Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
my OCD has been getting out of control for a few months.....like since the beginning of the winter....i've talked to my therapist and explained that maybe medication would help and my therapist said it's worth talking to my psychiatrist about.....i'll just be exploring my options......i have an appointment with my psychiatrist on tuesday....i bit the bullet and told my mom that my OCD was getting kind of out of control and that i was gonna explore options of medication....my mom said,"well i think you feel that way because it's nearing the end of school and you don't know what you're gonna do after..." i wanted to say,"no, it's been going on long before.." but she had to cut me off because she couldn't hear me because it was raining so hard....how do i tell her that it's not because of what she thinks??? my parents have done this before...i was diagnosed with depression in college and they thought i was faking or that i was depressed because i was having a hard time at college.....i was depressed long before i even went to college.....i'm going to visit them on wednesday and will be staying with them until sunday so i don't want things to be awkward....i could just wait until i see them on wednesday, but i'm a little worried because if my psychiatrist offers me a new medication or something and i get it filled or whatever, i dunno....i'm afraid that my parents will blame me or yell at me or not understand....so how do i explain myself and make them understand without bruising the relationship???
Regardless, your diagnoses, treatment choices, and discussions with your therapist and psychiatrist aren't their business. You don't need to justify or convince them of anything - you're an adult, you're making healthy choices to be the healthiest and happiest that you can be, and the pressure of getting them on the right page might be a little much for someone who is struggling with their condition right now. Does your therapist have any advice on this? I think it'd be a good topic to bring up with him/her. If you feel the need to discuss all of this with your parents during your visits (or if they broach the topic), you can try to keep the conversation brief by saying that you can appreciate that they have opinions on why you are experiencing life the way that you are, but that you are choosing to trust medical professionals in terms of the appropriate treatment.
Try not to worry too much about bruising your relationship - it can be hard for friends and families and partners to understand OCD or other anxiety/depression disorders when they haven't experienced anything similar, but that's no excuse for being unsupportive. *They* are bruising the relationship, and your goal needs to be focusing on your health, not on their comfort with your situation.
I hope you feel better soon!!
Do you think your parents could handle a conversation where you explain to them how their comments make you feel? It could be that they just care for you and want what's going on to be easy and temporary, even though it's not. If they trust your therapist and psychiatrist, maybe they just need to know that the way they're handling your challenges is making things difficult for you?
And good luck with beginning medication! Just remember to give it some time, and to be open to changing prescriptions - my first couple didn't agree with me, but eventually my psychiatrist and I found a combination that has helped immensely.