OCD and autism

barely read what people said. I haven't been diagnosed with OCD BUT ADHD DEPRESSION ANXIETY AND AUTISM AND DYSLEXIA TOO . i have many other disabilities. the reason why i am saying i have ocd isn't just because i take so many bags mostly 4 bags i take to college everyday but i also organise things in order or clean until everything is spotless or even when i sometimes vacuum clean i clean until the place is spotless yeah . i never been diagnosed with ocd but i'm told i have ocd 

I don't!  I like to do things a certain way, and get annoyed if they are done differently, but I don't get a sense of dread that leads me to perform certain rituals.  I think the two things are on quite different scales, althoufh they can look similar. 

Perhaps though, the reliance on routine could become extreme under adverse circumstances, so maybe it is a more direct line for Autists to develop than non-autistic people.

🐝 Bees 🐝 (they/them) #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #StopTheShock said:

Also I was born with Autism but I developed OCD out of GAD which was also aquired following a long string of childhood trauma (so I also have CPTSD). And I know a lot of people with both ASD and ADHD or ADD, but I don't have ADD/ADHD and they don't have OCD so I don't think these things should necessarily be considered synonymous like some people believe they are. Like the correlation doesn't equal a causation imo.

That's a useful insight and possibly the crux of what I'm trying to understand.

If we aren't born with OCD then I assume it develops in various ways and for various reasons.

I haven't read much about it and as there is not a time I remember not having it, I've just accepted it as part of me.

I did however have an upbringing that, although wasn't as bad as many have, I did find traumatic.

I had a conversation with my autistic friend about this today and he said the he believes that they always go together, but perhaps not.

Maybe I should have asked whether there is anyone on this forum with autism who doesn't have OCD?

I just realised I forgot to add this to my first reply but I can definitely tell when I'm experiencing the OCD vs the Autism it's just that there is a degree of "overlap" or more specifically interaction between the two for me, like there are times when one is definitely magnifying the effects of the other even though they are distinctly different in my experience.
Also I was born with Autism but I developed OCD out of GAD which was also aquired following a long string of childhood trauma (so I also have CPTSD). And I know a lot of people with both ASD and ADHD or ADD, but I don't have ADD/ADHD and they don't have OCD so I don't think these things should necessarily be considered synonymous like some people believe they are. Like the correlation doesn't equal a causation imo.

I try to juxtapose the OCD and Autism issues; as they're two sides of the same coin.

There are enough strings to my bow; as it is, without more.

I think that might be a trial and error case of having to try different brands because some are better than others for their texture and scent. I really hate the soapy thick ones that leave a sticky residue, and even worse if they have that other-chimically smell not just the alcohol content that will gradually evaporate off.

Ooo that's a clever way of doing it. Love that actually! Do your hands get sticky at all? I really hate my hands feeling sticky.

I might give it a go as well :) really great idea.

I carry hand sanitiser! In fact, I make my own with a Witch Hazel base and tea tree + lavender pure essential oils. Sometimes adding a citrus. This might be a great work-a-round if hygiene is a must.

The good:

It doesn't kill the good bacteria

It never dries out my hands. 

Others always comment on how pleasant it is 

Debbie said:

I am on the anti-depressant Paroxetine (Seroxat).

I have been on this for years and I feel it helps a lot with anxiety and OCD (which of course is anxiety based).

That's fabulous to hear Debbie :) I'm glad you feel it's making a difference for you. I've been offered help for anxiety before but not that one. I might see if I can request it though.

The last one I got was Sertraline but I felt worse with that one.

OMG I know right that's the worst for sure. And if someone has left something sticky on a door handle and you don't know what it is. I used to see that loads on shop doors. Aghh!

🐝 Bees 🐝 (they/them) #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #StopTheShock said:

I really feel like if people decided "oh pandemic must be over now" (even though it isn't) they should have just removed the empty sanitiser dispensers they have no intention of ever refilling again because now all our hand hygeine is x100 worse for all touching the same germy handles.

YES! I thought this as well. It's like people accepted it's over but they've just left everything as it is. People are so slack, don't do anything anymore. But it makes it extremely difficult for people like us. I guess they don't have autism and OCD.

I feel how difficult this can be. It's never easy to overcome! We can feel trapped by it. I just want to offer a few suggestions, though - only for the sake of Clarity. 

Unfortunately, This site is incorrect. "Obsessive and ritualistic behaviors are one of the fundamental traits that make up Autism" This is untrue. Rather it is a statement based on Autistics with Trauma or a complete misrepresentation of our potential and our Monotropic brains. Looking at the OCD site this article is based on, it is also incredibly outdated. We've fixed a great deal of perspectives over the last 8 years. 

Rather, site might be a good start: www.ocduk.org/.../ For individuals whose obsessive-compulsive and related disorder symptoms warrant the “with absent insight/delusional beliefs” specifier, these symptoms should not be diagnosed as a psychotic disorder. 

I would suggest Absent Insight is most likely the majority of cases for the Autistic, who is intensely Impacted by their environment. This causes everything to feel like it has been turned up to 11. Without years of investigating differentiations, it can be difficult to separate the emotional impact from the element causing the problem. Anyone traumatised by their surrounding will need to find a source for grounding.

For the sake of clarity, here are some distinctions between OCD and something that might appear like it: 

External or Internal Sensory issues and/or maintaining Health & Safety 

External or Internal Sensory relating to a structure of art and untapped talent (a drummer for ex.) - exhibiting a psychological potential to specialise and a natural undiscovered talent 

Perceiving something happening in the world around with out the vocabulary or language or understanding to help express it. these would be Unsorted / Unidentifiable matters (emotional or therefore otherwise) one desperately needs education on which create a conscious, waking "Psychological Thriller"in the imagination echoing something happing in reality. Think of Antennae-like perception of culturally acceptable nuances which might be unacceptable in another country depending on the social morals and in conflict with human dignity and rights.

Unresolved matters affecting the heart or unresolved matters affecting livelihood coupled with a difficulty in communication (misjudged, misunderstanding, conflicting values) 

Alternately: Learned discipline / Resourcefulness, Diligence and Responsibility - if not learned quite right or if I'm missing a piece of the full equation, this might be harmful or create more frustration. 

The Impulsivity of undiagnosed ADHD

Unmanaged expectations and beliefs from being taught incorrectly about others or life.

It's important to recognise things in modern society which we're met with and aren't always helped to understand. For ex. Panic-buying, which could easily be a “dance with consumerism” for either Type:

Non-Autistic might just be unaware of a corrupted social ‘code’ (in their brain) to dominate resources. They may be attempting to subvert an unrelated problem though this mode of operation, like a dominating boss they feel they cannot escape. 

For the Au, they may have an actual awareness of probability of rations in short supply from hyper-calculations they're subconsciously making  Perhaps it's untapped talent with matters of economics. A possible solution: Anti-anxiety meds can help slow down the hyper-active calculations when impulse buying feels imperative giving one room to then examine the impulse and discover what is triggering it. 

Luna said:

Wish there was a cure for this. It really sucks.

I am on the anti-depressant Paroxetine (Seroxat).

I have been on this for years and I feel it helps a lot with anxiety and OCD (which of course is anxiety based).

🐝 Bees 🐝 (they/them) #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #StopTheShock said:

I really feel like if people decided "oh pandemic must be over now" (even though it isn't) they should have just removed the empty sanitiser dispensers they have no intention of ever refilling again because now all our hand hygeine is x100 worse for all touching the same germy handles.

I feel the same.

I have a hand sanitiser attached to my bag and use that if I've touched an empty one in a store.

Thank you all for your replies.

You know what the worst thing is? When I already felt like I needed sanitiser so I go and pump a wall dispenser handle and find it is empty, and then I have touched a thing other people have no doubt also touched because they need sanitiser so now my hand is extra icky and I want to chop it off.
I really feel like if people decided "oh pandemic must be over now" (even though it isn't) they should have just removed the empty sanitiser dispensers they have no intention of ever refilling again because now all our hand hygeine is x100 worse for all touching the same germy handles.

You poor thing. I feel your pain. I've got ocd, total nightmare! The hand washing and obsessive thoughts are very distressing at the best of times. I'm learning new coping skills but generally not a lot helps me with it. I just try to distract myself until it passes by. Wish there was a cure for this. It really sucks.

I actually have few compulsions but the obsessions/intrusive thoughts can be really awful and they seem to escalate the more generally stressed and anxious I am, so depending on how full what I call my daily GAD measure is.

Yes, everyone I know with Autism has OCD, my two sons, my ex, and others, which can be quite scarey actually for the person and onlookers, and can be mistaken for mental heath illness as paranioa, which for my son it was, and now 13 years later of drugs and trying to get off them, off for 3 weeks, though the suppressed thoughts means the OCD has come back too fierce, try not to be lured into drugs, ny son wasnt lured, he had no  choice, sectioned at 17. Yes, OCD and anxiety are all part of Autism. Hope thats helpful.

And it needs to be, it needs to breath and not be suppressed, just managed