I am struggling with the idea of getting vaccinated (and have for a while) - not because I’m scared of the actual vaccine, but because my OCD was originally triggered by me taking a substance that caused a month long anxiety episode and ended up giving me issues with body scanning etc. I’m worried that the vaccine will cause this same reaction in me and make my OCD hard to deal with while I’m at university, as I can’t afford to lose the months I did last year again. Is there any advice anyone could give for getting the vaccine + dealing with anxiety after, as I really want to get it.

Hey all! I just joined this app and wanted to ask for your thoughts and encouragement on something I’ve been experiencing lately. (*long post ahead*) I’ve had an OCD diagnosis for about 2 years now, along with generalized anxiety, depersonalization symptoms, and depression diagnoses since my teens (I’m 24). Been lucky to have great family and healthcare that have helped me get out of some very dark places. I’m currently on a very high dose of Prozac, a smaller dose of Wellbutrin, and have been in therapy pretty consistently since my late teens. Life is pretty good....I’m in grad school and am doing well socially and academically. I am moving out to another part of the country to do an internship for 10 weeks, starting this Friday. But with all of this great and wonderful stuff in life, I have definitely noticed my OCD getting worse, despite my meds and self care. I’ve been having more obsessive fears and doing the rituals and compulsions to soothe those fears. It’s taking up much more of my mental space than it had for the past 2 years or so. I think part of it is the big change of moving to a new place temporarily, finishing my first year of grad school, and going from being insanely busy to having a month of downtime that is just now wrapping up. I’m getting scared that things are going to get really bad again — so far I’ve been managing with mindfulness and acceptance, and reading up on tactics for managing intrusive thoughts and accompanying compulsions. But I am so afraid that things will get to be into the dark and horrible place they were in 2 years ago. My OCD has been really mild the past few years, since I started the meds, and to feel it flare up again is really REALLY distressing. It makes me scared that the meds aren’t working, or that all the thoughts and fears are real. I know this isn’t the truth, logically, but my OCD and anxiety are running with it. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this (change-related flare ups and the fears accompanied by them) and has tools to manage relapse or flare ups. Thanks in advance :) :)

I have really bad anxiety over my health. My biggest fear is throwing up. I have contamination OCD, too. Germs terrify me. But I’m also very terrified of medications. I barely want to take Advil for a headache, even though feeling bad makes my OCD and anxiety worse. This is especially hard because I got prescribed anxiety medication in 2021 and never took it because I am too terrified of the side effects and how it would make me feel. I’m tired of having severe OCD and anxiety as well as tics and knowing I will probably never be medicated for it. My family doesn’t make it any better, my parents made me cry because they said I am over dramatic and scared of everything.

It’s one of my friend’s 21st birthdays and she’s really excited to go out to the bars finally as it’s been something we’ve waited so long for. I’m so nervous to go out as I’ve been in the midst of a massive OCD relapse and this would be my first time drinking since going back on meds and starting therapy. I’m on the up and have had some really good months and prior to this relapse, where I would enjoy going out once a month ish and it’s something that I value and don’t want to avoid forever. I know that my fear of drinking is rooted purely in how loud my thoughts will be tomorrow, but I don’t want to let my OCD win and take away moments with my friends that I value. Feeling so conflicted, any advice on how to handle the feelings tomorrow or just navigate this in general? (Helpful things only please)