I would like to know if this is OCD. I have to picture certain words in my head when I do things, even like brush my hair, or I have to keep doing it over and over again until I picture the right words or count the right amount of times. I am a chronic worrier, especially about my children. I have had different symptoms that have been worse, years ago, but I could let go of as I've gotten older. I used to think we were contaminated by Love Canal, if anyone went to that chemical dump, and then came to my house. When it first came out as a bad dump, alot of people just went to see it because that whole section of Niagara Falls was boarded up. I used to worry if I saw a knife I would stab someone, but that has subsided. I am able to function, but I have alot of bad thoughts and anxiety. Is this OCD and have any of you benefited from therapy. I have alot of self-help books and I wonder if this will really help. I have been like this since I was a little girl of about 6. I am going to turn 47 in about three weeks. Its been a long time. Can I really change. Thanks

Redhead
You have some obsessive thoughts and worries. How much compulsion you have (repeatedly doing things) I cannot tell. The program deals with skills to help obsessive thoughts. And YES you can get better. You can have control over those negative scary thoughts... it just takes practice.
Keep trying. Keep believing.

Tammy

Dr. Phil did a show just recently on OCD. He says that you can absolutely change this yourself. He says you replace your thoughts and your behaviors. He says you cannot break a habit but replace it with something else and it takes time and patience to do so.

He also said that EVERYONE has had obsessive thoughts at times and that it's nothing to fear.
The less you worry about it and focus on it, the quicker they leave your head.

I had a very obsessive with scary thoughts and I thought I would lose my mind and end up in the psycho ward but it turns out, I wasn't crazy!! LOL It was only my mind in overdrive and I very much needed to sleep and relax until I felt better. Problem is, I pushed myself hard each day thinking that if I stopped I would "lose my head" and I only ended up feeding the cycle.

I obsessed about not having enough to do!! LOL Can you believe that? I obsessed that I would be alone and not have enough to do.....that REALLY does sound crazy now that I listen to it...I mean...I have 3 kids and still at times, I focus on when my 3rd will be in school full time and I will be alone and HAVE NOTHING TO DO.....LOL Everyone says...what are your crazy? You'll have plenty to do.... I know I will.... It was only an obsessive thought at the time and the sooner I reasoned with myself about this thought, the sooner it left.

Right now, the best thing to do is get yourself in a positive where you can obsess about being positive and truthful to yourself. You know how easy it is to obsess about scary things...why not use your gift of "obsession" and get obsessed about balance and healthy thinking??

Believe it or not, it works! I am a living testimony of that.