OCD and associated bad moods

[PoppyW]

Just wanted to voice my HMS anger. Is it just me - ? I find when I'm having a really bad attack I suffer with incredible OCD and real temper tantrums! I'm like a spoilt toddler sometimes and I can't remove myself from it. The OCD is terrible, I hobble around (mainly hip ache) the house lining things up and muttering, and the bad mood even annoys me.

I would appreciate any views x

[Superstottie]

Yay - it's not just me then!!! I find that I am worst pain wise on the week before my period, so have always put the bad mood down to PMT and lack of sleep, but I do get very annoyed at being in a bad mood and just get myself soooooo wound up that it annoys me even more!! And I get major OCD - my husband goes on about it all the time, but it seems to be when I am ill/in pain that I want everything just-so!! I have always been like this when ill (or drunk!! ) Hubby tells me off coz I should be resting but I am going round lining up the pictures etc and cleaning the toilet for the second time that day!!

The bad mood is probably linked to lack of sleep and the fact that your in pain - who could possibly be in a good mood with disturbed sleep and constant pain???

[evenwen]

It is also a way of taking control. When you can't control your pain or your hormones (which only increase your pain as well as making you PMT-crazy) anything movable seems a good target!

I'm always finding myself driven to move and clean more when I'm at my most sore and strung out. Daft brain

[PoppyW]

Thank you for the confirmation that I'm as normal as I can be - Not been sleeping at all recently as had lots of pain - I'm not the only one making sure the pictue frames are straight at two in the morning!!!

One of my friend said that it was pain transferal - I'm in pain and he finds it a pain me lining things up!

Whoop ! x

[Rosie]

Hi all

Poppy, I like your friend's comment
This sounds like another entry for the pain causes more stess, causes more tension, causes more pain, cause more .............. cycle. As i understand OCD worsens under stress? and persumably worse OCD would be more stressfull? So even without the hormone complication being in more pain = more sress= more OCD = etc

Rosie

[laracomps]

I get obsessive intrusive thoughts as opposed to actions I must carry out, but they definitely increase at times of bad pain flare ups etc.

For me it is def a way of my sub concious trying to control the uncontrollable, which of course is impossible... wish my head would catch up with that bit

[paw]

Are you on medication for the OCD? They use SSRI antidepressant medications and they are supposed to help quite a bit for some people. I don't have OCD myself, so that is based on reading. You could ask your doc about trying medication or consider changing the meds or the dose if you are still having serious issues.

I am guessing that you don't feel able to sit down and relax when you are in one of your attacks and that could cause you to injure your joints.

[Stone]

Are you on medication for the OCD? They use SSRI antidepressant medications and they are supposed to help quite a bit for some people.

Even if you don't use SSRIs we often get prescribed amitriptyline - mostly for pain control and better sleep but it is a tricyclic antidepressant. Could be worth trying if you're not on it already?

Stone

[juliecragg]

I am sooooo glad i found this thread. Apart from going mental with cleaning (often with a tooth brush) I have OCD with making sure all unused sockets are turned off.Which my hubbie finds hilarious when we are out visiting especially hospitals, even the staff find it funny when loving hubbie turns on a socket infront of them to show my reaction. I'm not always like it but never linked it with HMS.

[trekster]

The pain causes me to be anxious, in fact it was so bad on Xmas day that I inadvertently upset my family with loud xmas songs.
My autistic routines increase and a change of behaviour occurs because i cannot always adequately describe pain (and im scared of
being shouted down at when i do say 'ouch').

[Looby62]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread as I found it quite interesting.

I have always had a tendency to count things and make them round up to the nearest 5 or 10. It can be anything, bathroom tiles, window panes, folds in curtains!

In my head I count things over and over, it can be quite annoying, but I just can't help it.

My children used to chide me about having to have things in the 'right' place and would find it highly amusing to move things when I left a room and watch me make a bee line to put them back almost unconsciously as soon as I returned.

Over the years I have managed to tame it a little, although, I do find its worse when I am in pain or under extra stress.

It would be interesting to find out what experiences, if any, others have with this type of thing?

[gila]

hey looby
yep there are other 'counters' on here - have a look at this thread to find a few of us
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4123
my mum is a 'counter' too, her 'speciality' is counting buttons on blazers/ jackets

actually I just realized... my counting has really lessened, think I actually have not counted anything in quite a while... I'm generally doing much much better than in 2006 (date when I started the counting thread)... so maybe for me it only happens in times of stress?????
xxg

[Looby62]

Hi gila,

Thanks for the reply and the link.

That's the great thing about this forum, being able to bring things up that I wouldn't feel comfortable talking to others about.

I'm pleased for you that the counting has eased off and relieved to know it's not just a me thing

[gila]

yep this forum is a godsend for talking about 'all and any' peculiarities we might have and therefore no longer feeling like 'the only one/loony'
xxg

[Fluffym]

I have been on paroxetine for years now, but as I seem to be having adverse side affects my Dr has told me to stop taking it and take Cilitopram instead - just like that - no weaning off one onto the other. I am terrified!!!! I have been looking up about paroxetine withdrawal and it sounds horrific. Have any of you had any experience of this or hints and tips how to get through it. My Dr told me to just go with it! Any reassurance would be wonderful.

Thanks you all

Fluffym