Hi Jen,

*smile* First, let me say how glad I am that you came across the blog and have found it helpful in some way - is the main thing I wanted to achieve through it.

As for me - well, is hard to tell. Ultimately, the mental side of things has been improving for about 16 months since I left my job - the ability to control my environment and my mental input to an extent - combined with opening up to everyone - helped me finally build up a little mental strength after it had been eroded for 7 years. Also helped the CBT techniques I'd self-taught w/o really realising be a little more effective.

The medical treatment has been a little more mixed - have a 3rd psychiatrist appt on friday where I expect my medication to be adjusted again. Ultimately, a standard counsellor can do little in regards to helping OCD as they don't understand that it is a medical condition, and approach it as if it is a psychological one brought on by yourself. Psychologists can help (but make sure they are expperienced in the treatment of OCD), but it depends on how severe you are - you may be able to treat it simply with good CBT techniques which they'll teach you if it is mild. If its more severe though, you need medication to get it controllable and then the CBT techniques (either self-taught or via a psychologist) can help keep it level alongside meds. Thats pretty much where I am - once the right meds are found, I should be as ok as you can be as an OCD sufferer - is just taking some time.

What I'd say to you is - don't give up hope. Once you've started getting treatment, opened up and expressed how you feel, you've taken the first step - it is a long road to recovery (and best to accept that most likely you'll always suffer from OCD to some extent) BUT it does get easier and you can start to get your life back. Also, most important - get a confirmed diagnosis from a GP/psychiatrist. This thing is called the doubting disease for good reason - knowing that its down to something OUTSIDE of you and who you are is a hell of a relief, and a great weapon to use against it.

Other then that - feel free to use this board and to email me if you need to. And I'd urge you to use the Stuck In A Doorway site listed on the main page - they're a fantastic group.

hope that helps - good luck,
Matty

Hey--I came across your website doing a search for H-OCD--I am pretty sure I have the same thing. It's reassuring seeing that you have come across the same websites that I have, maybe you feel the same anxieties that I do. It's really great that you are in treatment--I am just starting up with a new counselor. How is it going? Do you feel that the anxiety is lessening?
Jen