General Obsessive Behavior In Your Sufferer

[Sweetpea76]

I've been reading about how PTSD sufferers can often get OCD. I'm seeing some obsessive behaviors in my vet, but I don't think he has been diagnosed as OCD. He is very open about his treatment and diagnoses with me, so I believe he would tell me if he had been.

He doesn't have tics, but rather he will get an idea in his head and just cannot get over it. For example, he got a chip in the paint on his motorcycle. I heard about that tiny 1/8th inch chip (which was in the back of a fender, where nobody could see it) every day for 7 months until he got it fixed. I mean, no exaggeration, every single day. He just stressed, and stressed, and stressed. I listened to him talk about it without griping, figuring it was a PTSD thing. But no joke, I actually clapped when he got it fixed!

He has several little things like this at any given time that stress him. Not all, but a lot of them are vehicle related. He trades in cars for new ones because of 'issues' that wouldn't bother 99% of people (i.e. squeaks, uncomfortable seats, bad seal on a window). It's enough that I've noticed a pattern. I'm also wondering if it is because he is former Cav.

I guess my question is, does anybody's sufferer have PTSD and OCD? If so, is there a separate treatment for the OCD, or does it fall under the same therapy/meds that PTSD does? I just want to make sure he isn't suffering from added anxiety that can be treated, and I'm not familiar with OCD at all.

I'm also debating even bringing this up to him. I don't know if it would stress him, or if he just hasn't noticed and would want to be told. I've even thought of emailing his therapist, but that really rubs me the wrong way. I'd feel like I was going behind his back.

Ah, the joys of the PTSD balance beam.

Any Advice?

 

[Abstract]

Hi Sweetpea,

It is something that can occur although I don't have it. I do however, tend to be obsessive. It's like thoughts get stuck fairly easily. From what I know I think it could be helpful to have it discussed. It seems he is wasting a lot of energy on unimportant things. These may be a way of him expressing anxiety in a way that feels more acceptable for him but I don't think these truly help us even when we think they do. Stopping obsessions and any unhealthy means of coping is always better for recovery.

The other possibility is that this is just a case of cognitive distortions. His interpretation of events is off and that is affecting how well he copes with them. I do that that is quite possible from what you shared.

CBT is usually good for both for most people. I am not sure if he has done work on cognitive distortions already or not.

With OCD there are normally compulsions and you haven't mentioned any but there is something called pure o although I don't know much about it.

 

[Anna]

I am a sufferer and can totally relate to what you are saying. I have not been diagnosed with OCD, but I have some of the symptoms of OCD to the point people have asked me what I am doing and think I am bizarre.

First, I check if doors are locked. Over and over again. I pull that handle. Especially my car door. Once I broke the handle off the door LOL. So I now just look, stare through the window at the little locks to make sure they do not pop up again and my door is... locked. I earned myself the name "Murdoch" by a few people I know because of this behaviour. They do not know about my illness, they just think I am a control freak.

I also will take my time to park EXACTLY between the white lines and my wheels have to be straight.

I check all windows downstairs are closed before I go to sleep to make sure noone can break in.

I check the door is closed over and over again. Sometimes I get up in the night and check again that the windows are closed.

I check taps are off. 4 times at least so no water can leak.

Why? It makes me feel safer, and also because my mind being a sieve I forget everything, so I do not trust myself. I keep checking over and over.

 

[Sweetpea76]

The other possibility is that this is just a case of cognitive distortions. His interpretation of events is off and that is affecting how well he copes with them. I do that that is quite possible from what you shared.

You know, that makes sense, as he had TBI as well. Maybe it is just the way things are firing around up there?

 

[Abstract]

Often it is the importance we give something that causes the stress. That happens with those that have PTSD or trauma but also with most people to lessor or larger extents. People with personality disorders have a lot of problems with these whether they have trauma in their pasts or not.

I have no doubt my husband has an undiagnosed anxiety disorder - probably GAD. Unlike me he seems to have very little self awareness. One example of a constant source of anxiety is that if someone is walking slower than he is and is in his way, he sees them as "selfish", "inconsiderate", ""stupid" etc. The same if someone starts speaking on their mobile phone in public.

He winds himself up into such a state that he can't get down again. If he viewed the person in front of him (walking slower than him) in other ways such as "isn't it nice that they are not stressed and are able to enjoy everything around them and not rush" or "there may be a very good reason they are walking slower than I am" then almost all of the anger or anxiety would disappear. It's a very common reason that CBT can help people and those with PTSD are no exception. Trauma always comes with some distortions that are specifically related to it such as, "nothing is safe", "I am bad", etc.

There may be good reasons why he has chosen car's to focus on.

I always think of the trauma as the big looming presence that is in the background and that there are many things between us the trauma. And it is often those things that slow healing down hugely. If you are not familiar with them then look at defence mechanisms.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanisms Dissociation is actually considered a mature response to trauma though as the context affects these.

[DLMURL]http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/201301/50-common-cognitive-distortions[/DLMURL]

It may just be an obsession though. Which are essentially just distractions and ways of expression emotions.

 

[Sweetpea76]

I always think of the trauma as the big looming presence that is in the background and that there are many things between us the trauma. And it is often those things that slow healing down hugely. If you are not familiar with them then look at defence mechanisms.

It makes sense as a defense mechanism. A lot of his injuries were from hitting roadside IEDs. His Humvee actually hit more than one IED while he was deployed. Maybe it is some kind of holdover of vehicle inspection and maintenance.

So if I understand you correctly Abstract, his obsessive behaviors could be defense mechanisms, and these may be a way of him protecting himself from dealing with the anxiety of his trauma?

 

[Abstract]

his obsessive behaviors could be defense mechanisms

My main experiences with obsessions were in the form of eating disorders and body dysmophia. There were a lot of direct links to trauma in there too but things such as OCD, denial, eating disorders etc are usually all attempts at coping. They can be a way of interpreting the fear or intense emotional states without going near the trauma. Totally unconscious usually of course. Or of processing some of the feelings about the trauma when they are linked.

To give you an idea, I had an eating disorder for about 30 years and it was when I recovered from it that the PTSD hit me full force and I was no longer able to avoid seeing the flashbacks and other things I suspect I had all along. It is a bit like converting energy into another form.

Not saying that is what is happening for him but it may well be. It may feel like a safer way of expressing his emotions.

When it comes to deeply entrenched and pervasive means of distracting and coping (there are emotion regulation benefits) such as anorexia they always make sure there is a build up of an alternative skill set to replace what is being used.

It might not be that big for him but I think the fact that vehicles are connected to his traumas says a lot. It might be a way for him to feel like he is control of something related. For example a classic OCD behaviour would be to check the door is locked over and over and over again. For someone who has been attacked in the past there is an obvious connection and again it is an attempt at controlling something related.

Even self blame can be an attempt at feeling less powerless and victimised.

So yes it could be a defence mechanism and it may even be more that that and actually be expressing some emotions about the trauma since they are linked. Normally these things are like an enormous complex mass of connections and interactions.

Just wanted to add that the problem can be that these things can stop one dealing with the real issues and that can slow us down. I hope he is having treatment. That is essential. It might be worth bringing this up in a calm and matter of fact way. Whether it could be an unconscious way of expressing emotions or interpreting the trauma. Maybe you could say that you are concerned about the level of distress he feels about every little thing to do with the car.

If he has done any CBT then he should have done cognitive distortion work already.