OCD Or Not OCD, That's The Question

Question:

Hello Dr. Schwartz,

First off, thank you for your website. I have been diagnosed as having OCD/Depression. My question is that I have had intrusive revolving thoughts only three times in my life after a stressfull event or depression. And then years go by with no symptoms whatsoever. Can OCD come and go like this and be episodic in nature? Is it common? I am currently on medication as well doing CBT and my psychiatrist says I have a great prognosis since my OCD seems to have such long periods of no symptoms. Im not even sure if it is OCD or just Depression…

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Answer:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is associated with depression and anxiety. It is an unsuccessful attempt to reduce symptoms of both of these problems. It most certainly worsens in times of stress, increased anxiety and increased depression. This why you have episodes of this disorder. You can certainly trust your doctor when he tells you that you have both ocd and depression.

OCD, depression and anxiety are very common illnesses and it is not unusual for them to happen when life gets tough. Disorders such as these vary in intensity so that one person may have mild cases while others very severe cases. In other words, they occur along a continuum. It appears that you doctor believes that you case is mild and, therefore, you have very good prognosis.

My advice is that you do not obsess over this!-smile.

Best of luck