Expert: John Date: 11/13/2004 Subject: ocd and adhd
Question are there any connections between ocd and adhd that you might know of? I have ocd and depression and it goes from okay to bad to worse and back again. i would like not to have to keep taking so many meds. 15 years ago i started on Anafranil which we had to get in Mexico. then when prozac came on the market in the U.S. I was started on that, not quite as effective as anafranil but a lot less side effects. now for the reason I just turned 47 and I am plagued with it and am having severe depression as well, i am on several drugs and cannot help wondering what harm am i allowing myself to get into. For a patient it is very confusing and scary and often feel like you are losing your mind, or aleast so close to it breaking down you feel like you might as well and break all the way. kathy karch
Answer kathy, Anafranil is a good drug for OCD .Its too bad you had problems with side effects.I do not know of any connection between adhd and OCD. Every adult today suffers from attention deficit disorder. But its because of the age we live in not because we suffered from add when we were children. If you had add when you were a child that would be cause for concern. Adhd does not just suddenly develop in an adult. You had to have it when you were a child. The tv commercials are only making people run to their doctors and try to get medication for adhd. If you read the symptoms the symptoms fit everybody. Your doctor may need to put you on an additional antidepressant if you are not on two already. I do not think you are causing any harm to yourself. I suggest you try to devote some or all of your energy to activities that will take your mind off yourself and put your attention onto others. I suggest perhaps if you found someplace to volunteer some of your time helping others. Or you need to get involved in a few church groups. You need to visit a number of churches before you find one or two where you feel comfortable. The church where you feel comfortable may be further away but you need to get involved with a supportive group of people. Find a church that teaches and preaches from the bible. Go to sunday morning sunday night and midweek services. Arrange your life around God and talk to the pastor of a few churches. You might need something for anxiety if you are not already taking something. You can also purchase some relation cd's or tapes such as gentle sounds of waterfalls, or a pine forest. Get a set of headphones and try your berst to just focus on the tape or cd and learn to relax. Do this as often as you can. You need to also go out and be around people like go to a shopping mall and just look around but keep from spending by leaving your credit cards or checkbook in your car hidden. This will keep you from impulse buying things you do not need. Shop for ideas not for merchandise. You can also spend time in barnes and noble just looking for an interesting book and sit down in a comfortable chair. You should also try calling a friend and take a night or lunch at a place like Olive garden and get an inexpensive dinner. It helps to pamper yourself at least a few times a week. Perhaps your docotr may need to change your antidepressant meds or increase them. Tell him exactly how you are feeling. Hope this helps you somewhat. Take care and if you need to ask me a followup question.
