Jobs for people with ocd

Best and worst jobs for people with OCD

For people living with OCD, finding the right job and a supportive workplace can be life-changing.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by (unwanted) obsessive thoughts and repetitive, compulsive behaviours. Everyone's experience with OCD is different, but many people with OCD face challenges finding work and holding down a job.

It can be stressful to keep up with the demands of work when you're dealing with intrusive thoughts, uncontrollable behaviours and stigma from others. What's more, OCD is often accompanied by other conditions such as social anxiety or depression.

Despite the challenges, many people with OCD lead a successful and healthy work life in jobs that are meaningful and rewarding. At APM, we've seen first hand how having the right job in a supportive environment can lead to life-changing benefits.

In this guide, we look at the best jobs for people with OCD and jobs that are often challenging to cope with. Plus, where to get support finding a job that's right for you.

What are the best jobs for people with OCD?

Everyone has different needs and goals when it comes to work.

Just like everyone else, people with OCD excel in a wide range of jobs and workplaces. What might be right for one person might cause anxiety or stress for another. A person with OCD might succeed in a typically challenging role when they have the right support and accommodations.

If you're not sure what jobs are a good fit for you, consider talking with an employment consultant. They can help you brainstorm career pathways and discover job opportunities that match your interests, skills and needs.

Some of the best jobs for people with OCD include:

1. Flexible jobs

OCD symptoms can have a significant impact on daily life. Having some flexibility at work can help you better manage the ups and downs of your mental health.

Some jobs are flexible by nature, such as freelance photography, online tutoring and fitness coaching. You'll have more control over when you work and how much work you do.

For jobs with traditional schedules, accommodations can make the roles more manageable. For example, if you find it hard to get to work on time, your employer may be willing to let you have a flexible starting time. If you find it hard to get out of the house some days, you might be able to work from home when needed.

2. Part time jobs

If you find it challenging to cope with a full time schedule, consider working part time hours instead. Lots of jobs can be designed into part time roles, including teaching, administration, cleaning, bookkeeping and counselling. If you need further flexibility, your employer may also allow you to take time off for mental health appointments, treatments and recovery.

3. Low stress jobs

For many people with OCD, fast-paced and high-pressure jobs can be a source of stress and anxiety. Jobs like research analyst, data entry clerk and delivery driver are typically low-stress roles.

However, what might be low-stress for one person might be a triggering environment for someone else. Understanding the environments where you work best – and the environments that are most challenging for you – is an important step in the job search.

4. Jobs with structure and clear expectations

For many people with OCD, unexpected challenges and last-minute changes at work can be difficult to cope with. On the other hand, many people with OCD excel when they have a clear work structure and expectations.

Packing and shelf stocking jobs might be a good fit if you like routine. Accountants, librarians and lab technicians all have highly structured roles. But you don't have to work in a traditionally structured role to get the benefits of structure and routine.

Many other types of jobs can be redesigned to create more structure and ensure clear expectations. For example, your manager might provide you with a daily schedule or give you access to scheduling apps and software.

5. Detail oriented jobs

If you're good at checking the small details, your skills could make you a highly desirable candidate for certain jobs. Detail-oriented jobs like proofreading, data entry and quality inspecting could be a good fit. If you're looking for a more hands-on role, practical jobs like mechanics, construction and appliance repairs all require good attention to detail.

6. Independent work

If you find customer-facing roles or team-based work stressful, you might prefer a job where you can work independently. For some people with OCD, independent work improves focus and productivity.

Couriers, jewelers and cleaners often work on their own. Creative jobs like photography, copywriting and graphic design are also often highly independent. If you enjoy being part of a team, but find social interactions overwhelming, working from home part of the week could help you find the right balance.

7. Remote work

Working in a shared workplace can be triggering for some people with OCD, especially if you're also dealing with social anxiety. Working from home could give you more control over your environment and help you better manage OCD symptoms. Jobs you can do remotely include copywriting, transcribing, graphic design, accounting and audio engineering.

What are the worst jobs for OCD?

Although everyone's needs are different, the worst jobs for OCD tend to be high-stress and unpredictable. A lack of flexibility can also be challenging.

Keep these factors in mind to avoid the worst jobs for OCD:

Unpredictability – if you find it hard to cope with change, jobs like fire fighting, journalism and ER nursing might not be the best fit.
Tight deadlines – if you struggle with time management or keeping on top of deadlines, jobs with flexible hours might be more suitable.
Social interaction and customer facing jobs – highly social roles like retail and customer service may be draining if they trigger OCD symptoms or cause anxiety.
Decision-making jobs – perfectionism and black and white thinking can make decision-making roles like HR and management challenging.

Get support to find work

If you're living with OCD and need support to find or keep a job, APM is here for you. We help people with obsessive compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders find meaningful work at no cost to you.

We understand everyone’s journey with employment is different. APM employment services are personalised to your situation and goals. Our employment consultants help find the best jobs for people with OCD, based on your interests, needs and priorities. We can also help you access workplace accommodations, financial assistance and other support to stay in work.

Find out more about our Disability Employment Services or call us on 1800 276 276 to get started.

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Jobs for People With OCD - Top 10 in 2023

A person working from home

Just like many OCD people, worrying about the best jobs for OCD sufferers may be one of the most recurring things in mind. While your worry is valid, this article is telling you that you should know that even with OCD you can get a good Job And start a career. Ideal jobs for someone with OCD should be flexible, part-time, or full-time. There are so many options of jobs for people with OCD, you just need to read the next few paragraphs while we bring you some of the best you can consider.

Top 10 Jobs For People With OCD

People who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may due to their condition live a very strict life, the disorder can affect their day-to-day life and mental well-being. It may generally make finding a job or having a career difficult, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a job.

The following 10 jobs for people with OCD have been carefully selected to help you find your foot.

What are the best jobs for people with OCD?

Online instructor
Transcriber
Software Developer
Writer, Editor, Proofreader
Artist
Medical Coder
Housekeeper
Electronic Technician
Accountant
Web Analytics Jobs

We invite you to have a look at our list of jobs for people with disabilities to find and apply to jobs for people with OCD that might interest you.

Start Applying Now

1. Online Instructor

If you have goosebumps or anxiety teaching people in a class but you have a passion for teaching, you can consider teaching people online from your home. All you need is a computer, and a camera set up, maybe some lightning and microphone will also do. You can decide to create teaching packs, recorded courses in whatever version you prefer, either audio, video, or audiovisual.

You can also do written tutorials. The advantage of starting a career in online teaching is that you can work at your pace and in your own home. You can plan courses according to the time you have, you can fit everything in at your convenience yet still make enough money.

2. Transcriber

If you’re searching for careers for OCD sufferers, being a transcriber is one you should also consider. You can work anywhere as a transcriber, this means you have a pool of opportunities, you can take jobs in audio or video files, transcribe dialogues or documents.

Transcribers make a lot of money working in the medical Fields as well as legal fields, a background in medical or legal terminology will even take you a step higher. Truth is, transcribers are needed in a lot of industries and it is also one of the best jobs for OCD sufferers since it requires organization and structures. It can help you keep your mind focused and distract your mind from anxiety.

3. Software Developer

Do you like working in the tech field or do you have skills for tech? Then you can consider taking software development seriously. This industry is an ever-growing industry that always needs people. You won’t have any problem starting as a programmer or a web developer.

You only need programming skills and you can learn them remotely. Skills like analysis, education, testing, programming, java, PHP, are needed for software development. It is a very lucrative field and career for people with OCD

4. Writer, Editor, Proofreader

These 3 in one skills are all ideal jobs for someone with OCD. If you love to write as an OCD person you can definitely make a good living out of your passion. Working in a convenient environment and a convenient job can help reduce anxiety. You can decide to be a freelancer and remote worker.

Most writing jobs don’t require your physical presence. Most companies that hire writers allow them to work from home, set their hours and working days.

In all, while working you can also improve your mental health by doing what you love most. From writing, you can grow to pick out errors from content and progress towards editing. You may even create your blog and write contents that can help people with OCD cope during hard times. You can carve out your niche and overall build a career.

5. Artist

You can also be an artist as an OCD person. You can express yourself through your art and the originality of your mind. There are so many specialties in the arts, from painting to sculpting and photography. You can make some good cash being an artist.

Jobs for someone with OCD have one thing in common, and it’s the room to use your mind and the act of creating something good, straight from your kindy, is good for your mental health. That you can express whatever is going on in your mind, is a great freedom everyone covers.

6. Medical Coder

Medical coding has to do with recording medical information and data, keeping accurate records and making data accessible all the time. Jobs that require routine arrangement are especially good for OCD sufferers, if all you do is put together details in a convenient environment you can do it perfectly even with OCD.

Medical Coders put together data that’s used in registries, reimbursement of insurance, medical histories for treatments and so on. The good thing about this job is that you can do it from home, it is, therefore, a good career path for people suffering from OCD.

7. Housekeeper

If your OCD is clean, why not put it to good use? Why not turn your disorder around and use it to do something meaningful? Well, if you are a perfectionist about cleaning and getting rid of dirt, you can consider taking up a housekeeping job.

This will allow you to express yourself and earn money at the same time. Housekeeping is a job that requires people all the time so you would not have a problem getting a job, and they earn well too. You can get a decent living working in the hospitality industry.

8. Electronic Technician

One of the best jobs for OCD sufferers is being a Circuit Board Electronic Technician, you get to inspect different circuit boards visually. You’ll also deal with the components of the board, joints and make sure they’re placed right. Technicians also make comparisons on circuit boards as well as schematics.

When you’re done, you then document the data. Technical knowledge in physics or electrical engineering is needed for this job. The pay is good, it is also a good place for someone with OCD. You get to arrange and make sure things are in place, this is especially good for someone with OCD.

9. AccountantAccountant man sitting at his desk and using a calculator

Accountancy is another job for OCD sufferers, it involves a lot of organization and this is especially good for someone with OCD (obsessed with organizing).

our roles would rally around finance, tax preparation and so on. If you think you have these skills and you’re good at numbers, you should take it up.

You can either decide to work in a company or even freelance. You can also choose flexible working conditions for yourself.

10. Web Analytics Developer

Web Analytics is on the list of ideal jobs for someone with OCD requiring new-age technology skills. This job role demands a good knowledge of web traffic management and acquisitions.

You must also know how conversions on websites work and how your insights can be more profitable. Most times this job requires that you work remotely and flexibly, you do not need to appear in a place of work or run a 9 – 5.

Conclusion

In summary, having OCD is not the end of the world, it doesn’t make you unemployable. There are a lot of opportunities you can take up as an OCD person, all you need is the right information. Most of these jobs are all new-age jobs and it has factored remote work into them.

This means you may not even need to appear in person for the job, as you can do them from the comfort of your house. So if you have OCD, don’t hesitate to look at the different careers for people with OCD offered by many industries.

FAQ

How does OCD affect work?

People with OCD may have problems concentrating and focusing at work, and that’s going to affect productivity. They may also have problems staying at a workplace, they may change work often affecting their career growth.

What are the best jobs for people with OCD?

This article has discussed the top 10 jobs that people with OCD can do and excel at. From Art to Web Analytics, Housekeeper, Medical Coder and so on. These are all jobs that OCD sufferers can do.

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symptoms, how to get rid of and treat

Olya Selivanova

struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Author profile

Since childhood, I have suffered from obsessive thoughts.

When I was nine years old, I was reading a book, when suddenly the thought occurred to me: “If you don’t finish reading today, your mother will die.” The thought frightened me, I put down the book and cried, but I had to return to reading so that my mother would not die.

From that moment on, the frightening thoughts were different. I could suddenly change the route, because the thought came to my mind: “It is not safe to go further. Get around." There were thoughts to harm loved ones: push, hit, pour over. At such moments, I thought that an evil force had entered into me, and I began to count to myself, imagined how the numbers increased in order in size and knocked bad thoughts out of my head. nine0003

By the time I was twelve, it all came to naught, and as a teenager, I decided that it was just childish oddities. But seven years later, the obsessive thoughts returned, and the doctor at the neuropsychiatric dispensary diagnosed me with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. I'll tell you how I was treated and how I live now.

Go see a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you. nine0003

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness in which a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Mayo Clinic

Obsessive thoughts - obsessions - usually revolve around certain topics: fear of harming yourself and others, fear of germs and toxic substances, the need to organize everything. They appear suddenly or are provoked by external circumstances, such as a sharp object or the word "last". nine0003

Intrusive thoughts cannot be ignored, they cause anxiety or disgust. In response to them, a person has compulsions - a strong desire to perform certain actions that, according to his feelings, will get rid of such thoughts. Compulsions are difficult to resist: the anxiety will grow until the person gives up.

For example, the obsessive thought that a person will become infected after touching a doorknob will provoke compulsive actions - repeated washing of hands, sometimes for several hours in a row. nine0003

/shizofreniya/

How much does it cost to support a relative with a mental disorder

I try not to touch doorknobs in public places and always make sure the door is closed.

Do I have OCD?

Sergey Divisenko

psychotherapist

If a person's condition does not interfere with himself or others, then everything is in order, if it interferes, a disorder can be suspected. In the case of checking the door, one can say that checking if the door is closed once is not a problem, rechecking the door several times in a row and doing it systematically is already a problem. nine0003

To understand whether or not there is OCD, the doctor pays attention to how often the patient has obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions and how they affect his life. If symptoms occur more frequently in two weeks than in seven days and interfere with daily activities, it is probably OCD.

In this case, the symptoms should have the following characteristics:

The person should evaluate them as his own thoughts and desires.
There must be at least one thought or action that the person unsuccessfully resists. nine0050
The thought of a person performing a compulsive action should not in itself be pleasurable. The fact that an action will help reduce anxiety is not considered pleasant in this sense.
Thoughts or actions must be repeated.

How obsessive-compulsive disorder is treated

OCD is considered a lifelong disorder, but with treatment it is possible to achieve remission: to get rid of obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions for a long time or to reduce their number. nine0003

Medical treatment. The main drugs for the treatment of OCD are antidepressants of the SSRI group. They increase serotonin levels in the brain, making OCD symptoms less likely to occur.

Treatment options for OCD - NHS

Depending on the course of the disease and symptoms, along with antidepressants, the doctor may prescribe other drugs: tranquilizers, neuroleptics or mood stabilizers.

Cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a type of psychotherapy during which a person learns to control their emotional response to intrusive thoughts. As a result of therapy, obsessive thoughts cease to cause anxiety and compulsive actions. nine0003

Cognitive behavioral therapy - NHS

Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation of September 16, 2003 No. 438 "On psychotherapeutic care"

Psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists are involved in the treatment of OCD in Russia. Psychiatrists prescribe prescription drugs. Psychotherapists and psychologists conduct psychotherapy sessions.

How I was diagnosed

At the age of 19, the development of the disease took a new turn. I was washing the kitchen knife and I had an obsessive thought that I was losing control and could cut myself and the guy who was nearby at that moment. So I began to avoid sharp objects, there was an irresistible desire to hide or throw them away. nine0003

Obsessive thoughts revolved around the topic of death: drinking nail polish remover, bleach, vinegar, throwing yourself under a vehicle or jumping out of a window. Because of this, I removed all dangerous liquids from the house and stayed away from open windows, highways and train station platforms. I didn’t sleep well at night, suffered from anxiety, considered myself crazy and dangerous, and began to move away from everyone.

I also doubted everything. Even if I just performed an action, it seemed to me that it was not completed. I opened the door to make sure that it had been closed before, closed it again, pulled the handle, asked those around me if the door was exactly closed. I could wake up at night and see if the stove was turned on, although before going to bed I went up to it and stared without blinking - so that it would crash into my memory that it was definitely turned off. My young man, seeing all this, insisted that we try to see a psychologist. nine0003

In Irkutsk, where I live, psychiatric care can be obtained free of charge at the regional psycho-neurological dispensary. I turned to the psychotherapeutic department of the dispensary for a consultation with a psychologist. At the reception, they brought me a card and said that there was no appointment with a psychologist for the next few days, but I could get to a psychiatrist: there are fewer people who want to see him.

/spravka/

How to get a certificate from the PND

At the appointment with the psychiatrist, I told about what was happening to me. The doctor was not surprised and said that it was an obsessive-compulsive disorder. It was the first time I heard my diagnosis, but I didn't believe it. On the Internet, I came across information that OCD is only pedantry, handwashing, fear of germs and perfectionism, and not the creepy things that come to my mind. The psychiatrist said that OCD was treated with antidepressants and offered to write a prescription, but I refused treatment because I thought they were serious drugs that would do more harm than help. nine0003

How a visit to a neuropsychiatric dispensary with OCD will affect later life

Sergey Divisenko

psychotherapist

The patient could move freely, drive a car, use weapons and work.

With an OCD diagnosis, you can still work in any job, there are no legal barriers to this. With regard to cars and weapons, the situation has changed. In 2014 and 2015, government decrees appeared, according to which OCD became a contraindication for driving and owning weapons. nine0003

However, from a psychiatrist's point of view, a person diagnosed with OCD can drive a car and use a weapon. Doctors of the psycho-neurological dispensary still give a certificate about this, but they do it through a medical commission.

Treatment

First hospitalization

My condition worsened, I tried to ignore obsessive thoughts. But the more I resisted them, the stronger they became. In addition, anger, irritability and constant fatigue appeared. nine0003

With new symptoms, I decided to see an endocrinologist, because I heard that this happens with problems with the thyroid gland. According to the results of ultrasound and hormone tests, the thyroid gland was in order. Then I made an appointment with a neurologist, but he also said that this was not his profile. Both doctors suggested that my constant fatigue, anger and irritability were symptoms of depression and advised me to seek psychiatric help.

Symptoms of clinical depression - NHS

I researched information about depression and realized that antidepressants could help, all I had to do was get a prescription. I came to the psychotherapeutic department again, but there was already another psychiatrist there. Since my condition worsened, instead of a prescription, he wrote out a referral for hospitalization in a day hospital. I had prejudices about a psychiatric hospital, so I did not want to visit the hospital. But there was no strength to argue with the psychiatrist.

This is how a referral for hospitalization to a day hospital looks like

The next day I was already in the hospital. During the registration, the psychiatrist on duty asked what I was complaining about, measured the pressure and examined whether there were injuries on the body. It turned out to be difficult for me to talk about the symptoms: there was a feeling that they would not believe me, or vice versa, they would believe me so much that they would put me in a round-the-clock hospital. But everything was fine, the psychiatrist wrote down the data on the card, gave it to the orderly, and together with him sent me to the head.

The manager looked at the card, confirmed the diagnosis of OCD and depression, and prescribed treatment: an antidepressant, an antipsychotic, a mood stabilizer, tranquilizer tablets, and injections of B vitamins.

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The routine in the hospital was as follows: I arrived at eight in the morning, had breakfast and took the prescribed pills, took injections, dined and went home. Tablets were issued immediately for one day, but they could also be issued for two days, for example, before the weekend. Once after the injection, I went to an appointment with a clinical psychologist, he gave various tests and questionnaires that tested logic and intelligence.

It was possible to move freely and receive visitors in the day hospital. The only limitation that distinguished the hospital from a regular hospital was that there were no forks and knives in the dining room. Part of the drugs used to treat psychiatric diseases cause drowsiness. Therefore, in the hospital there are wards where you can sleep. For example, after drip

About three times a week I went to see a psychiatrist in the same hospital. I told her about my condition and asked questions. I thought that as soon as I start taking medication, my mood will rise and my anxiety will go away. But this did not happen, so it seemed that everything was in vain and the treatment had to be abandoned. The psychiatrist explained to me that not all drugs begin to act instantly, she assured me that we were on the right track and we had to wait. These conversations made it easier. In my case, antidepressants began to work only on the third month of admission, when I no longer visited the day hospital. nine0003

Treatment at the day hospital lasted a month. All medications, medical consultations and meals were free. I spent money only on the road to the hospital and back - 600 R by public transport for the whole time.

/bye-depression/

“It reminded me of a strict regime sanatorium”: how much I spent on treating depression

After treatment, the symptoms of depression remained, but obsessive thoughts began to bother me less often: I stopped being afraid of open windows and was able to ride the escalator. Treatment had to be continued on an outpatient basis. Before I was discharged, the psychiatrist said that she would transfer my data to the psychiatric department. Now I will need to come to the local psychiatrist for prescriptions for medicines, and turn to him if the condition worsens or questions arise. nine0003 During the treatment in the hospital, I doubted everything. Even in being sick. Not only the psychiatrist, but also relatives helped to cope. They noticed the changes, but my young man did not let me stop the treatment

Treatment

Visiting a local psychiatrist

After I was discharged from the hospital, I came to the registration office of the psychiatric department with a passport and I was immediately sent to the district police officer. The doctor did not change the treatment and wrote out a prescription for the same medicines that were given in the day hospital. In the future, a referral to the district police officer was also not required. I just came to the appointment when I needed to update the prescription. nine0003

Government Decree of July 30, 1994 No. 890 with a list of categories of beneficiaries who are entitled to free medicines

District psychiatrists were different: some were polite, some were rude and rude. Using the brute force method, I found two normal specialists - when I made an appointment at the reception, I began to ask to be directed to them. Usually the registrar complied with my request.

Spent in six months of outpatient treatment — 8895 Р

Preparation	Spending
Antidepressants	5988 R
Normotimics	2384 P
Antipsychotics	419 P
Tranquilizers	104 Р

Antidepressants

5988 R

Normotimics

2384 R

neuroleptics

419 R

Transquilizers

104 R

Free medicines for the treatment of OCD are provided to certain privileged categories of people. I’m not a beneficiary, so I bought everything with my own money. Pharmacies don’t require a passport, but they put the date of issue of the medicine on the back and don’t sell more than prescribed by prescription. For example, according to a prescription for three months, I was given only three packs of an antidepressant. When I wanted to buy one more to have a supply, the pharmacist refused

Treatment

Second hospitalization and psychotherapy

After six months of outpatient treatment, the district psychiatrist recommended to be treated again in the hospital. Antidepressants helped: my mood improved, I got energy and I wanted to live, but I felt a side effect from antipsychotics. I was terribly sleepy, my handwriting changed, it was difficult to write in class and generally follow the train of thought of the teacher. In addition, there were more intrusive thoughts. nine0003

In the day hospital, I was treated by the same psychiatrist as the first time. She adjusted the drug treatment so that I was not bothered by intrusive thoughts. She also said that a psychotherapist had appeared in the hospital and referred me to her for a consultation.

Unlike the psychiatrist's consultations during the first hospitalization, we did not discuss drugs and their effects with the psychotherapist. We talked about what is happening to me and what other methods can be used to combat this, in addition to drugs. At the first appointment, I briefly talked about my lifestyle, obsessive thoughts, compulsive actions, and how I tried to resist them even before the treatment. Then the doctor explained to me what obsessive-compulsive disorder is and how it manifests itself, why my struggle only worsened the condition and led to depression. nine0003

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How to choose a psychotherapist

We agreed that I would try to keep the number of compulsive acts to a minimum, and I would cope with anxiety from intrusive thoughts with the help of techniques.

Speak key phrases. Thoughts in themselves mean nothing, they can come to mind automatically. We agreed that when I had an obsessive thought, I would simply tell myself that it was a manifestation of OCD. Here are the two phrases that I used: “This is just my thought that…”, “I know that this thought is a manifestation of OCD…” So gradually I stopped identifying myself with my thoughts and realized that thinking about the bad is does not mean to be a bad person. nine0003

Separately, we discussed the issue of the materialization of thoughts. When terrible things are spinning in your head, and you hear from everywhere that thoughts are material, you get very worried. We discussed the fact that thoughts are intangible and you can’t invite trouble with them. This made it easier and the degree of emotions decreased.

Observe how the body reacts to anxiety. Every time I had anxiety from obsessive thoughts, I did not run away from it, but watched my body. I was shaking, my heartbeat increased, my breathing quickened, but I continued to live it. The psychotherapist said that I would not die from this. Yes, it is unpleasant and scary, but when you live emotions, you gradually learn to cope with them. nine0003

Keep a diary. In the course of the sessions, I became convinced that I cannot control the thoughts themselves - it is impossible, but I can control the reaction to them. So I started keeping a diary.

/psychotherapy/

How psychotherapy works

It was necessary to take notes according to the formula: A - situation, B - my thoughts, C - my emotions. Using such records, it is easier to track the thoughts that cause negative emotions and work them out. For example, when I could not fall asleep for a long time, I began to think that something was going wrong, and this caused anxiety. Then I wrote down the whole situation in a diary and instead of negative thoughts I formulated new ones: "My sleep does not depend on my will, and this is normal." It helped to get rid of anxiety, stop trying to sleep and go about your business. About half an hour later I went to bed and fell asleep peacefully. nine0003 I filled out the diary for a week, and then the psychotherapist and I analyzed the notes

I also kept a mood diary. Before treatment, there was no point in monitoring the mood: it always turned out to be bad or indifferent

On antidepressants, I began to make entries in a diary every day and could track what affects my mood

I also kept a mood diary. Before treatment, there was no point in monitoring my mood: it always turned out to be bad or indifferent On antidepressants, I began to make entries in a diary every day and could track what affects my mood

I also kept a mood diary. Before treatment, there was no point in monitoring the mood: it always turned out to be bad or indifferent. On antidepressants, I began to make entries in a diary every day and could track what affects my mood

In the day hospital, I was treated for a month and a half, during which time I had only five sessions with a psychotherapist. All sessions, meals and drugs, as in the first hospitalization, were free. The only thing I had to spend money on was the road to the hospital and back, as well as the original antidepressant instead of the analogue provided in the dispensary. The doctor recommended the original, it suited me better. nine0003

3202 Р

spent on medicines and transport for a month and a half of treatment in the hospital

When I was discharged, the doctor told me that I was in a stable condition, the treatment helped me. I myself felt it: the mood was consistently good, and I quickly coped with obsessive thoughts. I was canceled all the drugs, except for antidepressants, then I had to continue taking them, be observed by the district psychiatrist and monitor my condition.

Spent one and a half months of treatment in a hospital — 3202 Р

Expenditures	Spending
Antidepressants	2422 P
Transport	780 Р

Antidepressants

2422 R

Transport

780 R

How do I feel after treatment

I stopped taking antidepressants a year and a month after discharge I spent another 14,640 R on them. Sometimes I have obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, but I do not scold myself for this. I know that if I get upset, the symptoms will become more frequent. The psychiatrist warned me that OCD symptoms may appear periodically, but this is normal. nine0003

14,640 Р

spent on antidepressants for a year and one month

Coronavirus last spring was a test of strength for me. The condition worsened, compulsive actions resumed, I stopped leaving the house, I began to choke on the street, obsessive thoughts about death appeared. But I managed it on my own with the help of techniques taught to me by the therapist. I kept in my head the idea that if it worked then, it will work now.

Before treatment, it was difficult for me to talk about my disorder. And now I openly talk about it and I can even joke about random manifestations of OCD. Almost everyone in my circle knows that I was being treated for OCD and depression. They help me notice compulsive actions and stop in time, treat me with understanding when I ask obvious things just in case - for example, did I close the door.

How often do people with OCD need to take drugs for life

Sergey Divisenko

psychotherapist

With the help of treatment, you can achieve remission - for a long time to get rid of the symptoms of OCD or reduce their number. Remission can occur both against the background of taking medications, and without them, against the background of psychotherapy.

Approximately 80% of patients with OCD stop taking medication sooner or later.

How much does OCD treatment cost?

In total, I treated OCD for one year and nine months. Of these, she was treated in a day hospital for two and a half months, and for a year and seven months - on an outpatient basis. nine0003

In the hospital, I only spent money on transport to and from the dispensary. Even during the second hospitalization, on the recommendation of the doctor, she bought antidepressants at the pharmacy and took them instead of those given in the hospital. The rest of the drugs, consultations and meals were free.

6 useful services for finding a psychotherapist

Most of the expenses are medicines during outpatient treatment.

Spent on OCD treatment for 1 year and 9 months — 27,337 R

Expenditures	Spending
Antidepressants	23 050 Р
Normotimics	2384 P
Antipsychotics	419 P
Tranquilizers	104 Р
Transport during hospitalization	1380 Р

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is a mental illness in which a person experiences obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions.
OCD is considered a lifelong disorder, but remission can be achieved with the help of psychotherapy and drugs.
OCD is treated in Russia by psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists. Psychiatrists prescribe prescription drugs. Psychotherapists and psychologists conduct psychotherapy sessions.
A visit to a neuropsychiatric dispensary will not prevent people with OCD from moving freely, driving a car, using weapons, or getting a job. nine0050
Patients with OCD can receive care free of charge in state neuropsychiatric dispensaries or at their own expense in private clinics.

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Working with OCD in Acceptance and Responsibility Therapy (ACT)

When I was studying to be a clinical psychologist, I saw gods as those who knew all these “psychiatric” rubrics with lightning speed, remembered by heart the criteria and signs and squashed labels: “Oh, this is schizoid!” . .. “Well, everything is clear here, BAD” ... “what can you do, this is endogenous depression” ... “Obviously, obsessive-compulsive disorder!”. nine0003

It's all beautiful. But what to do with a person? What should a person do?

Have you noticed that most of our clients, especially in small towns, often perceive a trip to a psychologist as an admission of their weakness? As if what is happening to them is the result of THEIR wrong behavior, wrong thoughts, attitudes, their initial defectiveness. As if at the factory for the production of normal people, it was at the very moment of their birth that a failure occurred, and it turned out like this, something clumsy, almost incapable of normal survival in a normal environment ... Here are all the flowers - beautiful, lush, even, growing in a flower garden, and only you managed crawl out of a crooked asphalt crack a stone's throw from the flower garden. nine0003

This makes our clients... us, each of us, lonely and vulnerable. And this is important to remember in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Where there is a lot of guilt, powerlessness and shame.

And if you stop holding on only to the client's symptom, only to his therapy, then you will see the whole picture, in the broadest perspective - a long film in which a small seed tries to break through the asphalt, and then with all its might to survive and grow in these difficult conditions that accompany his life. nine0003

Obsessions and the rituals that follow them are not a whim, not a personal choice, but rather an irresistible obligation to what is of value to the client. OCD is not just a simple behavioral pattern. Behind it is a story about how a person tried and tries to survive and not come into contact with unbearable experiences, about how a person saved and saves others, trying not to harm them. OCD is a way of living among people. It used to work, but now it has stopped. And the task of therapy is to teach a new way. A person is not sick, he is not abnormal, just the asphalt in which he grew up did not contribute to the development of other methods, and now that the flower has been transplanted, it is very difficult to pretend that this asphalt never existed.

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