Does anyone else feel like as an adult your OCD is bad but now that you know what it is, you had it as a kid too? Looking back, I think my always being in fear as a child was just OCD. I constantly thought I was going to die or that I was sick, etc. I think I didn’t realize it was OCD until my 20’s. How about y’all?
I don’t really remember a day without OCD. I was definitely symptomatic when I was 8, severely ill when I was 13. Didn’t know the disorder had a name until age 18, didn’t know it had an effective treatment until around age 23.
26....I got it overnight at the age of 26. I was a bit of a neurotic child through adulthood, had a few signs the year leading up to it. But it literally became full blown overnight. My doctors seemed to think that was quite strange, that it typically shows up in childhood. I feel like I'm the oldest I know to have gotten it. Anyone else with an experience like mine out there? 😬 I've actually thought of posting this question for that reason.
Well I’d say mine sorta felt like it happened overnight too as an adult. I was a hypochondriac as a child and that’s what makes me wonder if that was OCD but I didn’t know at time. When I was in college I had a thought one night “what If I lost control of my body and killed all my roommates”. It was the scariest moment of my life and I from that one moment convinced myself I was crazy and had intrusive thoughts ever since. It’s like for me it was a snowball effect. I started to doubt myself and that I couldn’t “trust myself” ever again bc that one thought was too much to overcome. So yea mine sorta feels somewhat overnight too 🥲
I was 34 when it happened, but looking back I realize that I was doing compulsions and seeking reassurance at 5-6 years old, then got better as I grew up. So I definitely think I was predisposed but doing okay, then the pandemic happened and bam! I do believe (for me, maybe not for everyone) it is a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors/stressors
Probably 10-12
8 or 9 is when mine started
I had really bad tics starting age 10, but the actual OCD exploded the worst when I was 17.
Around 5 years old
Mine didn’t “start” until my 30s but looking back, yeah I was compulsively hand washing and asking my mom for reassurance when I was like 5 or 6. It’s so weird to think about and I wonder what made it go away for all those years in between where I was able to function normally. The mind is a very strange thing.
That kinda happened to me too. When I was a younger kid I would constantly think I was having heart attacks or had brain tumors and would beg my mom for reassurance. Middle and high school it seemed to diminish some and then came back as an adult. Fun stuff 😅
@hfair121691 I remember being so freaked out about stuff like that too! I was terrified my appendix would burst so needed a lot of reassurance anytime I got gas pains or tummy aches
@MigratoryBird My appendix burst when I was in 6th grade
Now that I think about it, mine didn’t really start until I turned 30. I remember always obsessive over stuff when I was younger. But you are right, it all disappeared when I turned 18
When I was 13-14, Im 27 now - have had many times and periods of real healing and relief. This time been triggered v much by my pregnancy in terms of sexual intrusive thoughts - images of vaginas and penises, fear of being attracted to my own child and even my dog! X
I’m so sorry. Ocd is just a bulky and attacks what we value most. Thank gosh the fears and though aren’t really us (even tho they can feel so real)!
*bully
I had mine start at 14 and it was it’s worst then I’m now 21 and I’m mostly all g it’s not consuming like it used to be
Last year during April I started to experience groinal responses when I looked at kids. I was terrified of what it could mean and decided to attempt two weeks later. The very next day I had those responses I decided to attempt. I didn’t really have the courage to do so at that time but I started experiencing images about disturbing things done to kids and as days went by it got worse. April 16 was the last straw and I couldn’t take it anymore. I ended up in a mental hospital but before I ended up there I had searched up what I was experiencing. That’s when I started to understand that it was OCD. I felt relieved for a few moments until I felt the urge to get more information. I saw lots and lots of things and many comments saying that it wasn’t normal and that people who went through this were disgusting people who shouldn’t be allowed to roam free. That’s when my anxiety and fear became worse and I tried to get rid of it but nothing worked. I shook the entire time I was awake, I didn’t have motivation for anything anymore, I just felt so disgusting. In the end, I’m so glad I ended up in that mental hospital or else I wouldn’t be here with my friends and family. Thank you for reading my story, I’m so glad that I’m not alone
So basically I didn’t know till my hocd started. But looking back at my life I had ocd since I was a kid. Like 6-7 years old. First time happening I remember that when I was doing stuff many times I had to say something like a little poem in my head to stop it. Then I had this thing were if I felt my left foot touch the floor 5 times I had to do the touch the floor with my right foot too. Then I had something I guess contamination??? Basically after washing my hands I had a sensation on my hand like I could still “feel” the germs and I had to wash them again. Then I started having thoughts of my family members getting hurt. I had intrusive thoughts about me hurting my dog. Then I had this obsession that a guy who used to be in my school is looking for me to beat me up. And how it’s this obsession about my sexuality even tho I never doubted or questioned it before. Is that possible??? Like can you be born with it? I’m pretty sure both my parents have it too. At least at some level. Take my father for example he had an obsession that he was going to die the moment he turned 30.
Anyone else over 30 and dealing with thoughts that feel debilitating? I know I’m not alone, but I’m curious who else is with me.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
