Hearing these stories makes me sad because it's often times when everything starts to get dark for people - but I also feel happy for them in those moments because I hope these individuals know that they actually have a name for their struggles, that they're not alone, and that there is help out there for them.

In August. I started having intrusive thoughts at age 8. OCD was never even on my radar. I heard a postcast (not even mental health focused) where I heard a woman share her story about living with OCD. I was beyond shocked to realized I had experienced a lot of the same things.Prior to that, I had no idea what I was experiencing wasn't normal. I thought everyone struggled the way I did. I started researching OCD and things clicked. I started treatment through NOCD shortly after and was diagnosed with OCD at age 45.

My mom noticed I had OCD when I was 4 years old 😉 Mother knows best!

Realized 3 years after starting to pick myself, quite early and I'm grateful for that

I was seven when I first developed OCD. My first theme was death—I saw part of 9/11 happen live on TV that year, and it seems to have flipped some sort of ‘OCD on’ switch. I knew something was up for years before I was diagnosed at 17, but I thought I was just evil or broken (or both, depending on what themes were active at the time).

I have always struggled with anxiety. I just found out a few months ago. I am 41. I told my therapist about these weird thoughts towards my significant other and she said that's ocd. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover NOCD so I ordered book I'm currently reading on overcoming OCD. My therapist specializes in anxiety disorders so she is going to work with me. She is very knowledgeable with OCD. My intrusive thoughts come and go like have them for a few weeks and then they go away sometimes for long periods of time then come back. So I am learning to manage my anxiety as well. OCD is tricky. My boyfriend and I have been together for almost 7 years. Sometimes I would avoid him or make up excuses so I didn't have to be around him. I am learning that's all wrong so now I don't avoid him. I am learning how to deal with the intrusive thoughts should they arise.