Question hi. I'm 17 years old. I live in the UK, i came across this site on google, looking for ways to find out if i had OCD. My friends always used to joke that i might have OCD because i'd put my wardrobe in certain orders, my books would have to go down in sizes, everything i place in my room has to be in the perfect place, i won't leave something alone until i feel that its in the right place. i even put my shoes in the exact same place when i come home.
Today i was trying to sort out some papers into folders for college. i run out of folders and ended up surrounded by bits of paper, plastic wallets etc i started to freak out, i cried and sobbed. i stepped back and sat in the corner of my room trying to calm down. everytime i tried
to go back to move the paper and wallets something fell and would make me cry even more. eventully i cried so much i started shaking and tried to put some stuff in a folder, i hole punched the pieces of paper, but then i realised i had hole punched them in the wrong place and threw the folder away from me and retreated back to my corner. this carried on for a while before i got up and had to put everything away. i piled everything in a folder but spent almost an hour trying to get everything straight. i managed to put the folders back in a draw but spent a further half n hour putting them in the draw in size order. i then precedded to straighen everything that was in my room.
I used to be a really messy person. my room was always a mess! i'd leave things lying around etc but now i can't even bear it when my boyfriend puts his bag down in the wrong place. Also i tend to find its usually only in my room this happens. Even right now when i'm writing on my computer everything has to be in exactly the right place. My grammar has to be correct, the font and size has to be the same etc. i get freak out when a key on the keypad doesn't work right or when my boyfriend spells something wrong.
i was just wondering if it could have anything to do with OCD i didn't want to go to my doctor about it without getting an opinion first in-case i just sound like a but or an attetnion seeking kid. thanks.xx
Answer Jemma, there are three general categories in which people with OCD fall. There are other characterisitics also. People can be washers, checkers, or hoarders. They can also be people who must strive for perfection and need to have everything in perfect order. Unless things are perfectly in order then anxiety builds until it is in order. If they are interuppted or if something comes that prevents them making things orderly then it also leads to frustration and anxiety. Since you live in the UK and not in the US then you must have health care provided to you by your government. You need to see your primary care doctor or whomever takes care of you and level with them about how you are feeling. They should refer you to see a psychiatrist who is the one person who will make the diagnosis and then get you started on some medications for this. There are plenty of current medications that are of proven value in treating OCD. Since you are only 17 and have recognized this early the outlook is good. But you need to get moving on this right away. The sooner the better. If you feel anxiety and have to keep repeating anything you must tell him or her that. They may also wish to give you something for anxiety. You must not ignore this or feel that you can handle this yourself . It does not work that way. The doctor should be able to give you some idea about what is the theory about OCD and how the medicines used to treat it work. There are some people who have never received treatment and this is a tragedy. You have the opportunity to get treatment and again i urge you to get moving on it without delay. Best wishes.
