"Pure OCD"

[Autumnlicious]

Apophenia, from what I can see, Pure-OCD sufferers are treated by teaching them to become passive or inured to whatever their doubts are by use of fatalism, ridicule and humor.

So if one is going into an anxiety breakdown over "I just looked at a guys crotch, am I gay?" (HOCD), the correct technique is to go "So what if it is? I have no reason to fear or be upset". Or to mock the fear. Or to be an Eeyore and say "That's just how it's going to be".

In other words, allowing them to answer their fears is the WRONG thing to do. Assuaging them is quite unhelpful -- they just poke holes in what you say.

I now understand why marijuana has been so critical to my current state of mind -- I use it to artificially decrease my anxiety and become inured to what makes me uncomfortable, which ranges from sexuality to mentoring young ents (pot smokers to be) and tracking them under the rationale of "they're my clan". I get incredibly controlling in things I am actively working in and get incredibly upset when I feel someone is daring to steal control.

Let alone when someone actually does.

Are Physical OCD types treated the same way? Told to mock their fears, to become classically trained out of it by decreasing the emotional "spike" (I call it an adrenal spike, because when I do begin to feel incredibly bad, it's almost invariably precipitated by that sudden shock-pulse in my chest and my heart speeding up like a runaway train)...

[Shell B]

I'm pretty sure that physical OCD sufferers are told to ride out the anxiety without performing the compulsion so they retrain themselves and over time do not feel the anxiety.

[Erinome]

Since as far back as I can remember I have had dermotophagia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatophagia

I've tried pretty much everything to rid myself of this and stop, but nothing works. Not even yuck tasting nail polish, as I am more of a picker than a biter.

Everyone who knows me can tell if I am having a stressful week just by looking at my fingers. Sometimes I go into these trances where I do nothing but focus on my own fingers, and I don't even hear people speaking to me. It sucks.

[twocompulsive]

I have obsessive compulsive disorder as some of you may already know : it is not severe and is manageable
without medication : now am obsessed with symmetry but does manifest itself in rather bizarre ways too
I cannot put empty crisp packets in bins or look at my wet footprints in a public space or wear anything
with patterns or be attracted to any woman with asymmetrical tattoos or write rough notes in a pen
now none of these things are hard to do or not to do but anxiety can arise if they are not followed
through : it does not last long but it is there nonetheless : I am used to it so it does not bother
me and some have it much worse than I : am all alone and shall spend the remainder of my
life in that state but that does not bother me either : just keep busy and avoid contact with
humans : I also have anxiety but that is preferable to depression which I no longer have

[King_Charles]

Moros is right, trying to think your way out of unovert OCD is like trying to dig your way out of a hole.

I would also take issue with the label of Pure "O" which is really rather misleading, the terminoligy used currently is OCD without overt compulsions. This kind of OCD had complusions like any other, on the compulsions are thought processes rather than actions.

[Shell B]

I would also take issue with the label of Pure "O" which is really rather misleading, the terminoligy used currently is OCD without overt compulsions.

It's slang. Notice the quotes in the title? Also, I've never heard it referred to as "OCD without overt compulsions." Seems like I would have. Purely obsessional OCD or Pure OCD are the terms usually used. They call it purely obsessional because the compulsions are mental and part of the obsessions. You can take my word on that.

This kind of OCD had complusions like any other, on the compulsions are thought processes rather than actions.

I said that. I'm also very much aware of what it is.

How did this thread turn into a semantics debate?

[Annik]

I'm not sure he read your posts. I wouldn't worry about debating him, Shell. :3

[Shell B]

There is nothing to debate. There is not anything anyone can tell me about it that I am not already far more aware of than I care to be.

Seems a silly thing to jump into a mutual support thread and present facts already mentioned in the OP as if they are an argument against the OP.

[King_Charles]

It was not my intention to start an arguement, I was just offering my 0.02 cents worth... my post was not directed against anyone, if anything I was agreeing with your posts Shell, which I had read.

[Angrboda]