Here at the PSS Wellbeing Centres we recently asked someone who we support about their OCD and associated phobias and if they would feel comfortable sharing their story and advice for others. This individual would like to remain anonymous, but they have been attending our Wellbeing Centre for well over a decade!
We are extremely proud of the progress this person has made over the years and invited them in for a chat to discuss how they found their experience with PSS. Here they share what advice they have for anyone coming into the service who may struggle from OCD or other phobias.
This is their story:
Q: You have been supported by PSS Wellbeing Centres since May 2011, which groups have you attended in that time that you would recommend for other people suffering from OCD?
A: I went to Anxiety and Depression workshops, Art Therapy groups and WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan). This made me realise how powerful the mind is when it comes to feeling down. I have attended even more since. I particularly enjoyed the Creative Writing Course where we made poetry and I found I was thinking about it whilst doing day-to-day activities, it really took my mind off things. I went into some groups not knowing what to expect, but I was always pleased that I went.
Q: Is the agoraphobia influenced by your OCD?
A: Yes, the thoughts of germs on surfaces and germs people are carrying makes me want to stay home.
Q: Can I have examples of daily activities that are impacted by your OCD and what support mechanisms you use for each?
A: I can’t take buses; I’m afraid of the germs on them, how dirty the seats are and where I can sit to avoid the germs. I have to pay for taxis, and although they are still dirty in my mind, I think they are cleaner than buses because less people use them. I don’t touch anything when I’m travelling, I’m constantly checking the seats and people around me to look for any signs of germs. PSS taught me to use relaxation techniques, and not push myself too far as this isn’t good for me in the long-term. I usually use a combination of mindfulness and breathing, but I have found that visualisation particularly helps me. It allows me to plan things out in my mind instead of becoming overwhelmed thinking about all my fears at once.
Q: You mentioned you could become isolated without your support networks, can you explain how PSS Wellbeing Centres prevents this?
A: I have been with PSS Wellbeing Centres for over a decade, and I would be lost without the group sessions they provide. The social groups allow me to listen to the problems other people have had, and how they handled it. Other people can share how they would have dealt with it, and it gives me ideas on coping mechanisms. I’m never afraid to say anything in those groups, as I know we are all facing similar problems.
Q: Can you give examples of any ritualised behaviour?
A: I have a set routine during the day, especially during the mornings. If someone disrupts this routine, I am unsettled. This could be a phone call, unexpected letter, workmen or family visits. They can all disrupt my routine as they mean I have to do a deeper clean. I need to plan when I may need to use the bathroom so I can aim to be at home, as I struggle to use public bathrooms. I try to dehydrate myself so I won’t need to use the bathroom outside my home.
Q: If you are in a situation where you cannot use your typical coping strategies like cleaning objects others had touched, what would happen and how would you cope?
A: I would have to take my own cleaning products to wipe down any surfaces I need to touch before I can use them. If I’m on holiday, I would need to take my own appliances such as a kettle as I can’t use one that lots of other people may have used. Although I struggle to go on holiday due to my OCD and haven’t been since the 2000s, I find I can’t relax and I am constantly thinking about when I will be home. When I get home, I will take off all my clothes to be washed and clean myself.
Q: If you had to use a public bathroom, how would you cope with this?
A: I would avoid it at all costs, I would only go if I was desperate. I can’t let my bag touch the floors, so I have to hold it around my neck whilst I use the toilet. I have to open and shut the door, flush the toilet, and turn the tap on and off using tissues so I don’t have to touch the handles. The toilet seat also must be covered in tissues, and even then I won’t touch it.
Q: What coping strategies have you learnt from PSS Wellbeing Centres, and how do you use them day-to-day?
A: I have found that guided relaxation helps me a lot, also reminding myself that I don’t need to push myself too hard, it is okay to improve at a slow pace. I have learnt to just go with it, knowing if I have a bad day that I will feel better tomorrow instead of analysing all my fears.
Q: You suffer from anxiety and this can create fears that something bad will happen, are there any examples of this?
A: I have had phobias since I was a child. At first it was a fear of choking, and I had to avoid eating certain things in case I choked whilst eating. This caused me to lose weight. I also always jump to the worst conclusion, if my mother is late home, I will automatically assume she has died on the way home. This has impacted my ability to work, I used to always think I had left machines running or done my work wrong and it would cost the company money to fix my work.
Q: What products and services enable you to function and how do they help?
A: The PSS social groups have helped me massively. They allow me to talk with likeminded people who are going through the same things as me. They give me advice, things to laugh about and opportunities to go out for coffee. Walking my neighbours dog has also helped me, I get to look after it when they are on holiday and take it out for nice walks. It makes me feel more comfortable when talking to strangers, as we can just discuss the dog. It is nice to see the dog happy, that makes me happy.
Q: Is there any advice you have for those early into their OCD diagnosis or are in the process of getting one?
A: Come to PSS Wellbeing Centres, without a doubt. At first I was reluctant, I put it off for 12 months, making and cancelling appointments to come. Even when I kept cancelling appointments, they were so supportive of me. When I finally came, they were different from usual mental health services. They were friendly and took the pressure off me, even providing me with a supporting letter for financial benefits. Other places were still friendly to me, but PSS Wellbeing Centres puts absolutely no pressure on me and I have found this to be a more relaxing and comfortable environment.
Q: Where do you think you would be now if you hadn’t been referred to PSS?
A: I don’t even want to think about it, I would have gone completely downhill. This is the best help I’ve ever had.
Q: Do you feel you are in a better place thanks to PSS Wellbeing Centres?
A: Definitely, they showed me that progress takes time and not to rush it. I heard about PSS when I was referred to an OCD support group from a psychiatrist. A woman in the support group mentioned the Umbrella Centre and I asked to be referred there. I never saw that woman again, I feel like I was meant to meet her that day. I wish I’d known about it years ago.
Thank you for your time.
As mentioned, we recognise that your first time coming to the PSS Wellbeing Centre can be nerve-wracking. However, once you start attending our sessions, it can become like a second home. You are surrounded by like-minded people who are facing similar struggles, and this can become an incredible support network.
If you are feeling nervous to make the big step into our service, please give us a call on 0151 708 0415, email wellbeingcentres@pss.org.uk, or pop into the Wellbeing Centre for a chat.