Human Child,

I have both BPD and OCD as diagnoses. OCD characteristically does wax and wane as well as, in my experience, can be triggered or influenced by my mood swings. From what you have said, it sounds to me that you also deal with both disorders. I also agree with what was said about overlaps between many diagnoses.

Interestingly, I have read about proposed bipolar disorder with obsessive features as well as OCD with bipolar features. One and the same? How much does it matter? Who knows . . . It depends which of my doctors you could ask which one should be my primary diagnosis.

For me the terms only matter as they function as tools to find helpful treatment options.

I currently take Lamictal and Klonopin. My doc wants to add a low dosage of Topamax for more mood stabilization and then, when (and only when) I'm good and stable mood-wise, try adding in Anafranil (sp?) for the OCD symptoms. Being stable is pretty important befor attempting to add an anti-d as they can trigger mania and/or cycling.

Keep in mind that anything anyone says on these boards is only a non-professional opinion. Although there is a lot of cumulative personal experience around here, and wonderful advice abounds. What a wonderful thing. :)

A book that has really helped me understand the nature of OCD is titled Over and Over Again. Good title, huh?

Good luck along your journey.

--Loopy

You sound just like me. I have bi-polar and OCD disorder. I had OCD when I was a child but didn't know I had a problem. As I got older some of the OCD symtoms went away and changed. I do what you do and I know how you feel about wanting family understand why you do the things you do. In my case, my husband. It has been a terrible stress on our relationship, although, I told him about it before we married. Either he didn't care or didn't believe it because now he in no way understands me and my behaviour. When I was first diagnosed with OCD, my psych prescribed Anafranil for me. It was one of the first drug to treat OCD and now you never hear about it. It was great, it helped me so much but I became so uninhibited and also at age 43 started drinking. Well that became a big problem although it was sure fun at the time. I got on the drug before I started a relationship with my husband and I told him if I ever have to get off Anafranil, our relationship would not be the same.
I was on it or many years and not only did it help my OCD it helped other problems I had as well. Several years ago, I started having seizures. Don't know why. I had to get off the medication because of the seizures. Things haven't been the same since. I have not found a medication yet that helped like Anafranil. Even being on the medication it didn't help the bi-polar. It didn't make me feel like a zombie, just the opposite. I don't take anything for OCD now because none of them I tried helped and I didn't like the way they made me feel. I miss the medication.