I just received an interesting question from Heather about OCD bipolar disorder symptoms. She wrote that she didn’t know that OCD was so common in bipolar disorder. (It is!) Then she asked about her obsessive thoughts:
Julie
I don’t understand my own obsessive thoughts or where they came from. I am always thinking about paper cutting my eyeball or slicing my achilles tendon. These thoughts make the relative body parts actually hurt! I have no idea why or when these thoughts pop into my head but I can’t get rid of them! Sometimes I wrap my ankles in ace bandages for the psychological ‘protection’ from the unseen knife. Or last time I was in the hospital having the thoughts about my eyeball, they gave me an ice pack to carry around and cover my eye. It was embarrassing but hey, all of us in there have problems. Do you have any suggestions or even an explanation?
Hi Heather,
That is what happens to me when I have mild psychosis. I see myself get killed, maimed, poked, cut etc. All of the good stuff! I didn’t know what it was until I learned more about the illness. I have a lot less psychosis now. Mine is definitely stress related. Did this happen after you went off the Abilify? That is the main question. It can definitely be OCD as it’s a repetitive thought. I deal with this in a few ways- meds of course- then trigger management. Is there anything that triggers these episodes? Could be a stress reaction in general. And then , the hardest to treat is if it’s simply a part of the illness and has nothing to do with any outside influence. I suggest behavior modification help. For example, when I get obsessed= and it is awful – I talk to myself and say,”You have bipolar disorder. This is a part of bipolar disorder. Treat the bipolar disorder first. This is not real.” I do this every time an uncomfortable thought comes up.
You have some questions to answer:
1. Did I have the same symptoms when I was on an anti psychotic?
2. Are these obsessions triggered by events or certain situations?
3. Is it OCD or psychosis?
4. How can I talk to myself to deal with what is going on while I get help.
Those of us on this site know that what you are going through is real. I wish you luck in figuring out exactly what is going on so that you can find relief!
Julie
