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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by freedom2001 on June 26, 2002, at 10:01:37
Dear all, a quick one.......
I've been on
3 fish oils
4 prozac + 1 trazodone + 1 tianeptine for OCDdue to increased stress, eating of a cake, not enough sleep, my OCD symptoms worsen considerably.
a small section my inner left brain seems to 'move' from time to time. Can anyone explain to me what's going on? is there a worm, devil or what?
i have read that bananas help in the illness and started taking 4 bananas a day to raise my serotonin levels. do bananas (5HTP)really help?
i suspect it's not just my serotonin levels, but also dopamine, NE and GABA stuffs as well. How do I confirm my theory? Do I need to decrease my dopamine and NE levels?
Also I have a severe problem here. In the past, I would walk on my galfren's left side with my bag on my right hand. But out of a sudden, I wanted a 'more perfect' walking system. I would ruminate and think about the perfect way to hold her hand, walk by her side etc.
THIS IS DRIVING ME INSANE! PLS HELP. Pls advise me on how to remove my desire for perfectionism and how to be contented with my old style of walking. The compulsive thoughts are really killing me. Is exposure and prevention the BEST way to combat it? Eg. Exposing myself to the situation causing the anxiety and preventing myself from thinking about it? My compulsions are based in the mind and so how do I not think about it? How do I change my personality to be less perfectionistic?
My galfren is thoroughly annoyed with my condition and I don't want to lose her coz I LOVE HER!
Pls help!
PS I feel better when I pray........
Posted by rainbowlight on June 26, 2002, at 13:33:42
In reply to HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!!, posted by freedom2001 on June 26, 2002, at 10:01:37
Have you tried the other Antidepressants that are used to treat OCD? I have found small doses of Zoloft to be helpful in getting rid of the type of thoughts that you describe.
Posted by Kat26 on June 26, 2002, at 17:49:31
In reply to Re: HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!!, posted by rainbowlight on June 26, 2002, at 13:33:42
Hey Freedom,
as a fellow OCD sufferer I can understand very well how ANNOYING these thoughts can be. Hey, I think it is great that you feel better when you pray. I pray a lot too.
I have really been helped by Prozac, but I think cognitive/behavioral techniques are good too.
Have you ever noticed that what you obsess about changes over time? Like, right now it might be your walking style, but maybe a month ago it was something completely different?
It has sometimes helped me to remember that WHATEVER I OBSESS ABOUT AT THE MOMENT, SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE IT WILL BE NOTHING BUT ANOTHER OBSESSION OF THE PAST. You knw what I mean?
My psychiatrist has shown me that when you resist the compulsions, anxiety increases. When we do the compulsions, the anxiety is gone for the moment - but just to come back with a vengeance. What we really need to do is LET THE ANXIETY INCREASE (by not doing the compulsions) until it reaches the point WHERE IT LEVELS OFF AND FINALLY GOES DOWN AGAIN by itself. And that will ALWAYS happen. If we do the compulsions, we cut that off from happening, and the anxiety can make its painful comeback.Hope this helps a bit,
Kat26
Posted by freedom2001 on June 26, 2002, at 22:15:33
In reply to Re: HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!!, posted by rainbowlight on June 26, 2002, at 13:33:42
> Have you tried the other Antidepressants that are used to treat OCD? I have found small doses of Zoloft to be helpful in getting rid of the type of thoughts that you describe.
I haven't tried zoloft, as it is too expensive in Singapore. Anway, what is the recommended dosage of zoloft in small doses?
Posted by freedom2001 on June 26, 2002, at 22:27:58
In reply to Re: HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!!, posted by Kat26 on June 26, 2002, at 17:49:31
> Hey Freedom,
> as a fellow OCD sufferer I can understand very well how ANNOYING these thoughts can be. Hey, I think it is great that you feel better when you pray. I pray a lot too.
> I have really been helped by Prozac, but I think cognitive/behavioral techniques are good too.
> Have you ever noticed that what you obsess about changes over time? Like, right now it might be your walking style, but maybe a month ago it was something completely different?
> It has sometimes helped me to remember that WHATEVER I OBSESS ABOUT AT THE MOMENT, SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE IT WILL BE NOTHING BUT ANOTHER OBSESSION OF THE PAST. You knw what I mean?
> My psychiatrist has shown me that when you resist the compulsions, anxiety increases. When we do the compulsions, the anxiety is gone for the moment - but just to come back with a vengeance. What we really need to do is LET THE ANXIETY INCREASE (by not doing the compulsions) until it reaches the point WHERE IT LEVELS OFF AND FINALLY GOES DOWN AGAIN by itself. And that will ALWAYS happen. If we do the compulsions, we cut that off from happening, and the anxiety can make its painful comeback.
>
> Hope this helps a bit,
>
> Kat26Hi kat, true, what I obsess changes.....a few years back, i would try to pronounce words the perfect way......that drives me crazy then. Now I actually have 2 obsessions, the location of the hole on my belt as well as my walking style.
thanks for the advice. It seems you are teaching me exposure and prevention. But it can be difficult at times....i agree with you that the anxiety will increase when we don't ruminate and after a while, it will decrease and disappear.
I'm now on 4 fish oils to see whether my 'will power' to resist the compulsions and be improved... i remembered that when i was on 2 fish oils, my condition seemed to be the same. when i was on 3 fish oils (equivalent to 2.4g of EPA and DHA), my condition SEEMED to stabilize a bit. So I'm now taking 4 fish oils (equivalent to 3.2g) to see how it goes.
I'm taking out the tianeptine as it is a serotonin reuptake enhancer. I suppose it makes serotonin LESS in the sypnase. How does it work actually? Why does it heal depression when it decreases the amount of serotonin in the sypnase??
I'm going to eat 4 bananas a day as well to increase my 5HT.....
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on June 27, 2002, at 2:57:00
In reply to Re: HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!! » Kat26, posted by freedom2001 on June 26, 2002, at 22:27:58
SSRIs in high are the mainstay of treatment for OCD.However adding a high dose of omega-3 fish oil (5-10g daily of EPA plus DHA) give relief to many.Unsuitable though for those with blood disorders.
Posted by rainbowlight on June 27, 2002, at 17:54:53
In reply to Re: HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!!, posted by freedom2001 on June 26, 2002, at 22:15:33
I have used 12.5 mgs. and 25 mgs. a day (I take it in the morning). It makes me a bit drowsy but it does help a great deal with my anxiety/OCD.
Posted by freedom2001 on June 27, 2002, at 23:22:32
In reply to Re: HELP NEEDED IN TACKLING OCD PROBLEM!!, posted by rainbowlight on June 27, 2002, at 17:54:53
> I have used 12.5 mgs. and 25 mgs. a day (I take it in the morning). It makes me a bit drowsy but it does help a great deal with my anxiety/OCD.
May I know which medication you are referring to?
This is the end of the thread.
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