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On the National Mental Health Association website, it states this:
On average, people with OCD see three to four doctors and spend over nine years seeking treatment before they receive a correct diagnosis. Studies have also found that it takes an average of 17 years from the time OCD begins for people to obtain appropriate treatment.
If that information is true, then I see no hope for myself. I've spent my entire life dealing with OCD, yet it took me over half of it to realize what was wrong with me. My fourteenth birthday is in five days, and I have yet to even tell someone that I suffer from OCD besides my best friend that lives twelve hours away. I have only seen two counselors in my life. Before I quit public schooling, I saw the school counselor, but I received no aid from her whatsoever.
Now, I have quit public schooling because I did not want to deal with my depression, OCD rituals, or the constant fear of being judged by others. I am now seeing a family counselor, and although she is slightly less difficult to speak with than the school counselor, she cannot help me. From what little information I have gathered about this counselor, she only specializes in family problems or petty teenage situations.
Additionally, I have called a suicide hotline once but hung up because I was once more afraid of communicating with a stranger. Minutes later, they called back, my parents listened to the message, and I crawled under my bed hoping to die. My dad called the hotline back and shoved the phone under the bed for me to talk to this woman. After about ten minutes of my silent crying, she finally got me to speak. I started to not tell her anything, however, and when she asked me to hand the phone back to my father, I panicked and blurted out that I had bad OCD and anxiety. Yet she was only interested in my rare panic attacks and did not give me any advice on how to get help.
I can't talk to people that I'm not comfortable with. I just can't. In my prior school, I never spoke a word to anyone unless required. People used to ask me, "Why are you so quiet, Abby?"
Now that I am homeschooled and secluded from society as much as possible, my the degree of my anxiety has lessened. This also makes OCD thoughts less frequent and easier to resist, although that may just be my imagination. There are indeed some benefits of never going out, but I don't want to live this way. I'm only nearly fourteen years old. I want a life, and I want to be normal.
I'm not totally sure of what I'm asking. I just know I need help, and the only way I can effectively communicate with someone I don't know is through writing. I guess I'm desperate and I need advice...
Ha, I am finally able to submit my question, and I get no answers? So funny; maybe it is a sign from God that I should end my life. I would done it already, but I'm not particularly brave.
Well, thanks everyone for nothing. Literally.
Well nevermind. ?
Answer by Doctor J
Hi Abby. First, it is obvious that you are very intelligent. So, start by giving yourself some credit for that.
Also, please appreciate that you are not alone - many, many people are experiencing the same issues you are facing.
Next, give yourself some more credit - you are making a variety of efforts to help yourself!
I have a variety of suggestions for you.
1) Continue to call and talk with the hotline counselor. The more you talk with her, the more comfortable you will become with her. She is there to help you - give her that chance.
2) Continue to communicate with your friend. Sharing your feelings and fears with another person always helps!
3) Write about your feelings and fears - keep a journal and write just for yourself. Again, the more you can express your feelings, the more you will be able to accept and manage them.
4) You are aware of your issues, so you are NOT going to need 17 average years to get proper help. Continue to seek help - your family doctor may be a good place to start.
5) Finally, it is important to understand that the type of problems you are experiencing often have a physiological CAUSE. Dietary imbalances, chemical sensitivities, environmental pollutants, chronic digestive problems, and a variety of other conditions can impact the functioning of your nervous system and contribute to, or even cause, your symptoms. So, consider getting a thorough evaluation by a health care professional trained in: 1) nutrition, and 2) environmental medicine.
Because you impress me with your intelligence and research skills, I would also like to recommend an excellent book on these issues by Sherry Rogers, M.D. The book explains the many known causes of conditions known as "affective disorders" (depression, OCD, panic attacks, etc.) and how to properly treat those underlying causes. The name of the book is: "Depression Cured At Last" - but it covers the entire spectrum of problems you are experiencing. It is out of print, but still available from Amazon.com from various used book dealers.
Best wishes and good luck.
Answer by Brian M
Dear friend, I have also expierienced these symptoms, it is also a struggle to over cem, however it is very possible and well within your abiliies, trst me, the isses which I have conquered leave me doubt hat if I can beat those other can do the same. unforunatl there isn't a simple or single solution, everyones circustances differ, due to our issues arising from personal expierince and emtions in our lives, see a therapist, or social worker at the very least, and aim for small yet notcibe results, rather than the mentality that these isues can all be adressed together at once, and be honest with yourself, then you will start to unravel the motives behind your actios, and impulses. Then you will no longer be effected so easily but derpession and OCD.
Answer by lisa
you are suffering from depression and anxiety. ocd is a part of anxiety disorder. consult a good psychiatrist/counseller/psychologist. educate youself about anxiety and depression. i was in depression 5 years ago. then i consult a psychiatrist and got treated. but since past 1 or 2 years i have been suffering from anxiety, mild ocd etc. but now the anxiety and ocd thoughts are less frequent. now i am happy again and i am enjoying the things that i couldn't be enjoyed before. so don't give up hope. suicide is not a solution. the problem is depression, anxiety and ocd. solve these problems with the help of a good psychiatrist/counseller.
you can find some solution here - http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_types_symptoms_treatment.htm
http://helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm
Answer by flyingdebris
I don't think that those OCD stats apply to you. I have been diagnosed with OCD since I was twelve, and I developed it around 10, so that was only 2 years. It did take a while to get the appropriate treatment (I started CBT at 16), but that's nowhere near 17 years. The first person I saw diagnosed me with OCD. So those these may be the average outcome, there's nothing to say that this has to happen to you. Show your parents some information on OCD, and tell them you want treatment. Yes, you'll have to talk to a therapist, and CBT is hard work, but I think you can do it. Email me if you want some good articles or websites. I would also recommend joining the stuck in a doorway forums if you haven't already. They are an excellent support forum which I joined about a year ago. my email is evilfudge17@yahoo.com (I am 17, girl, have dx'd OCD, thought disorder(which I disagree with), depression, anxiety, and psychosis/schizophrenia)
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