Conquering OCD is within your reach

Living like larry

I can look at anxiety and discomfort in the eyes and still do what I want to do. I learned that being brave doesn’t mean that you’re not scared. You just do it anyway!

Next Steps

I’m so happy to share that I’ve become an OCD Conqueror. I used to think OCD was something that that conquers you, which isn’t the case. I’m so grateful to NOCD and all of the support I’ve received along the way which got me to this point!

It flew by!

I call my OCD Caly and lately I keep telling my boyfriend and best friend how rarely I’ve thought about Caly or said her name (aka cursed it like I used to for ruining so much). It is truly a blessing to be able to live with OCD that’s manageable and doesn’t drown out all the good stuff in my life 🙏🥰💪

Feeling Encouraged

When I started several months ago I hardly recognized the person I had become. I've made so much progress since then now that I can look back. I'm grateful to myself for having the courage to move forward.

Cardiaphobia - hypochondria

All I’ll say.. just go get the tests done. There is a plan for you in this life, and it’s already been set on the path for it. Don’t try to settle for constantly disrupting it or avoiding it. It’s never truly a suitable and that’s what causes the anxiety. Find your coping method for the interim. Besides GOOGLE.. stay away.. it is not logical at all.. But go get those tests done. That’s where the worldly relief truly lies.

OCD conqueror baybe!!!

I am so grateful to this community and to have found NOCD when I did! :,) When I was a kid I was told I was just extremely anxious - not that I had OCD despite my compulsions. Im 27 and have been in non-erp therapy for over 20 years of my life, and for the first time I feel a genuine decrease in the absolute control OCD had over my life. I’ve gone from crying almost every day, constantly questioning the validity of my relationships and being debilitated by thinking how I’ve ruined them, avoiding certain foods and literally not going outside- to being able to go into a target and ask an employee for nipple cream lol!! My relationships have improved, I can eat rice again, and even though I know there is no “cure” for OCD I feel like I have control over my life again :) I hope that my story can provide at least some comfort/hope to anyone struggling out there- I’m always rooting for us!!! <3 If you’re able to start erp therapy it is beyond worth it. Thank you to my wonderful therapist for listening to my crazy ass stories and for believing in me when I wasn’t able to believe in myself. Love you all, Xoxo gossip ocd girl

The relief is immense

I found an old journal entry of mine from before I began my ERP journey. The hurt and confusion and depair ans self laothing that was so real only two years ago feel miles away. And while I know that flare ups and unexpected circumstances can bring OCD back to the forefront, this is such a good reminder that relief is absolutely attainable with the dedication and commitment to ERP.

Thank you NOCD!

Being diagnosed with ADHD and OCD this past year was very hard for me to wrap my head around at first. I tried denying both, but the more I thought about it, and the more my family and friends validated it, encouraging and supporting me to begin dual therapies, I decided that I would give it a shot. I will say, that being matched with a therapist that "feels" right to you may take a few tries, and that's okay! You will absolutely know when you are matched with someone who is right for you. Knowing they have your best interests at heart, challenging you to work hard, practice, and do your homework, and cheering you on makes it a bit easier. It's not easy. It's hard. OCD and ADHD don't go away. You must learn to accept them and live with them, but not let them control your thoughts. You must accept uncertainty. You must be comfortable being uncomfortable. Be present, be optimistic, even when you don't feel like you can. I still have a lot of work to do. I'm not done yet, but my life is so much better in just a few months of working hard at both ADHD and OCD to be able to manage it and live worry free. Everyone is different. There's no guarantees, no "one size fits all", there is no holy grail to figure out how to get back in control. You must believe, you must listen, you must do. You can do this. So many people are going through something similar to you. Be kind to yourself and others. Be the best you that you can in the moment. I wish you all well in your OCD journey and may you find balance in your life and acceptance of uncertainty and embrace happiness. OCD Conqueror - Procrastination, Symmetry/Order Working on Relationship/Financial

You have a choice

I am able to live the life i wanna live and do the things i wanna do. I learned i was sentencer and jailer of my life. The prison doors were always open i was just scared to walk out because i never have

there is hope!

i feel so much better than how i did a few months ago. thank you to nocd, my therapist, and prozac/abilify. i can see the light!

This is going to take time to get used to

I feel free. I feel grief. I feel fear. I feel excited. The skills I've learned really have allowed me to move through life with more psychological grace. I wasnt a light case either, I have had several hospital trips due to ocd including seizures from panic attacks. So now I am really just figuring out how to be alive without the constant threat of a "what if" storm. My exposures mostly consist of confronting the idea that ocd might come back. And it might. And it might be awful. But it will be tolerable. And I will ne able to confront, accept and observe it. I'm lucky ro be alive, even if my experience as a person is hard.

I am not the OCD.

You are still there, OCD - I just choose not to listen to you anymore. Thank You NOCD for giving me the tools I needed to control the beast that lurks within, and regain some peace of mind.

So proud of me

Guys I’m honestly so proud of myself. I started off in a bad space. I was wearing latex gloves all day and afraid of leaving my room. I decided to seek treatment from NOCD and also went to a 2 month inpatient center. Now, long story short, OCD is in the backseat and not controlling my life anymore. Sitting with discomfort is much easier now and almost like a second language. This badge means so much to me 💕

Words of Encouragement/Hope

Hey my fellow NOCDers. I wanted to share a little bit of my journey and offer some words of encouragement and hope. I’ve had OCD since I was a kid. Looking back, I’ve realized that it has come and gone throughout my life. I’m 40 now and this past year I got pregnant with my third child. With the shift in hormones at the beginning of my pregnancy, my OCD came back full force. I found myself going back to therapy for the third time in my life for OCD. At first, I had shame that I was going back to therapy for OCD once again. My OCD was screaming that this meant something was wrong and OCD was stronger than me. However, something that I’ve learned is that having a hard chapter in life or a lapse in OCD (no matter how strong or long) is not indicative of failure nor your prognosis. I can now say that I’ve grown stronger, more OCD savvy, and more motivated than ever with each step “back”. Therapy, especially ERP is powerful. Trust the process. There will be hard days. Really hard days, days when you wish things were different and filled with doubt of getting better or getting through. There will be lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. That’s normal and a sign of GROWTH not failure. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in OCD recovery is that it’s okay to fall a million times. Let it be messy. The most powerful thing you can do is keep going and keep standing up every time you fall no matter what. Make the commitment that you will get back up every time and that you will choose discomfort and uncertainty no matter what OCD throws at you. OCD is a sneaky liar and will throw whatever it wants at you to get your attention. Try not to engage as much as you can. The fight is hard but it is possible. You can do this! We can do this! I had the thought recently that it’s not “my OCD”, it’s “our OCD”, we are a community that is doing the most courageous work. Every time YOU take a step towards standing up to OCD, WE all take a step towards overcoming OCD. You are not alone and you are stronger than you think. Every time I resist a compulsion, I think about how it will benefit not only me, but all of us. My newborn child, my children, my OCD community, all of us. I’m proud of you all! You did not choose to have OCD. OCD sucks. So give yourself tons of grace, kindness, and compassion. OCD is mean enough to you. You don’t deserve any more of its energy. Take any or all the energy you have to keep fighting and showing OCD who is boss, no matter what. You can do this!

Victory

I am trying so hard.

Getting My Life Back

NOCD has helped me so much since I was diagnosed in October. Its been a hard few months of intense ERP, but now I feel like I can take on anything. The strategies I've learned have helped me more than anything else ever has. I thought I was protecting myself before by giving in to my compulsions and avoiding everything, but that was just hurting me more. Now I feel much stronger and able to protect myself from my anxiety in a way that is actually helpful. I'm still learning to be okay with not knowing, but it is world's easier now than it was, and it is so freeing. It is possible!

Thank you NOCD!

Being diagnosed with ADHD and OCD this past year was very hard for me to wrap my head around at first. I tried denying both, but the more I thought about it, and the more my family and friends validated it, encouraging and supporting me to begin dual therapies, I decided that I would give it a shot. I will say, that being matched with a therapist that "feels" right to you may take a few tries, and that's okay! You will absolutely know when you are matched with someone who is right for you. Knowing they have your best interests at heart, challenging you to work hard, practice, and do your homework, and cheering you on makes it a bit easier. It's not easy. It's hard. OCD and ADHD don't go away. You must learn to accept them and live with them, but not let them control your thoughts. You must accept uncertainty. You must be comfortable being uncomfortable. Be present, be optimistic, even when you don't feel like you can. I still have a lot of work to do. I'm not done yet, but my life is so much better in just a few months of working hard at both ADHD and OCD to be able to manage it and live worry free. Everyone is different. There's no guarantees, no "one size fits all", there is no holy grail to figure out how to get back in control. You must believe, you must listen, you must do. You can do this. So many people are going through something similar to you. Be kind to yourself and others. Be the best you that you can in the moment. I wish you all well in your OCD journey and may you find balance in your life and acceptance of uncertainty and embrace happiness. OCD Conqueror - Procrastination, Symmetry/Order Working on Relationship/Financial

It’s possible

It feels impossible, it feels like the anxiety will never not be debilitating, but it is possible. I was crippled with anxiety over salvation. I had panic attacks, nightmares, depression, suicidal thoughts, and lost the will to live. I wanted to stop going to church, I couldn’t go a day at work without falling asleep, and I was separating myself from my family. With Ian Reeder’s help and hard work, I made it to a point in this battle I couldn’t have imagined, conqueror. Now, the OCD and symptoms are still there, but I’m able to live a life that doesn’t revolve around my OCD. My intrusive thoughts are there, but don’t control my brain. I’m not as mentally drained as I once was. The battle is not over, as far as I’m concerned, it’s just begun. But I’m living proof that it’s possible. It gets better, just don’t give up and listen to your therapist. They are giving you tools, but it’s up to you if you use them.

What a relief

There are no words for this achievement. I honestly never thought I’d be on this side, and so quickly. OCD after having a baby completely took over my life in various ways but the most consuming way was by developing suicide ocd, something I could have never imagined developing with such an extreme fear of death. By the grace of God, my incredible therapist and ERP I’ve started to come out the other side and I am so excited for this newer stronger version of myself!

OCD lives on, but I’m still here

I see this post, and I can’t believe it. I can’t believe how far I’ve come with therapy and work. I can’t believe there truly is a solution for those living with OCD that works and gives your life back. I can’t believe even after therapy, I am still living with OCD in a way that brings me life. I have joy, and I am not afraid of what OCD once made me feel. This is a note of hope to anyone at the beginning of your OCD journey: you will get better, feel better, and improve your life quality!! Is OCD gone? No. I just recognize it so much better and I am able to stop it in its tracks before I fall down.