OCD and Migraines?!

kaitlann · Newbie User Joined: Dec 18, 2007 Posts: 1

I have a lot of OCD problems, mostly with symmetry. I used to do everything in "4"s, but now it's the symmetry thing. Not just "touch something with my right hand, and I have to touch it with my left"....This is going to sound super crazy...
I click my teeth together - a LOT. One side, then the other side has to be even. This goes on and on. Sometimes I do it with my arm and leg muscles, but usually just with my teeth. The problem is that I get MASSIVE headaches - migraines, really. They've been diagnosed as migraines without the aura, but the doctor could never figure out why.

Could this teeth symmetry thing seriously be causing my migraines? It's making me crazy. If I keep doing it, I know I'll get a headache, but when I try to stop, I get nauseous.

paulmm · Newbie User Joined: Jun 29, 2007 Posts: 47

i have similar 'tics' from my OCD

i think they are a form of psychomotor agitation - impulses to move muscles in the face, hands, arms, legs, etc to relieve anxiety

the problem with ocd is (at least for me) when these tics occur on one side of my body, i usually need to do the other side, and it usually goes back and forth for minutes

when i have tics in my face, neck, or mouth, i get headaches, similar to ones gotten from squinting too long on sunny days

maybe this is what you are talking about
i dont know of any treatments, but my headahces are not bad enough to really look for any either

Lo · Newbie User Joined: Jun 05, 2008 Posts: 5

currently my number is 3
3 steps between cracks on the sidewalk
3 times with the light switches.
3 wash hands hour
this surprises me because i love even everything and 3 is an odd number... < i even did 3 dots Shocked

miss-m · Newbie User Joined: Jul 15, 2008 Posts: 4

No, my number is four. Four groups of four.

siren_0_0 · Newbie User Joined: Jan 11, 2008 Posts: 95

Interesting. I guess the biblical Noah's # was 2... Razz

dottie · Expert User Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 566 Location: USA

OpheliasPansies · Newbie User Joined: Aug 01, 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Idaho

I'm new here, but especially after reading this post I felt like I should say something.

I was diagnosed with migraines by a neurologist five years before I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression and some OCD symptoms--pulling facial and body hair and constantly looking for symmetry and how to "order" things. Likely, my migraines, as well as many other people, are triggered by the chemicals released while stressed or in stressful situations as well as certain hormones during monthly cycles and certain food triggers like red wine, eating too much protein or certain aged cheeses. Anxiety, depression, and OCD can create very stressful circumstances for anyone.

The jaw clenching is also likely causing some tension. It's something I do as well. It may cause the "migraines" without aura; probably they are just tension headaches which can hurt just as much as, or more than, a migraine at times and even have similar symptoms if your tension is located, say, near your temples (sensitivity to sound and/or light). Your jaw muscles stretch a long way up your face and head.

If you really are getting migraines, you should see a neurologist to get a treatment plan that includes prevention as well as a step-by-step rescue plan for when you do get a headache that is debilitating. A neurologist will be best suited to deal with any treatment that has to do with your brain function outside of the psychological. Once you've got a stable system set up, which may take up to a year and maybe more, your GP can take over, but have your therapist/psychiatrist/psychologist work in concert with him/her so that any psychomotor tics, like the jaw clenching, aren't mistaken for symptoms of something other than relief of anxiety or OCD, if that is indeed what they are.

I hope this helps.