What is the longest period of time you have been symptom free? I was symptom free for 6years in between flares. I know it’s possible and I know I can’t be the only one who has experienced that wonderful period of calm.

I haven’t ever been symptom free since my OCD started 10 years ago. I do find it interesting though because I have seen people on here talking about how their OCD comes and goes but for me it has always been a constant. There are times when it’s worse than others of course but I can’t remember a day of it ever being completely gone. I guess it varies by person! I would absolutely love to experience that period of calm.

i was symptom “free” for about 3 years — it wasn’t truly symptom free but it was more mild compulsions such as checking my alarm, constantly checking for my wallet, etc.

@Anxiousashley I think I would look at it a little differently. You have experienced what it’s like to live without OCD before, so you KNOW that it is possible to not have to always live with it. Where I’m coming from is a little bit different. I think the fact you have experienced life without OCD before should actually give you more hope because you know from first hand experience it’s possible.

honestly, no idea. i think my flareup that happened was due to the stress-caused by my brother’s near death experience. it took me a few months to recover but i did & i even kind of almost forgot about it. all i really remembered about it when someone brought it up was that i was extremely suicidal. reflecting back on it after getting a diagnosis this past year i realize that it was ocd. i think my flareups are entirely tied to stressful/traumatic experiences as my flareup this summer was after the death of a close family member. but yeah i honestly dk how i maintained it for so long !!

@anxiousashley, In your original flare up did your ocd have multiple themes or just one?

I have never been “symptom free”, but in junior high (so about 3 years) I was at my best in terms of mental health

@pineapple it is incredible if you are ever able to experience it. But when it comes back it makes it hurt much more I think because u then know what it’s like to be normal for awhile

@waluigi what do you think got you to that point? And how were you able to maintain for so long?

@pineapple that’s a good way to look at it!

@worriedDriver I had harm OCD in my first flare up but looking back I can see multiple themes