OCD Question

[Iris' Mom]

I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago with bipolar II and anxiety. I've had bad luck with meds. Right now, I'm on Trileptal (mood stabilizer) and just started Abilify for intrusive thought. I haven't started an anti-depressant yet. I feel a little better on the Trileptal, but it's not entirely effective. I feel myself entering into a hypomanic phase, as I am desperate to go shopping and spend lots of money that I don't have.

I think I have some OCD type issues that have gotten worse since I started the Abilify, but it is not classic OCD behavior, at least not that I've heard of, and I'm wondering if any of you recognize this type of behavior and what has helped relieve it.

My thoughts are generally extremely obsessive. It's like a have an endless loop cycling in my head. It is typically about something that makes me very anxious and that I feel powerless to do anything about. I may think about a problem for 6-8 hrs a day, but usually I take little or no action to solve it, so I guess I usually am missing the "compulsive" component of OCD. I occupy myself with activites that are not too engaging so I can obsess about whatever is making me anxious. And, I am anxious almost all the time.

These past several days, though, I have been compulsively checking my email, voicemail, subscribed threads and mail. I am waiting for various info, some of which I KNOW is not due to arrive, but I can't stop checking, all day long. I spend quite literally 6-8 hrs in a state of active waiting, and it is extremely disruptive yo my life. Anyway, I'm just wondering if this sounds like OCD? This has happened to me before, so I don't think it is caused by the meds, but maybe the meds are making it worse?

[perl]

Eek - that does sound really really unpleasant. Actually there have been a couple of case reports of aripiprazole-induced OCD. If you've had these obsessions before, it's possible that the aripiprazole is exacerbating them.

Have you talked with your psychiatrist about what's going on and how debilitating your symptoms are? Perhaps he/she could give you some Zyprexa or other medication on an as-needed basis to take the edge off when things are getting really bad.

[organicmama328]

Originally Posted by Iris' Mom

I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago with bipolar II and anxiety. I've had bad luck with meds. Right now, I'm on Trileptal (mood stabilizer) and just started Abilify for intrusive thought. I haven't started an anti-depressant yet. I feel a little better on the Trileptal, but it's not entirely effective. I feel myself entering into a hypomanic phase, as I am desperate to go shopping and spend lots of money that I don't have.

I think I have some OCD type issues that have gotten worse since I started the Abilify, but it is not classic OCD behavior, at least not that I've heard of, and I'm wondering if any of you recognize this type of behavior and what has helped relieve it.

My thoughts are generally extremely obsessive. It's like a have an endless loop cycling in my head. It is typically about something that makes me very anxious and that I feel powerless to do anything about. I may think about a problem for 6-8 hrs a day, but usually I take little or no action to solve it, so I guess I usually am missing the "compulsive" component of OCD. I occupy myself with activites that are not too engaging so I can obsess about whatever is making me anxious. And, I am anxious almost all the time.

These past several days, though, I have been compulsively checking my email, voicemail, subscribed threads and mail. I am waiting for various info, some of which I KNOW is not due to arrive, but I can't stop checking, all day long. I spend quite literally 6-8 hrs in a state of active waiting, and it is extremely disruptive yo my life. Anyway, I'm just wondering if this sounds like OCD? This has happened to me before, so I don't think it is caused by the meds, but maybe the meds are making it worse?

Hi Iris' Mom

I was just recently dx'd with bipolar II but I have been living with it for at least 10 years. I am feeling rather normal this week but last week I was really low. I too struggle with obsessive thinking. I also check my e-mail, subscribed threads etc... over and over- sometimes I just sit there clicking from one to the other, and back again It really is a problem. I tend to have the "O" and not the "C" too. My therapist told me that obsessive thinking is common with Bipolar pts. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone

[greeny]

I am not bipolar, but I do have obsessive thoughts and have been diagnosed with an obsessive disorder. I, too, do not have the compulsions.

My obsessive thoughts are exactly as you describe, something cycling in my head. It seems like a broken record, and I am unable to control my mind, to get my thoughts away from the object of my obsession.

The doc who diagnosed me prescribed me a high dose of antidepressants, which are supposed to help with obsessive disorders. I ended up not taking the meds, but having the Rx somehow helped (maybe knowing it was there if I needed it?).

I do not constantly obsess; bad obsessive episodes are always related to high-stress times in my life.

Anyway, . It is hard to live that way.

[Iris' Mom]

Thanks so much for the support, all. It really feels much better to know I'm not alone. Of all my symptoms, this has been the most disruptive, even worse than depression.

I will look into other medication to tame the OCD, but I have a feeling I will end up going off the meds. Before I got pregnant, I was up to 5 meds, and 2 of them were prescribed just for the side effects of the other 3. I didn't feel any beeter, and gained a lot of weight.

Part of me thinks this obsessiveness is my hypomania thwarted by anxiety. I've been entering a hypomanic phase, and have the urge to spend lots of money, but I'm too anxious to do it, because I'm going through a rough financial patch. I'm trying to redirect my urge to something that's not going to leave me with a financial hangover, but it's not really working.

Anyway, I do appreciate the support, and to you too.

[organicmama328]

Originally Posted by Iris' Mom

Thanks so much for the support, all. It really feels much better to know I'm not alone. Of all my symptoms, this has been the most disruptive, even worse than depression.

I will look into other medication to tame the OCD, but I have a feeling I will end up going off the meds. Before I got pregnant, I was up to 5 meds, and 2 of them were prescribed just for the side effects of the other 3. I didn't feel any beeter, and gained a lot of weight.

Part of me thinks this obsessiveness is my hypomania thwarted by anxiety. I've been entering a hypomanic phase, and have the urge to spend lots of money, but I'm too anxious to do it, because I'm going through a rough financial patch. I'm trying to redirect my urge to something that's not going to leave me with a financial hangover, but it's not really working.

Anyway, I do appreciate the support, and to you too.

that is what I was thinking too. last week my mood was really low but I was having a lot of obsessive thoughts and anxiety....like hypomanic but not elated. It almost sounds like a 'mixed state'.

hugs

[Iris' Mom]

Originally Posted by organicmama328

that is what I was thinking too. last week my mood was really low but I was having a lot of obsessive thoughts and anxiety....like hypomanic but not elated. It almost sounds like a 'mixed state'.

hugs

That's a good way to put it. I think that's why sometimes I doubt I am bipolar

[lil_stinkyfeet]

I was dx with OCD, I havn't had any luck with any meds, I can't tolerate any of the side effects to date. I usually just experince the O without the C, I think it is pretty normal.

[~Heyokha~]

Originally Posted by Iris' Mom

That's a good way to put it. I think that's why sometimes I doubt I am bipolar

actually, a mixed state is a characteristic of certain bipolars. just how you stated....

"Part of me thinks this obsessiveness is my hypomania thwarted by anxiety"


it can be really hard to deal with.

[Nature]

I'm dx'd with Bipolar II rapid cycling, panic and anxiety disorder with agoraphobia, and OCD. I usually experience the "O" part more than the "C" part. I'd say at least 95% is obsessive intrusive thoughts.

[Iris' Mom]

Originally Posted by organicmama328

that is what I was thinking too. last week my mood was really low but I was having a lot of obsessive thoughts and anxiety....like hypomanic but not elated. It almost sounds like a 'mixed state'.

I've been thinking about this, and it seems also that my depression is not sadness either, more like weariness or lack of energy, with some secondary despair because I feel like I'm sleeping or putzing me life away.