17Jun/11Off
How to treat OCD without a therapist and medications?
I've been suffering of OCD for almost a year now, but I didn't know it was OCD for about 6 months. Sometimes OCD gets less stronger (there are a few days when I can just let the thoughts go) but there are days when OCD is really strong. How to treat it without any medications?
June 17th, 2011 - 03:04
Firstly, don’t be too taken in by the official terminology, ‘OCD.’ OCD is really just a form of habit. But essentially it’s the same thing. As with any habit, the only way to stop it is to break the cycle and keep breaking it. Curing OCD isn’t usually an overnight fix, so it may take some time and there maybe the occasional relapses etc. But if you keep breaking the cycles, you’ll get over it.
What you’re doing isn’t rational, no matter how you may convince yourself that it is.
Letting go of, as well as not giving in to, the obsessive compulsions is the only way to cure this. OCD tends to come about as a form of escape from dealing with your fears. You’ve got used to giving in to it for the short term relief it provides. But you’re just prolonging dealing with the fear. Whenever you give in to the obsessive compulsions you’re reinforcing the behaviour (just like a habit). This is why you need to break it and keep breaking it. It’s not just going to go away. You need to be brave and make yourself do it. The more you can do this, the quicker you’ll overcome it. It’s the only way.
OCD = fear/insecurity + an irrational habit made up for short term relief.
Face the fears and break the habit.
Whenever you experience OCD try to relax yourself. OCD makes you anxious which increases the intensity of the OCD, making it more difficult to deal with. So, try to relax… and remind yourself that what you’re doing is irrational and that you know you have to break the cycle.
Imagine how you’d behave (or how even how you used to behave) if you didn’t have OCD. How do people without OCD behave?
Regular exercise and eating healthily is going to be beneficial. Keep a good sleep/body-clock, making sure you’re awake during the sun’s hours. Keep yourself active, get out as much as you can, pursue interests – anything that engages you. Finding focuses and goals is a good way to keep yourself moving in a positive direction.
June 17th, 2011 - 03:04
If it has been diagnosed as OCD, I don’t think it can be cured without medications.
Keep in mind you have been suffering it for a year.
A low dose like 10 mg clomipramine will cause almost no side effects (only a little at the beginning) and will work wonders.
Why don’t you want to take meds?
June 17th, 2011 - 03:04
Wow, Carlos, I didn’t even know meds existed for it! Thanks for the note. I’ve had OCD fo years.
I was going to say to stay aware of what you’re doing, and actually force yourself to do something out of your comfort and watch things change!