OCD...I think the "C" should stand for Control. It is all about control. When I think back on my life and how I live it, I like to be in control. If there is a repair needed at the house, I have to be there asking all sorts of questions. I probably drive the repair people crazy. The same goes for many aspects of how I live my life.
As far as the ADD, I don't need a test to tell me I have it, have always had it. I have learned to live with it. At work if somebody asks me to order something, I put it on a post-it-note and stick it on my badge that way I can't miss it. It is there staring at me everytime I look down. Because I work in a lab, I have things that end at certain times. I use timers for them. Sometimes I am wearing two at the same time. EVERYONE knows that when the timer goes off in the bathroom, its me!
My son has ADHD but not so much the "H" part. I'm not sure what got him that label other than he used to fiddle with his shoes, etc while in class. He does take medication and is in high school now. I'm thinking about asking him if he wants to stop the meds to see if he has learned techniques to get by without it. He doesn't use them on weekends and he doesn't use them over the summer. He does have an IEP and is in a program especially for kids with learning differences. This way I have an advocate at the school and its not me emailing the teachers and bugging the crap out of them.
I have a Nook...if you have one maybe I can share the book with you. I have never tried that before.
Being in control is part of that too? No wonder my mom was labelled as a "control freak" by the psychologist! She was diagnosed about 3 years after I was...she claims I somehow "gave it to her". ugh...lol!
Ya...maybe you're right about the pamphlet thing...I'm not a hypochondriac ( my eldest son is though...and my mother ) but I do tend to "Feel sick" when others around me are sick. lol
Just like you, I constantly think about the future...trying to be prepared for possible war, famine, break ups, etc. lol
I have always assumed that I was being "sensible" by trying to be prepared. But everyone just tells me that I'm a "worrywart".
I was told by my old psychiatrist that my "thinking" was due to the ADD though...could be both...who knows. lol
You should get tested for the ADD...I wasn't tested until later in life...they didn't have that "disease" before the 90's...of course we all know they DID, but most older people don't believe in it because there was no name for it back then. If it wasn't a confirmed "affliction" by the 1800's then it still doesn't exist. lol
My MIL is the WORST for that...ex school teacher that she is...ugh.
Glad I could give you a chuckle...life is too full of un-pleasantries to sit and wallow.
Hi there tschock. You made me laugh even though OCD is absolutely no laughing matter.
OCD, it just covers so many things from fears that lead to ritualistic behaviors that lead to anxiety and then those damn irrational thoughts that lead to overwhelming anxiety. As an OCD sufferer though, I don't think I would want to be handed a pamphlet becuase I think it would just add fuel to the fire so to speak. If I don't know somebody else is doing it, then maybe it won't come into my own stupid mind...LOL. I don't need any more ideas, I come up with enough of my own.
With my own OCD, whenever something comes up out of the ordinary that I know isn't health related, I chalk it up to OCD no matter what. I also have undiagnosed ADD by the way. Way back in the day, there weren't any tests but I remember that every report card said I "talked to much." That I "wasn't paying attention." I wonder how many people have ADD and OCD together.
Anyway, to get to your answer about books. I have not read the OCD Workbook but people seem to like it. I think it is more for teaching CBT and how to handle OCD. I read a book by Joseph Luciani called Self-Coaching and I really liked that one. It explained about OCD and the whole control issue. It also talked about some CBT. We, apparently, like to control everything around us and when we can't then that leads to anxiety. You cannot control when you get sick and your body needs to vomit but I'm sure you try like hell to. I am the same way with other things. I want to look far into the future, predict every possible outcome, and be ready for it and usually those outcomes are the catastrophic ones because of course my glass is half empty and that just leads me to anxiety and more thoughts.
I'm glad to hear your handwashing isn't off the hook right now. My sister had that problem when she was 7 along with all the other OCD stuff. The doctor chalked it up to "growing pains." If that doctor were alive today, my sister would probably strangle him. She like you is doing much better.
Together my sisters and I (3 of us have OCD) have decided that women with OCD are strong woman. We get the things done that need to get done. So I'm telling you that you are a very strong woman as well. We take what is given to us and we make the best of it. Sometimes my sisters and I sit around and laugh about what stupid irrational thoughts have popped into our heads. Its nice to hear "I thought that one too!"
Anyway, take care and I hope things continue to go better for you.