Diagnosed With OCD. What Treatment Should Be Done?

Posted on Tue, 24 Jul 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 Answered on

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. I've been diagnosed with OCD and my obsessions have usually focused upon the fear that I will/ have harmed someone. The worst thing is that I sometimes feel a strong physical urge to do the very actions I fear. I've read that other people with OCD have also experienced physical urges to do something they don't really want to do (one man said he was frightened of balconies because he was scared he would be unable to resist the urge to jump off, even though he does not want to hurt/ kill himself.)

However, when I've 'Googled' 'OCD and urges', most of the sites focus on the urge/ compulsion to perform rituals, such as confessing. Although I also experiences these kinds of 'urges' I tend to regard them more as 'compulsions' and this is very different to the frightening physical urges I sometimes have to do the very thing I dread (i.e. harming another human or an animal), which I don't want to do.

Is this still OCD, or am I really a danger to others?

Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (6 hours later)

Hello,
Thanks for your query.

I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.

Important aspects of your query are:
• 30 year old female
• Known case of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Concern related to OCD symptoms and diagnosis

First there is no doubt regarding diagnosis of OCD in your case because of following reasons:
-You are seeking consultation on her own.
-Fear from impulsive harming indicate Obsessive fear and impulses. These kind of symptoms common in OCD patients in routine cases seen by us and improved after treatment of ocd.
-Excessive doubt regarding OCD symptoms and diagnosis is also a symptom of anxiety which is common in ocd.
-Presence of insight and help seeking

I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups.

Wish you good health.
Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar