Worried about the link between OCD and manic depression
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:30 pm
Hi everyone, okay so I was diagnosed with OCD a few weeks ago but I know it's been in my life a long time, and has also contributed to me having anxiety and depression. I'm about to start Lesson 8 and I'm doing really well so far. I feel like I've gotten my life back, and I'm very happy and satisfied. I know I still have things to work on but I know every day I'm getting better and I feel immensely proud of myself.
I was reading a blurb about the book Lucinda wrote about her husband who took his own life, and about how he had been suffering from manic depression. One of my friends has manic depression and was hospitalized for it awhile ago (before I met her, she's doing good now). I started to wonder if OCD could lead to manic depression. I know I shouldn't have done this but I googled it and found that about 10 to 35 per cent of people with OCD have manic depression. It also states that its more likely the people who have fewer compulsions but more of the sexual/religious obsessive thoughts, and for awhile those thoughts were really bothersome to me (not anymore).
I guess this has just scared me. I feel like I have enough on my plate, battling OCD & anxiety, and the resulting depression. I have never had any of the symptoms of manic depression, and my pscychiatrist that I saw who diagnosed me with OCD told me he's not worried that I show any other symptoms, but I'm worried that it could pop up later in my life. I know in the tapes Lucinda is very comforting and assures us that anxiety (including OCD which she dealt with as well) is not a life-long thing like manic depression or schizophrenia, but I'm scared I might get it. I just want to be healthy. I have a beautiful amazing daughter and all I want is to be there for her, to be healthy and always by her side. This past June I feel like I hit rock bottom -- my OCD started up again, and my scary thought was that I would kill myself if my depression got bad enough. I was so confused as to whether this made me suicidal or not -- but my psychaitrist said no, I wasn't, it's just that suicide was my obsessive OCD thought.
There are times when I am very happy, but that's how I normally am. Most friends and people I know see me as a very happy, bubbly, positive person. When I was younger I could get very hyper and exciteable, but it was always for a reason, i.e. being goofy with friends, school being done for the summer. I never felt out of control. I've been feeling really good lately and last night I was so happy -- I was cooking dinner for my baby girl and husband and I was making mashed potatoes. I started singing (I love to sing) and I made up a silly song about mashed potatoes. Normally this is who I am. I don't go on huge spending sprees or feel invicible, I'm just generally a cheerful, happy-go-lucky girl when I'm not weighed down by my anxiety and OCD and the resulting depression.
I guess I'm concerned if this is an indicator of having manic depression. What do you all think? I just need some words of advice and comfort I guess.
I was reading a blurb about the book Lucinda wrote about her husband who took his own life, and about how he had been suffering from manic depression. One of my friends has manic depression and was hospitalized for it awhile ago (before I met her, she's doing good now). I started to wonder if OCD could lead to manic depression. I know I shouldn't have done this but I googled it and found that about 10 to 35 per cent of people with OCD have manic depression. It also states that its more likely the people who have fewer compulsions but more of the sexual/religious obsessive thoughts, and for awhile those thoughts were really bothersome to me (not anymore).
I guess this has just scared me. I feel like I have enough on my plate, battling OCD & anxiety, and the resulting depression. I have never had any of the symptoms of manic depression, and my pscychiatrist that I saw who diagnosed me with OCD told me he's not worried that I show any other symptoms, but I'm worried that it could pop up later in my life. I know in the tapes Lucinda is very comforting and assures us that anxiety (including OCD which she dealt with as well) is not a life-long thing like manic depression or schizophrenia, but I'm scared I might get it. I just want to be healthy. I have a beautiful amazing daughter and all I want is to be there for her, to be healthy and always by her side. This past June I feel like I hit rock bottom -- my OCD started up again, and my scary thought was that I would kill myself if my depression got bad enough. I was so confused as to whether this made me suicidal or not -- but my psychaitrist said no, I wasn't, it's just that suicide was my obsessive OCD thought.
There are times when I am very happy, but that's how I normally am. Most friends and people I know see me as a very happy, bubbly, positive person. When I was younger I could get very hyper and exciteable, but it was always for a reason, i.e. being goofy with friends, school being done for the summer. I never felt out of control. I've been feeling really good lately and last night I was so happy -- I was cooking dinner for my baby girl and husband and I was making mashed potatoes. I started singing (I love to sing) and I made up a silly song about mashed potatoes. Normally this is who I am. I don't go on huge spending sprees or feel invicible, I'm just generally a cheerful, happy-go-lucky girl when I'm not weighed down by my anxiety and OCD and the resulting depression.
I guess I'm concerned if this is an indicator of having manic depression. What do you all think? I just need some words of advice and comfort I guess.