her hands at least 15 times a day. Even though it is giving her really dry skin she can't seem to stop. She also can't walk through her house barefooted for fear of germs. When she washes her clothes if some clothing hits the floor between the transfer from the washer to the dryer or when she's folding clothes she must wash the clothes again. She lives with her dad who was divorced for a long time. He recently married someone and the person in question is really paranoid about her. After her step-mother has used the toilet or the shower the person in question can't use the facilities again until they've been thoroughly cleaned. I guess she's more than just developing the disorder, but I know it can get worse.

I told her that as a trucker I've used public restrooms and showers all over the country for several years and I never had any kind of illness because of it. I don't think that worked, though. I know how irrational mental illness can be.

I gave her the number and address of a psychologist that I used to see. I'm going to try and make sure that she makes an appointment and goes to see her.

[Malebolgia]

1. Sounds like a classic case.

I should know, I had it. I always washed my hands and was afraid of germs. I still washed my hands when they were bright-red and chapped. I couldn't help it. Then I went to a psychologist. I no longer have it, thankfully.

She should probably see someone about it.

[Droopy]

2. I'm glad to hear that it can be cured

Do you have to take any psychiatric drugs or are you free and clear cured?

[Malebolgia]

4. I'm "cured".

The reason it's in quotes is because I may get it again someday. Mental disabilities are never fully cured.

But currently, yeah, I'm cured of it. :)

[vetwife]

3. I know something about it working with vets...sounds like a good

diagnosis there. I am not a doc but vets tend to be guarded and check and recheck the houses, doors, are locked and are real obssesive about backs to the wall and guarded..Very guarded. They are obssessive about unexpected events and it sounds like this person is very obsessive about some sort of guilt, that is usually accompanied by this disorder. Obbsessive compulsive disorder is very very serious. Needs to be checked out by a psychiatrist. They do have meds for this. Washing is a form of cleansing to get rid of whatever is bothering them. Sat in way too many therapy sessions with vets and my husband and do know guilt association and obsessive behavior.

[Droopy]

6. Thanks for the info

I will try to make sure that she gets the help she needs.

[ReadTomPaine]

14. God as my witness I thought you were talking about veterinarians at first!

[vetwife]

15. LOL .......I forget and just say vets.....sorry !

[bobo4u]

5. My brother had it...

He developed it after going through a nasty divorce. His anxiety level was extremely high. Anxiety is the root cause of the disorder.

Today, there are pretty effective drugs to treat it. Along with talk therapy. She'll need to do both.

A pretty embarassing thing to go through. But the affliction is cured with the right treatment.

Good luck to her. She'll be fine.

[Droopy]

7. Thank you and welcome to DU, bobo4u

She has expressed that she feels a lot of anxiety. Thanks for the info.

[politicat]

8. Standard treatment is anti-anxiety meds + talk therapy.

Usually Cognitive Behavioral therapy. The meds bring the client up to baseline functionality; the talk therapy is to work through the behaviors and issues.

I have had clients with forms of it; there's a high success rate for remission and cure. Compared to some disorders, OCD is almost a relief when it comes through the door.

The trick to OCD treatment is getting the client in the door and accepting that the behavior is not productive. (If it's a cleaning compulsion, this can be a difficult thing because everyone wants to live in a tidy house and no one else in the family is likely to complain about things being TOO clean.... and other issues I'm sure can come to mind. )

Thanks for trying to help your friend. It will help her recover.

Pcat

[Droopy]

11. I appreciate the info, politicat

I will do my best to get her to get the care she needs. She's only twenty years old and I'm afraid that the illness could become much worse as time goes on if she goes untreated. I could see this as possibly being a crippling illness.

I'm really glad to hear that OCD has a good rate of being cured.

[GingerSnaps]

9. How many times does she go to the bathroom?

If she has a problem with her kidney's then I can see washing your hands that many times for sanitary reasons. The rest of the stuff sounds like she could use some help on.

[Droopy]

10. I think she is pretty healthy physically

She does not wash her hands just after bathroom use. It's mostly out of compulsion.

[Zan_of_Texas]

12. more resources

Does sound like a classic case of OCD. I've known several people with it, to various degrees. One is very successful, a rising star in her academic field. One suffered serious depression.

I just looked for a quick reading list, and found this:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Reading List for Lay Persons

The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing. Judith Rapoport, Penguin Books, New York, 1991.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In Children. Obsessive-Compulsive Information Center, Madison Institute of Medicine, 7617 Mineral Point Rd., Suite 300, Madison, WI 53717. [phone].

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Guide. Obsessive-Compulsive Information Center, Madison Institute of Medicine, 7617 Mineral Point Rd., Suite 300, Madison, WI 53717. [phone].

Stop Obsessing! Edina Foa PhD and Reid Wilson PhD, Bantam Books, New York, 1991.

Brain Lock, Schwartz, Regan Books/Harper Collins, 1996.


Also, there was posted an organization, but I know nothing about it:
The OC Foundation, Inc, PO
Box 70, Milford CT 06460

If you google "OCD" and "best book" there's quite a bit. I think when people feel powerless and anxious, some develop ritualistic behavior like washing, counting, hair pulling, checking the stove repeatedly, etc. because it seems somehow comforting.

If the anxiety can be lessened, without going the drug route, that would be ideal. The drugs can have side effects that cause a whole new round of problems.

[Droopy]

13. Thank you for the info

"I think when people feel powerless and anxious, some develop ritualistic behavior like washing, counting, hair pulling, checking the stove repeatedly, etc. because it seems somehow comforting."

That's a really good take on what I think is going on with her. I think she does feel somewhat powerless right now.

[leftofthedial]

16. No

[leftofthedial]

17. No

[leftofthedial]

18. No

[leftofthedial]

19. No

[leftofthedial]

20. No

[leftofthedial]

21. No

[leftofthedial]

22. No

[leftofthedial]

23. No

[Droopy]

25. Ha ha. Very fuckin' funny, muthafucka.

;)

[nickgutierrez]

27. I knew someone would do it.

:)

[FM Arouet666]

24. I'm a doc, but not a psychiatrist

But my wife is, and I ran the thread by her. She hates when I do this because she thinks I'm addicted to the forum, silly women.;)
Anyway, it sounds like she may have a problem. The key to defining a mental illness like obsessive/compulsive disorder vs a less severe personality disorder, or even less severe personality trait, is how much the symptom effects the persons ability to conduct a "normal" life.

Think of it this way, there are traits we all have that are not serious. Paranoia, if mild may actually be beneficial, say if you are in business. But in the extreme paranoia becomes more than a trait, it may be called a personality disorder. This has some negative impact on the individual. In the extreme, you have severe paranoid states, schizophrenia etc. This person, you mention, sounds like a personality disorder. These can be difficult to treat, but therapy and maybe medication is the first step.

[Droopy]

28. Thank you for running it by your wife. ;)

My friend is not seriously affected in her ability to get along in life. She holds down a job and goes to school. But I fear that what is happening to her will only get worse and I think it is affecting the quality of her life.

[Robeson]

26. Excellent book on the subject which is not too daunting is...

...Brain Lock, Schwartz, Regan Books/Harper Collins, 1996.

It goes into self-adminstered techniques that one can do to overcome OCD. Also, he suggests that drugs may or may not be needed at first, but after a period of time, the individual should be able to remain relatively drug free, as long as they practice the steps he outlines. I recommend this book because he is a groundbreaking researcher on this topic out of UCLA, which is a school that has done a lot of work on OCD.

[Droopy]

29. Thank you, Robeson

I will recommend the book to her.

[vajraroshana]

30. I had a case of hair-pulling, my beard to be specific...

Actually, I've had it every time I've grown my beard. I look good with my beard, but I can't stop pulling it. It sounds ridiculous. In fact, when I would pull it I knew it was ridiculously absurd. Of course I can stop. But I couldn't. Then I'd shave it off. But I really look good with it. Some guys look awful, but think they look good, but I really look good with a beard; it suits me.

So, I'd grow it back, etc., etc.

Then one time I had grown it back and was visiting relatives and my uncle that I hadn't seen in a long time was telling me how good I look with my beard. Then he tells me, "man, I wish I could grow my beard out, I used to have one, but I couldn't stop pulling on it...it drove me crazy, I wouldn't stop, so I had to shave it".

I think this stuff may have some genetic basis. Funny though, I don't have any other OBCD traits, at least not any that I'm aware of. I think it may be fairly common, though.