OCD Question. Is this normal?

Question

I will soon be meeting with my therapist to start a course of anti-depressants to help me with my OCD. But there's something that's kinda bothering me and I kinda want someone's advice until I can talk to my therapist again. Obviously, I will ask the therapist this when I get a chance. Don't ask me why I need to ask this on Yahoo Answers when I can just ask my therapist in a week. I just do.

Ok, so here's the deal. I've had symptoms of OCD for a while now, but they were usually pretty minor, like making sure all my video games are stacked neatly, overthinking stuff a bit, just mild compulsions. Recently, it's gotten really bad. For the last couple months, I've been bothered by the same thought repeating in my head over and over again. I try to block it out and realize that it's just a thought and I don't mean what I'm thinking and it won't cause me any harm, and I've gotten kinda good at it, but it still sneaks past every once in a while.
Anyway, yesterday, me and a few friends consumed some weed (didn't smoke it, we consumed it another way that's kinda difficult to explain). At first, I got a bit too high and the thoughts got a lot worse and I was acting really weird, like stopping, walking back, and then walking forward again. It wasn't because I was so high, it was compulsions. I had an extremely difficult time controlling these thoughts, and whenever I thought about it, I would retrace my steps to where I thought that thought and think another one to cancel it out. (Yeah, picture that. I made myself look extremely stupid.)
But when I got home and came down a bit, suddenly all of it really stopped. Once I sat down at my computer, I had almost no trouble stopping those thoughts. They were on the back of my mind like always, but I never actually thought them, does that make any sense? But that made me really worried, I got really anxious all of a sudden, and the trouble with the thoughts returned to its normal state. But I was still really worried, and just decided to go to bed.

Now, here's the interesting part.
I woke up, and I still have the same worry. Like why did the thought that kept popping up for a while now just stop? Is it because I was just really relaxed and controlled my mind easier? Or is there something else to it? Here's another interesting part: today, I'm back to my original cycle of thinking the same thought over and over again, but instead of the original bad thought that keeps popping up in my mind, any time I feel that thought's about to pop up, instead the thought I use to cancel it out pops up. And it's not completely involuntary.

So, here's my question. Is this normal? Has this ever happened to anyone? Can a person with OCD really just suddenly grasp control of their thoughts like that? Should I be worried? Or should I just realize nothing bad happened to me yesterday, and the increased control of my thoughts was just because I finally calmed down a little? Let me know what you think. I will ask my therapist all about this, but I would like some other advice until I get a chance to see a professional.

Answer 1

To start off with, I'm not anti-weed. I actually hope it becomes fully decriminalized in the USA.

Secondly, I also have OCD.



Weed can make some people really anxious. If you have OCD you might want to play it safe and make sure that you're feeling really calm and comfortable before you considered even consuming again (disclaimer: I'm not encouraging you though).



I've heard stories about weed helping some people reset their pattern of thought. I don't have link for any scientific studies that formally document this phenomenon (with cannibus), and such anecdotal evidence can't really compare to real scientific findings (but there's a good chance it has been studied).



Sometimes I've had sudden snaps out of my OCD cycle when I change my routine. For instance on several occasions when I was having repetitive thoughts I took a jog (even though i really wanted to do my normal compulsions instead). I don't know if it was the exercise or the new surroundings, etc, but when I got back home.... the repetitive thoughts suddenly snapped off.



The important thing is to find a strategy that works for you.



I wish you the best.

Answer 2

Hey there,



I've suffered OCD to varying degrees for about six years, so I can understand how you're feeling.



The sudden cessation of these thoughts isn't entirely abnormal. Most of the time it is more difficult to control, but the fact that upon re-entering your home, a safe haven, would appear suggestive of why you were able to control this. If you have difficulties with social anxiety as well, this is even more likely.



I wouldn't say this bout of control is anything to worry about necessarily. The thought you used to cancel out becoming a problem I can related with. These mechanisms OCD sufferers use to combat these compulsion do periodically become outdated and cease to function as they did, and actually end up becoming a thought you want to avoid.



For some people that won't be true, but it certainly is for me. New tools are required to block out new or old thoughts.



In summary, I wouldn't worry about it. The sudden control could be related as I said, to being home again. Worst case, this might reveal some level of anxiety you maybe weren't aware of when you were with friends or just being outside.



Hope this helps, and good luck with your therapy!

Answer 3

OCD is composed of obsessive suggestions (did I turn off the heater?) and compulsions to alleviate the obsessive suggestions (checking the thermostat six situations). it is likewise time-honored by using fact the sickness of "checking". My dad and sister have it. My dad says the way he avoids checking the locks ten situations is to do his leaving the homestead rituals slowly, at a similar time as questioning approximately each and each and mentally noting that he did it. If that would not artwork for you, print out a team of little lists of all of the failings you could desire to do upon leaving. As you examine that the range is off, mark a examine on your checklist. Then once you get worried questioning you probably did no longer do something, look at your checklist to work out which you probably did. OCD is the 2nd maximum hassle-loose psychological diagnosis (after melancholy). that is truly hassle-loose, and that is not any enormous deal. you only could desire to choose a thank you to regulate it. examining approximately it could probable make you experience extra sensible. Oh yeah, and individuals with OCD additionally concern an infection. don't experience such as you could desire to get treatment, except that is something which you extremely need. And pleeeeaaase do no longer pass on meds. that is lots extra sensible to stay life as your self than to be in "prozac land". And each and all of the adverse well being outcomes are beginning as much as return out.