DR LAURA RYAN: My Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is crippling my life
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Q. I feel like my OCD is taking over my life. How can I find ways to manage symptoms?
A. OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a mental health condition where the person has recurring obsessive thoughts and unwanted feelings.
OCD symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some people with OCD may spend only a short time engaged in obsessive-compulsive thinking and behaviour, but for others the condition can completely take over their life.
The main treatments for OCD are:
* cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – involving a therapy known as graded exposure with response prevention, which encourages you to face your fear and let the obsessive thoughts occur without “neutralising” them with compulsions.
* selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – this medication can help reduce your symptoms by altering the balance of chemicals in your brain.
If these treatments aren’t effective or your condition is particularly severe, you may need to be referred to a specialist mental health service for treatment.
For advice and information around OCD and how you can support yourself and others, visit www.nhsinform.scot
Q. My mum has a lot of repeat prescriptions and I’m worried she might run out of everything she needs. What can I do?
A. The best thing to do is to know your local pharmacy opening times, and be aware of what repeat prescriptions your mum might need and make sure she orders them in plenty of time.
If you’re unsure what your pharmacy opening times are, visit www.nhsinform.scot and search for Scotland’s Service Directory, who can provide opening times and availability of local pharmacies.
