Topic : Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Antibiotic's are given by Medical Doctors, not Psychiatrists.  

I can see where if a small child is irritable, like from a recurring and unhealed sore throat, they are going to get into all kinds of problems or trouble.  

Irritation and sore throats are caused by germs, and it makes sense that if you kill the germs with antibiotics or antibiotic therapy, you won't have the sore throat anymore.   

If the child doesn't have the sore throat anymore, subconsciously he/she notice's it sometime, and says, "Hey? What happened?" The sore throat is gone; the irritating behavior due to the sore throat is gone; and the kid is happy.  

This is sickness do to physical illness. Not sickness due to mental illness. A lot of people don't know that if you treat physical illnessess; the related mental illnesses may disappear.  In your example, maybe this took 1 year to notice, so the OCD stopped (the response to the painful sorethroat). 

So contact a medical doctor (M.D.), tell them about the strep throat, and ask and confirm for the administration of antibiotics. Some doctor's don't like to do this because some strep throats don't repsond to antibiotics.  Ask or beg for it anyway. Whatever you get, will help. 

Afterwards, be patient. Some kids take a while to notice that their throat is not sore anymore, and don't know how to respond to it. Especially after 5 years of sickness. 

Besides being trained as a Biologist, I had a sore throat for years. This is where I discovered the effect of SUBCONCIOUS PHYSICAL illness on a person's behavior. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me. Finally, in my case, I discovered the problem was not a strep or other kind of sore throat; but a fungus (three things cause illness: Germs, Fungus, Molds--so keep your bathroom clean). I won't tell you how I discovered that, but when I told my M.D. about it, he laughed, and gave me a shot of antibiotics, no questions asked. Dr.'s usually treat germs only. Somewhere along the line they forgot that fungi, and molds cold be suspect too. Double check. That's the point.  

Let me know how it works. 

Rick. 

Biologist. 

I don't know if any one way is right or wrong, but if you talk to other people that "have your problem", and ask them to share their experiences with you, you may find that you are just growing up at this point, or maybe your are just trying things to see what they are, or maybe you are trying (thinking about) things to see if they are you?  

Like liking things to be symmetrical. I don't know. That might be o.k. But did you ever consider that some things in the world are asymetric? (google for some examples). Or what about earthquakes? They are neither symmetric or asymetric.  Just mixed up, or all over the place. Should they be that way? Probably. That's what earthquakes are--not a blouse you are wearing to dinner. The key is, don't over-do-it.   

When you really think about it, if you are only symmetrical for the rest of your life (one thing), you may never appreciate impressionist paintings, a wild outfit to the awards banquet, or a salad thrown together at the last minute when you are very hungry (you might not have time to cook?). 

So get at least one, two, three, and four opinions on whatever you may be thinking about from others. Older. Younger. Colleagues. Out of Your League. Therapists may be stuffy. People not in the therapy room could be better. Especially if they are healthy or successsul.  

You may find that what you are doing is o.k., not o.k., or maybe that other people do things other ways too that you may not have thought of.  If you limit yourself to your own thinking and ways, that is all you get.   If you consider other people, you may find new possibilites, or ways of doing things that are o.k. too, and may, as a bonus, save your life, or make your life easier.  Hmm. 

O.K. Let's see what you have learned. How many ways can you think of to eat your food? Write them down. O.K. I can think of three. With a fork (American), with chop sticks (Chinese), or with your hands (everybody). See? Smile. 

On your way. 

Rick. 

Your husband may need time to himself.  Too many responsibilities.  No time to take care of himself; especially when he needs it.  Men are not machines. They are living flesh that need time from personal responsibilities to regroup, recover, repair, de-stress, and refresh. 

Take care of my family; take care of my job; take care of my God; take care of my neighbor. But what about me? 

You may find that a man or husband who is allowed to take care of himself and recover, is happier, and has more strength and mind for the problems of family and daily life, than a man who is not allowed this.  Even General's during war are not always on the front line without resting or recovering.  You know this.  

Your husband may need to do something creative; whatever that is; that's his.  Listening to music, reading, watching T.V. privately sometimes; making sure to eat (I often forget to eat) are some of the things I do to help me rest and recover. 

Importantly, a rested mind produces better solutions and more easily and faster, than a burned out mind.  That's the point, and seems to make sense. So why not rest? 

As far as not sleeping very much at night; that may be o.k.  I have found that while children may need 8 hours of sleep during growing up and finalment of development, adults may not.  The problem may be stress; not sleep. 

When I can't sleep, I just do something constructive, like typing right now (and which rests my mind alot)--plus not worry about not sleeping anymore (since I was about 35).  

I read about this from someone else when I was young, who passed on the thought to me.  Eventually I get tired, and fall asleep. That's the point. 

The brother of Kellogg (maker of the Kellogg's cereals)  I understand, lived to his 80's; and he only slept 4 hours per day 'til the day of his death. So sleep for adults may not be what you think, and may be different than for children. 

As far as your daughter's go, I think they just want to know that they are o.k.  If you give or teach them this, you will give them a great gift for the rest of their life that could come back to you in ways that could be precious.  A person that knows he is o.k. or learns that he is o.k. after time, goes far in this world. 

Hello. 

Rick. 

I hate having ocd! :( At least I have learned to accept it. Now all I can do now is live with it. I have been living with this disorder sense I was about seven. I was never actually diagnoised. About a year ago I was finially able to admit that I have it. A little while before that I finially was able to put a name to what I was going through, and it was just such a relief. I am glad that I have a good friend that has it, that I understands, and is able to relate to some of it. It is very helpful. She is much better then me because she is on medicane. Which I refuse to take, of any sort. I recommend the book "Kissing Doornobs", and the ocd national foundation, which is where I heard of that book.