Living with OCD

Imagine you’re leaving for work when a thought strikes: “Did I turn off the stove?” This small worry spirals into fears of the stove catching fire,

For many people, there’s nothing more relaxing than curling up with a good book. But for those of us with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the

It’s safe to say that most people prefer to avoid feeling uncomfortable—but for those of us with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), discomfort can throw

"What if…" These two small words can feel suffocating when you’re dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), turning every unanswered question into

Remember when parenting seemed like it might involve teaching your child how to tie their shoes, helping them with their homework, and dealing with

For many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a harsh voice of self-criticism seems to follow every intrusive thought. It brings on waves of

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” This classic quote from “Forrest Gump” rings particularly true for those of

When people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tell Dr. Patrick McGrath that they can't believe he doesn't have OCD himself, he takes it as the

In a world that glorifies being productive, it’s easy to overlook the signs that you’re reaching your limit. Feeling overwhelmed can leave you feeling

Humans are creatures of habit—we have a tendency to find solace in our daily routines. However, life can be unpredictable and chaotic, and sometimes we

I felt like I was a puppet and something else was controlling my mind. My entire life people had taught me to “trust your gut”, this played into my obsessions. I started engaging in magical thinking. I believed that certain thoughts, actions, and words could somehow manipulate the physical world.

It's important to remember that OCD is not curable but it is very much treatable. That is what I mean when I say that you can live in recovery. You can live a life that you love and cherish. For me, recognizing that this is a lifelong struggle is important. This helps me to remember that my brain works a little differently, and that's okay.

There came this moment of clarity for me. I had enough. My thoughts are not reality. Would I choose to pay more attention to the turmoil in my mind or my life that was happening right in front of me? I felt this defiance and resilience rise up within me because I was sick of living this way.

My experience with OCD has rooted me in hope, for I have learned that my struggles need not be opaque walls or echo chambers of pain. OCD does not have the final word in my story.

Growing up I never heard about OCD other than when people made comments about “being so OCD”. Looking back I truly wish I would have known about it and I could have started therapy sooner. People around me just chalked up my behaviors to my personality. I think that happens a lot, even in today’s society. People tend to think of OCD in a certain way not realizing there are so many forms .

I was constantly embarking on quests for certainty.I have had various themes or subtypes over the years but I didn’t present in the stereotypical way that the media portrays OCD. The content of my thoughts was so terrifying to me that I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone.

It was at this crucial turning point in my life that NOCD therapy helped me the most. One of my fears had become a real life event.  It happened, my marriage fell apart. It was then that it all clicked. I realized that recovery from OCD was never supposed to stop our “what ifs” from happening, it was supposed to help us cope if they did happen. I knew that I could tolerate these feelings of discomfort and anxiety, I knew I

I’d spent a lot of my childhood frozen as my mind raced and I cried so often as I tried to understand what was wrong with me. I didn’t know how to explain it to anyone...

OCD has latched onto many themes throughout my journey. I had health themes where I was scared that I would contract aids or that I had it already. I had contamination fears where I was scared of germs and being unclean. 

I knew ERP worked, after all, it helped me so much in the past. I knew I just needed to put the difficult work in and keep forging ahead.