OCD - serious advice needed please

[lewis1641]

Morning. In my hour of need i turn to retrobike!

Last night a very close friend confided in me that he is suffering with OCD. He has been for a very long time, doesnt recall when it began or what might have caused it.

OCD manifests itself in a number of different ways. Saying OCD sufferers need everything to be neat and tidy is about as accutate as saying all Scottish people are tight and ginger. My friend suffers with intrusive thoughts that then repeat in his head until the next one comes along. Sometimes it is a simple repetition of something he has said that can last for hours, sometimes it can be a disturbingly vile or sick act that he cant stop thinking about. He is obviously massively disturbed by this and has made it clear he has no desire to act out these thoughts what so ever. He has told me some of his thoughts, which were pretty nasty but refused to say some of the worse ones.

These thoughts are with him almost continually, sleep is difficult for him and the only escape he can get is through drink which is another worry.

He has been to see a doctor and has been referred to a specialist but there hasn't been any confirmation of when he can see anyone. He has also been to see a private councillor which helped a little but was very expensive.

He told me last night that the only way out he can see is to end his own life. I really need to help him but dont know where to start.

Does anyone here have any experience of this at all? any help i can give him or advice i can pass on?

thanks in advance

 

[drcarlos]

I would suggest that you friend asks to be put on a medication called Mirtazipine (or Remeron), it should if it's effective for him cut down his OCD thoughts to a minimum where they will not trouble him so much and more importantly help him to sleep as my guess is that when he is tired his obsessive thoughts are much worse.
Tell him to have a read up on the medication and be prepared for the first week he is on it to be so tired he cannot do anything (the reality is that it could be only 2 or 3 days) but it is very effective especially at the lowest does.

Carl.

 

[lewis1641]

thank you, i will pass this on.

 

[videojetman]

some kind of medication will probably help in the short term, to get him out of this slump.
in the past i suffered from depression & anxiety which manifest in ocd type symptoms.
i was prescribed mirtazapine which really helped in the short term.
but with deep seated mental issues, no medication can really fix the problem.
in the end i found my bike was the best medication & exercise.
i really feel for your friend, and i really hope he gets some help a.s.a.p.
keep us posted on progress.

 

[drcarlos]

some kind of medication will probably help in the short term, to get him out of this slump.
in the past i suffered from depression & anxiety which manifest in ocd type symptoms.
i was prescribed mirtazapine which really helped in the short term.
but with deep seated mental issues, no medication can really fix the problem.
in the end i found my bike was the best medication & exercise.
i really feel for your friend, and i really hope he gets some help a.s.a.p.
keep us posted on progress.

Very true this and I should add my experience is similar, winter is a bad time for me as I can't get out as much as during the summer. Exercise seems to lift all symptoms and I have to admit the happiest I have been recently was a couple of summers ago when I was riding to and from the station 3 times a week with a ride at weekends, although my job was very stressy and i was travelling to London it was a breeze because of the riding.
Mirtazipine should lift the immediate symptoms so he can think clearly and work on his problem for the long term.

Carl.

 

[Featch]

If your friend is feeling actively suicidal, possibly with plans, he needs to contact his GP and have the referral to psychiatric services ramped up to "urgent", seen in 5 working days, or even "emergency", seen within 24 hours otherwise it can take weeks before he sees a specialist.

CBT is the long term way forward and this should be available, in the first instance, via his GP.

Andy

 

[FluffyChicken]

If he has suicidal leaning tell him, or you can I guess, tell their Doctor that put him on the list. It is an immediate jump up the que as life is in danger.

 

[FMJ]

Sounds more like schizophrenia than OCD. People with OCD tend to do things over and over (check the stove is off or the door is locked a dozen times) or can't rest until things are in (what they consider) order. My co-worker has OCD. He can't rest until everything at work on the benches is all lined up square, in order, and at 90 deg. angles. He even walks around behind me, picks up the shop rags that I toss on the benches, and folds them all like dinner napkins. Either way, he needs to see a psychologist. Armchair diagnosis on a bicycle forum isn't the answer.

 

[lewis1641]

i am not trying to diagnose him, that has already been done. i am asking for experiences and input that may help him, and also may help me to help him.

what he has is not schizophrenia. he has intrusive thoughts which is part of an OCD personality.

http://ocdfree.tumblr.com/howtoovercome ... vethoughts

 

[matthew71]

. Either way, he needs to see a psychologist. Armchair diagnosis on a bicycle forum isn't the answer.

well put about armchair diagnosis, get him some proper help.not people on here saying my mate down the pub etc , etc

hope it works out for him