I have OCD. It is from a fear of Germs. I refuse to share food/drink with people, I dump fists rather then shaking hands and if I have touch something or someone, I must wash my hands before eating. Or I will not use my hands to eat things (i.e. if i wanted to eat chips, i could not scoop them up in my hand I will either wait and wash them, or just not eat). I go as far as not being able to kiss y husband on the mouth most the time. we are cheek kissers here. AND it would be a cold day in hell before he put his tongue in my mouth(good thing he totally understands me and my issues:))
How do I cope, I honestly have been this was for so long, it is just a way of life now. when we are out I carry Sanitizer. Or make a break to the bathroom frequently to wash my hands.
If my kids want to share say a bag of chips or something you have to dip your hand into, I do it for them. Having their hands near the food freaks me out.
It is more of a thing where it is just my daily routine or practice, to avoid the things that freak me out with this OCD. It is when I do not stay within my comfort zone, that I start having anxiety attacks about it.
I also have this thing all my numbers have to be set to an even number. Like the heat in my van is on a dial that turns up or down,,,the number stays on the front of the air system. If it is on an ODD number I have to switch it. For whatever reason ODD numbers in my head are hard to look at. TV volume is another good example. If it is not on an even number, I will have to move it...Just knowing it is on an ODD number will make my mind race until it is fixed.
Again both are something Ihave dealt with most of my life....at least the 20 years I can remember. I have never had to take medication for them....I did work through them while in counseling. But also was encourage by my counselor with this motto..''If it is not broke, then do not feel you need to fix it'', meaning....If these are things I am ok with dealing through on a daily basis, just embrace them. Understand they are irrational and move through them. Best advice ever....Because I was always very down on myself that I was like this.
My youngest(who is three) also has severe OCD. He has many learning and behavior disorders..Sensory Processing Disorder(SPD), Oppositional Defiance disorder(ODD) and High Functioning autism(HFA).
It was not until this summer we realized how bad his OCD's we effecting his life.
They make mine look like a cake walk.
I have to do EVERYTHING for him. If someone else attempts to do so, he will flip off the deep end. And with the ODD, that can be very scary. I have had him come at me with all types of crazy stuff, like the day he had broken into the tool shed in the back yard, got out on of the sharper yard tools and then come at me with it. I have been given black eyes, bloody lips, you name it I have had him do it to me.
We can not take him anywhere, that a big crowd could freak him out. Like Church, or bigger family functions, or a play ground. The uncertainty, the stuff going on around him freaks him and and he fly's off the handle.
He has a compression suit that he wears most of the time to help ward the fits off. He also wears a pair of highly muted shot gun ear muff's. I had to go and buy them at a specialty store. We call them his magic ears and he was able to put stickers on them and make them very special.
He also has to have the house in a certain order. His stuff has to go back in the same places they always go. If they are moved, not put back or he is unable to find them, lord watch out.
He is a very delicate soul. I never know really when he will blow up, or when he is going to be mister amazing. When he starts freaking out, there is no stopping or calming him down. And just about anything can set him off.
To say we have to walk on egg shells to keep him happy, would be an understatement.
He is currently in the process of getting into the IEP PREK program offered through our school district.
His conditions are so strong, that he is qualifying for the FULL day program.
On top of this he sees a Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Autism Specialist.
Once school starts he will not only still get those services outside of school, but will receive them during the school day as well.
I am hoping the structure the school day can bring him, will help calm the OCD issues we have at home. I am hoping that it will give me enough time during the day to make sure that the house is in order for him getting home.
We are still to try the Elimination diet with foods to see if that helps him with some of his issues. We have yet to start that process though. Waiting on a nutritionist and food allergen person for the Professional assistance with it.
OCD are not that horrible. At least the ones that I have dealt with through out my life and the life of my son. I think Personally, they are harder to watch people deal with, then they actually are to deal with them. Your brain sets up buffer's around them. I know when one of mine has been triggered and I know what to do to ward off or control the anxiety I can get going through them.
It is all about educating yourself and allowing your brain these functions. I think if you try and fight it, it only makes things worse. Owning it and finding way to just deal, has been the best thing for us.
I hope this helps:)
