Hey everyone, 

Sorry for the prolonged absence. I've been out this time dealing with both overwhelming OCD symptoms, going back to college, and horrible cramping side effects from birth control. So however you put it, I just haven't been in good shape or busy for the most part. On the bright side, the therapy non medical treatment of OCD that I put into action a few weeks back has been paying off significantly. One I believe cannot rely on medication all the time to keep covering up blow ups in symptoms and a therapeutic approach is necessary if you don't want to be over medicated. 

In this post I will summarize the key points of my program regime that I found on medical websites. 

1. Being patient and forgiving of yourself for having the unwanted thoughts. 

2. When they do come in, ignore them as illness and nonsense. Don't let them bother you or disturb what you are doing. 

3. Do deep mediation breathing for 45 minutes to an hour if you have time. This can help slow down the overwhelming thoughts significantly and the intensity at which they hit you. Just focus on your breathing and try to relax. 

4. Muscle relaxation also is very helpful can can be used along with deep breathing to enhance relaxation effects. 

5. Remember that OCD is an anxiety disorder. Sure it can become annoying and depressing to hear intrusive thoughts all the time but you can't let that pull your attitude down if you want to get well. 

6. Eat regular, nutritious meals, and try to extend yourself just a little when you are feeling better. Push until it symptoms start to come in and then take a break. Keep doing this for a while and eventually you'll build up a higher tolerance for workload and stress without symptoms coming in to annoy you. 

7. Try not to aggravate any other mental disorders you might have. I know when my depression starts to get bad then chances are that my OCD gets bad along with it. 

8. High emotional states, even positive ones, can trigger OCD blowups. Try not to get overly excited or build up too much anticipation. In getting excited for going back to school and my brothers moving back to their own places for college caused my symptoms to get worse. Best to spread the excitement and anticipation over time rather than all at once. 

9. Just relax and go along for the ride with the illness. Don't attack it head on or block it out as that just makes it words. Passivity and apathy are the best approaches to "attacking" this condition. 

We are warriors and survivors just like those with cancer, and members of the mental illness family that stretches the world over. When you are feeling better, support your brothers and sisters in mental illness. People are only acquainted with the consequences of mental illness that has overtaken people's lives, or has resulted in fatalities to others and/or possibly suffer themselves. We need to show people that it's possible to live with a mental illness and not look like the scary person who's lost it completely. It starts with those of us that are well and have recovered mostly or completely coming out of the shadows and into the light with the illness that we have. 

Peace and good mental health to you all! 

Mary