Preparing to discuss possible OCD with psychologist

Hey @D1ng0 ,

Happy New Year.

I don't have any particular recommendations re speaking to a psych about OCD. For me, it just came out. I didn't actually prepare.

I hope it all goes well.

Thank you @tyme. I'm struggling a lot at the moment. There's a big ant problem in my home. Usually keeping my space clean helps a lot, keeps me calm, and keeps the more harmful intrusive thoughts at bay. With these ants everywhere, I feel contaminated.

Hey @D1ng0 sorry to hear about your ant problem. Sounds like a lot to deal with at home.

What have you done in the past that might help you get through?

RiverSeal

Thank you @RiverSeal. Usually, when I'm distressed about my space, I will clean/organise it. I can't do that right now, because touching the ants is upsetting and makes me feel contaminated, and there are way too many to get rid of manually. The house needs to be treated. I've thrown out the containers which were crawling with ants, which has made me feel a bit better. They're still all over the wall and surfaces, though. I'm just staying out of the room where the ant activity is heaviest. I don't know what else I can do.

Probably more of a long-term solution @D1ng0 but could you use ant rid or something similar?

How can you manage the feeling that you are struggling right now?

RiverSeal

@RiverSeal There's ant-rid all over the house, has been there for 2 weeks. It isn't working. That's part of the reason I'm so distressed, I wanted to believe it was getting better. And the ants got into food, into tightly sealed containers, which has triggered my food fears. (I have bulimia and anxiety.)

I don't know how to manage this feeling. The reason I made this post is because I haven't focussed on this with my psychologist yet. I don't feel like I have the tools to do with this. I don't know what to do.

I don't necessarily have the answers for you @D1ng0. It sounds like something to explore with your psychologist in sessions. You might know about the organisation already; the Butterfly Foundation might be able to support you with that in the meantime. RiverSeal

He y @D1ng0 ! Great to see you! But not so great to hear about the ants!

I dislike ants. I get goosebumps as soon as I see them and I've often burst into tears because of ants.

This sounds so drastic, but that's why I don't keep food in my house unless it's in the fridge. When the kids come over, I ask them to eat outside....

I use ant rid baits, but they take time to work. Even though I've got no food at my house that the ants can access, there a one or two ants walking on my walls...

I've also noticed that on hot days, the ants are looking for water.... they end up drowning in any bowl/cup of water I have around...even inside the kettle!

Hey @D1ng0 , just popping in to say I'm thinking of you. Hope you are okay.

Hey @tyme, thank you for asking after me. I really appreciate it. Reading that description of ant infestations was quite uncomfortable, because I was staying away from them and trying not to panic. Thinking about them in my water and walls set off a lot of distressed thoughts. But now that the ants are a bit more under control and I've booked pest removalists, it is reassuring to know that other people also struggle with this. I'm just trying not to think about ants too much.

I've continued writing down info about the thoughts I've been experiencing. I'm anxious about discussing them with my psych. From everything I've read and learned, OCD makes sense. I think being diagnosed with it would be a relief, because I'd have an explanation that I've already kinda accepted.

When I started getting help for my ED, I was convinced that I had BED, and it was really shocking to be told that I have bulimia. Took a bit to accept/absorb that. I don't want a similar thing to happen here (although obviously I can't control what condition I have). I'm just exhausted 😂