People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can and do get better. No matter how alone you might feel, how severe your symptoms might seem, or how much you might doubt if things can ever change, OCD is a common condition that’s highly treatable, and it doesn’t have to determine your future. When hope feels hard to find, real-life stories of people regaining their lives can remind you of those truths.
So, as we begin a new year, we’re highlighting 7 powerful moments from people in the OCD community who struggled, reached out for help, and watched their lives transform.
Dierdre Rae’s story: From hitting rock bottom to finding fulfillment
“I’ve had OCD symptoms for as long as I can remember. I had to go into a mental hospital in 2017 because my symptoms were that bad. …I’m at a point now where I can go days without even noticing any symptoms, which I think is pretty great. …Not only do I barely notice or react to my intrusive thoughts most days, I also rarely do compulsions. …I’ve been able to live more life in the last [9] years than I did in the first 19.”
Alegra Kastens’ story: Destigmatizing taboo OCD
“When I was 19, I had the onset of my symptoms. I don’t know how else to describe it except for something switched in my brain. I felt a physical shift, and from that point on, I started having thousands of intrusive thoughts and images every single day…My life panned out a lot better than I thought it would have—not because of OCD, but I think because of the resilience that I’ve built, and the passion I have for treating [OCD], and the friends that I’ve made along the way. …Ten years ago, I never would have imagined being at this place and being this happy.”
J Aubrey’s story: Perfectionism almost destroyed his passion
“Every little part of what I do was affected in some way by OCD, from the script writing process to when I’m recording and editing…It made it hard to make videos, which is the thing that I love doing more than anything…I wish I had tried exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy much sooner…It has helped me feel so much better. The way I described it to my therapist is that I feel a weight lifted off. My brain feels like it works better. …I feel like my life is easier now because I don’t have to go through all these annoying rituals anymore.”
Paige DeAngelo’s story: Separating ambition from OCD
“I thought that [OCD] was something that helped me achieve things, so I was so scared to lose it. …It didn’t let me fully experience and indulge in what I love without fear and anxiety. It really held me back and tried to ‘keep me safe,’ when in fact I was just missing out on opportunities. …Looking back, I just feel relieved and lucky that I finally—after 24 years—got a hold of it. I am standing here as someone who doesn’t abide by my OCD anymore and it has not changed my life negatively in any way. I’m still doing the things that I accomplished in spite of OCD—things that my OCD once told me were its accomplishments and not my own.”
Braden Smith’s story: Facing OCD while playing in the NFL
“I can remember the first stages of my scrupulosity…I was weighing different sins in my mind, like what was the most major sin I committed? And I would review those moments in my head over and over and over again because I felt like I had to feel a certain amount of guilt…After treatment, all that kind of just melted away. It felt like it gave me this supreme confidence.”
Kali Wallace’s story: Taking back everything OCD tried to steal
“OCD was really seeping into pretty much every aspect of my life. …I distanced myself from a lot of my relationships…I stopped doing my hobbies because I was just so sick and exhausted…I developed a bit of a spending problem… ERP was instrumental in understanding that I could still do what I wanted to do. I was still capable of doing these things despite what my OCD was telling me. I could do these things like move to the other side of the world—you know, something really outlandish. And then I could also do these everyday things like maintain my health, or maintain my spending habits, or maintain my relationships with people. That is what ERP taught me.”
Sarah Jeffery’s story: An actress whose OCD overwhelmed her with doubt
“OCD attacks all of the things that matter to you. So, naturally, my career was a prime target. And one of my biggest themes to date is what if I forget how to act? What if I can’t act anymore? …My therapist would always tell me, you have to take the leap of faith. …Taking that leap of faith and deciding not to abide by OCD’s rules and regulations is the first step to recovery. And gradually, over like almost a decade of work with my therapist, I’ve gotten to a place where…I’m like, ‘Okay, what else you got? I’m not entertaining that right now.’”
OCD doesn’t get the final say in your story
If there’s one thing to take away from all of these stories, it’s that where you are right now is not where you have to stay. With the right treatment and tools, you can learn to manage OCD, reclaim the things you care about, and live a full, meaningful life.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is the most effective treatment for OCD. It teaches you how to face your fears without giving in to compulsions—because when you’re able to stop giving OCD the reactions it demands, it can start losing its power over you. Then you can live the life you want to live, without OCD running the show.
Here at NOCD, all of our licensed therapists specialize in treating OCD with ERP therapy. They truly understand even the most stigmatized OCD symptoms, and provide personalized care that’s tailored to your unique needs and goals. Book a free 15-minute call with our team to learn more about getting matched with an OCD specialist who can help you take the first step toward the life you deserve.
