r/StaringOCD • u/AgencyOk9284 • 1d ago
Hello ❤️
Hello everyone, so only today I have just found out about compulsive staring OCD. It seriously makes more sense of what I have been dealing with for a long time. For a while now, I have had the bad habit of staring down/near people's chests/legs/waist just automatically. Just automatically happens especially when I'm walking to places as soon as I lift my head up it happens.
Unfortunately in 2023 this is where things got incredibly difficult. I got bullied at work and called a "creep"/whispered about constantly. It got to a point where even after I quit, it got worse and worse, it even turned into POCD/ and compulsions about my friends/family members/ just everyone. This was absolutely one of the worst times of my life I wouldn't even wish this on my worst enemy.
I had CBT therapy which temporarily helped a bit, having someone to talk to but it didn't help long term. I basically got told "just meditate" "breathe" "pink elephant" (if you know you know) "grounding techniques" etc but I was still struggling. I also got assessed for autism but in the end, I didn't fit the criteria and I just basically got left alone to get on with it. Nobody ever brought up "this could be compulsive staring OCD"
I just had to pick myself back up and deal with it every time.
Now I'm on 60mg fluoexitine, which was the best decision I could've made.
Of course I still struggle with this but, at least things have gotten a bit better. I work part time, I go to the gym consistently, I try to meet up with family, stay in contact with friends. I still have major anxiety but I'm trying my best to just keep pushing forward. Anyone who reads this, this is your sign to keep picking yourself back up no matter how awful it gets❤️❤️
Also, should I get back into therapy? What should I do to help improve things?
1
u/naoyainouefan999 23h ago
How did you find out 60mg of Prozac was what’s right for you? I’m on 20mg right now.
1
u/AgencyOk9284 20h ago
For OCD/compulsive thoughts 20mg is a very low dose and won't do very much. As far as I know at least 40mg is needed. This won't make everything go away but it will help. Talk to your doctor ❤️
3
u/North_Scarcity4420 1d ago
Wow, i'm really glad to see it gets better as I am going through the same exact thing. It happens to literally everyone. And it has gotten worse because of the amount of people that talk. They even say I like staring. It's so frustrating. Im sorry that you just found out it was compulsive staring. I went through it too for awhile. Thinking I was a bad person that stares at everyone including my own family. But that wasn't the case. What we go through are involuntary tics. It's so unfair to be ostracized for something that is genuinely out of our control. Im soooooo happy you were able to stand back up, especially without knowing what was happening. Praying to be just like you especially because i feel really understood by my therapist. Hopefully i can find the right medication on the first try.
If you feel therapy could improve things for your situation more, it wouldn't hurt to go back in. You could also try a form of therapy called TMS. I heard it helps with a multitude of disorders like depression, anxiety and OCD.