Things that help OCD

Question:

I have had OCD for 20 years and these are some of the things I have learned. Raising dopamine relative to serotonin relieves obsessions. Raising serotonin relative to norepinephrine relieves compulsions. To put it another way. For obsessions raise dopamine. For compulsions raise serotonin. If you have both, raise both dopamine and serotonin. One thing that makes OCD difficult to treat is that serotonin seems to counteract both dopamine and norepinephrine. For me, taking Benydryl with an SSRI solves the problem. Things that make OCD worse (lowering dopamine or raising norepinephrine) Baking soda (raising blood pH favors norepinephrine) Bug spray (neutralizes dopamine) Caffeine (raises both dopamine and norepinephrine) Choline (neutralizes dopamine) Cigarettes (it depends on the individual) High sodium foods Lead exposure (raises norepineprine) Middle or high normal thyroid Outdoor light Things that make OCD better (raising dopamine or raising serotonin or blocking norepinephrine) Benadryl(a dose too low to cause drowsiness. About 12 mg is the most I’ve ever needed, but people are different) Beta blockers Dark glasses when outdoors Eating a meal or a snack usually helps Middle or low normal thyroid Valium Vinegar (1/4 teaspoon in a tall glass of water. Lowering blood pH favors serotonin.) Zoloft and other SSRI’s Note: I have to add this note. It is the balance between dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine that result in good mentle health. Raising or lowering any single neurotransmitter too much creates an imbalance that can make you worse (depression anxiety etc.) rather than better. These guidelines have been helpful to me. There are no guarantees. There is no one size fits all therepy for OCD. I hope someone will find this useful.

Response:

I have had OCD for 20 years and these are some of the things I have learned. Raising dopamine relative to serotonin relieves obsessions. Raising serotonin relative to norepinephrine relieves compulsions. To put it another way. For obsessions raise dopamine. For compulsions raise serotonin. If you have both, raise both dopamine and serotonin. One thing that makes OCD difficult to treat is that serotonin seems to counteract both dopamine and norepinephrine. For me, taking Benadryl with an SSRI solves the problem. Things that make OCD worse (lowering dopamine or raising norepinephrine): Baking soda (raising blood pH favors norepinephrine) Bug spray (neutralizes dopamine) Caffeine (raises both dopamine and norepinephrine) Choline (neutralizes dopamine) Cigarettes (it depends on the individual) High sodium foods Lead exposure (raises norepineprine) Middle or high normal thyroid Outdoor light Things that make OCD better (raising dopamine or raising serotonin or blocking norepinephrine) Benadryl(a dose too low to cause drowsiness. About 12 mg is the most I’ve ever needed, but people are different.) Beta blockers Dark glasses when outdoors Eating a meal or a snack usually helps Middle or low normal thyroid Valium Vinegar (1/4 teaspoon in a tall glass of water. Lowering blood pH favors serotonin.) Zoloft and other SSRI’s Note: I have to add this note. It is the balance between dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine that result in good mental health. Raising or lowering any single neurotransmitter too much creates an imbalance that can make you worse (depression anxiety etc..) rather than better. These guidelines have been helpful to me. There are no guarantees. There is no one size fits all therapy for OCD.

Response:

Dave wrote:

[snip] For obsessions raise dopamine. [snip] > Things that make OCD worse (lowering dopamine or raising norepinephrine): [snip] > Outdoor light

[snip] I didn’t know that dopamine had to be raised to relieve obsessions. Do psychiatrists take this into consideration when they treat people with ocd? Is this why they have to do drug coctails to cure some people? Outdoor light aggravating ocd is an interesting statement. I thought my anxiety would flare up during the day because of fear of the daytime. An escapist thing where reality must be avoided at all costs or else face the anxiety and end up freaking out. Where did you find out your information? I would be interested to know if there are articles or books that I can read that contain this information. The Panicky Guy

Response:

Thanks for the list of things that help. I’ll try those soon. Sincerly, Matt

Response:

It is not at all clear that this explanation is accurate in the first place. Used alone SRI medications tend to be antiobsessional. They are blocking reuptake of serotonin so they would be increasing it in the model described. However since the effect on OCD seems to take weeks in most cases it is likely to be changing sensitivity that is really the impact we are looking for. Some of the newer antipsychotic drugs which block dopamine ( not its uptake )actually may make OCD worse when given alone but may help with some OCD especially in the presence of tic disorders when added to a SRI. Thus the explanation given about raising one and not another is not really a reasonable description. I would doubt the things he recommends would make any difference. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Panicky Guy wrote: > Dave wrote: > [snip] For obsessions raise dopamine. [snip] > > Things that make OCD worse (lowering dopamine or raising norepinephrine): > [snip] > > Outdoor light > [snip] > I didn’t know that dopamine had to be raised to relieve obsessions. Do > psychiatrists take this into consideration when they treat people with ocd? Is > this why they have to do drug coctails to cure some people? Outdoor light > aggravating ocd is an interesting statement. I thought my anxiety would flare > up during the day because of fear of the daytime. An escapist thing where > reality must be avoided at all costs or else face the anxiety and end up > freaking out. > Where did you find out your information? I would be interested to know if > there are articles or books that I can read that contain this information. > The Panicky Guy

– Jim Claiborn PhD ABPP If the rich could pay other people to die for them the poor could make a wonderful living. Yiddish proverb J-Claiborn-…@worldnet.att.net

Response:

On Mon, 22 Jun 1998 11:02:16 -0700, "M&R Fortin" <for…@travel-net.com> wrote: >Thanks for the list of things that help. I’ll try those soon. >Sincerly, >Matt