OCD and Les Poisons

Therese, thanks for making me smile and brightening my day. God bless you.

Therese - Not to insult your issues (everybody has some) but, I often wonder with as many different diagnoses, compulsions, and mentalities as you categorize yourself with, if what you truly have is "psychology student syndrome." Thanks for keeping everyone informed with the varieties!

Congratulations! You have the patients of JOB, for if you didn't, you would have sanked like Peter, and I commend you for having it. GOD bless you continuously!

Therese,

I have to commend you for all the different experiences you get yourself through just by finding the laughter in the situation as you push on to complete the task at hand.

Like yourself, I have to talk myself through many things just to get the job done and can look back later at it and find the humor in it.

As for Jen's comments about having "psychology student snydrome" don't worry about. We all have many varieties of illnesses and many of them overlap...it is just a case of which one cares to manafest at any given time.

I've only been reading your blog the last few months but it does wonders for making me realize I am not alone with my depression, alcoholism, etc.

God Bless,

Nancy

Great story, I really enjoyed it. I don't have OCD but do have periods of depression but humor even on my darkest days has gotten me through(along with some meds and other things). But I do believe the ability to put a twist on things especailly about the illness that we have is a really great survival skill

Therese, As a person with mild OCD that shows up mainly when I'm really stressed, I can truly appreciate your story. For you to come through it and see the humor in all of it was wonderful to read about. Thank you for a truly inspiring, humorous story.

Therese,
Thanks for sharing! I don't mind getting dirty, or smelly at all, well, maybe a little; however, I am terrified of my friends and relatives having car accidents. I know everyone is a little anxious about their relatives when they are traveling on the highway, but every night when my son drives home from work, I suffer from anxiety attacks! And every time my Mother drives to the grocery store I am on edge and imagine terrible things happening until she has safely returned.
I also am terrified of heights, the house burning down, and similar things like that.
I've actually not told anyone this before!
Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone!

Therese,
I USED to be somewhat OCD, until a couple of step children cured me. I guess you could say that I had no choice as I realized how miserable I made them, hubby, and most of all myself! Now that I have become an official "laid back person" my karma has caught up with me...I am now on the RECEIVING END of this treatment (and I thought I'd just be a happily relaxed laid back girl!). I have to say...these people make me truly miserable! Especially my micro managing boss. The sad thing about her is that she really doesn't see me for who I am, my contributions I make, my happy clients. Nope. She's far more interested in chasing miniscule petty details that don't mean squat. I find that that is all OCD people will ever know about me. Not what I've done for the environment, my kids, my life. No, they just remember my bad hair days, static cling, and that piece of lint on my lapel. The movie "Because I Said So" covers this hysterically...a must see for OCD people and their victims.

Your story was funny! Since I have OCD and I don't have a mild case, I deal with the things that I'm fearful of sometimes good and sometimes not so good. It's tough!! But I feel like I've accomplished alot. Thanks.

Therese,
I always enjoy your columns. They make me smile and help to put being human into perspective.

I would just like to say that this story was great... Great Inspiration, and A Great Big Smile! Thank You so much for sharing. I believe I do have some undiagnosed issues and this gives me the Hope I need at times to make it through some of the things that often stand in my way, along my designated path. Thank You!! May God Bless You ALWAYS and in EVERYTHING!

Therese,
Absolutely loved your commentary on the experience with your triatholon and "friend", OCD. I could definately relate to it...I was diagnosed with panic disorder about 7 years ago at age 40. Wow...I would have never guessed that something like that would occur in my life. I have also found that my greatest ally is a sense of humor and to be able to look at many of the challenges through the lens of comedy!
Because I traveled many years of my life without the difficulty, at the onset, I remember feeling, "Where did I go?" I was an athlete, quite a "dare-devil", a college coach, and an associate professor. Many probably considered me to be incredibly self-sufficient and courageous. Within a fairly short period of time...it took all the courage that I could "muster" to walk out of my apartment.
I now tend to see how it's all been a bit of a blessing. It's much easier to come from the perspective of compassion, patience, and kindness. It's also become a necessity to strengthen that muscle of good humor!!
I just feel so happy for you that you are also able to do the same. Sometimes the little things can make life just a bit easier! As you can see by the responses, people find your writing and humor to be so entertaining :). As for "psychology student syndrome"...well, as I'm sure you know...it can be very difficult for people to understand if they have not experienced such a thing. Ten years ago, I might have said the same thing...I kind of just thought that people needed to "buck up". So...panic disorder was exactly what I may have needed in order to bring me more into the human realm and off my pedestal!! ha!
Finally, I do sometimes wonder if the true disorder these days is to live without anxiety!! This world is spinning awfully fast...seems more natural and "normal" for a human to have some difficulties with it all!
Thanks so much for sharing...
Peace and Blessings,
Bev. :)

I THOUGHT THAT YOUR STORY WAS VERY WONDERFUL.IT FEELS GREAT TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT ALONE WITH THIS TYPE OF ILLNESS. I WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH OCD AND PANIC DISORDER AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU SOUND LIKE ME.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY KEEP ON WITH THE FIGHT AND LET GOD BE YOUR LIGHT.

Therese,

I thought your letter was funny and it had me kinda trippin' on the way you reacted to the fish in the pond. I used to have a case of OCD when I was in a recovery place. It was a compulsion to take cold showers like for an hour straight 3 times a day or even in one night!
Half of OCD is delusions. I thinki the idea of taking the cold showers were a mixture of stress and delusional thinking. I knew I was keeping myself clean moreso in the spiritual sense than the physical sense. It is like a comfort issue too. Once I was out of the cold shower I had either come to my senses in some way shape or form, plus it felt good to get in a warm bed and I could sleep better.
You had me going even though I never was diagnosed as OCD.