College

Has going off to college exacerbated OCD for any of you? I had a really bad experience this year and had to come home because I had a really hard time where I was. I just feel really alone in this experience. Even though other people have experienced difficulties with college and making connections with others, I feel that it’s been especially difficult with OCD. My worries are just so extreme, and I didn’t even recognize it as it possibly being OCD until I was having extreme panic attacks everyday.

dquests

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

yes, last year at school was particularly bad for my ocd and i ended up failing all of my classes bc my parents wouldn’t let me drop out despite my mental health. this year my ocd wasn’t necessarily bad while i was at school but my depression was getting bad so i had to come home too. but it was only after coming home after being really depressed while at school that my ocd has been really bad.

sendfrogpics

Date posted: 2y

@dquests Hey I understand where you are at. I keep beating myself up about needing to come home because I truly want to be independent. But I’m definitely sorry about your experiences with depression and OCD, I get that it isn’t easy at all. I feel like sharing these thoughts and feelings helps though.

dquests

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@sendfrogpics it definitely helps, and it’s nice to talk to other people who deal with similar things with college and mental illnesses

[Deleted]

Date posted: 2y

Comment deleted by user

sendfrogpics

Date posted: 2y

@lilypadsandpinktoads You are right. I am trying to accept that and see that right now, so thank you for your comment!

opossumfan

Date posted: 2y

My gosh yes. I had little episodes of, what I now realize was, OCD in high school, but it got really really difficult to the point that it became daily, was exhausting how long it took, and I wasn’t sure if I could continue my career interest and school with it. Luckily, this was at the tail end of last semester, so I got to NOCD and started working with a therapist and took the summer to work on it and get back in my feet a bit. Now that I’m back this semester, stuff is certainly much more difficult than it was in the summer, but I feel like I atleast have a way I can work towards making it better, ya know? I know how isolating it feels though when everyone’s working and seemingly having no difficulties while one day for us seems unattainable, so know that you’re not alone, take the time you need, and you got this!

sendfrogpics

Date posted: 2y

@opossumfan Thank you so much! Yeah it really just seems like I spend so much time in my head that it paralyzes my decision making as to what I want the future to look like for me. It’s like I know my different values and things I want out of life but I’m not sure what path will put me in most alignment with my values. and it’s just hard to make one decision and hope that I’ll be satisfied with it. but anyways, thanks for your comment :)

littlemiss.s...

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 22w

Thriving in School with OCD: The Power of Support and Accommodations

When I started therapy with NOCD, I was stuck in a debilitating OCD spiral, feeling lost and alone. ERP changed my life—it wasn’t easy, but it helped me resist compulsions and sit with uncertainty. Even when I had to pause therapy to move for my Master’s degree in the UK, the tools I learned stayed with me. NOCD not only helped me manage my OCD symptoms but also gave me the confidence to take on one of the biggest changes of my life. As a Master’s student, OCD made completing assignments incredibly difficult. I developed compulsions that forced me to reread and rewrite endlessly, making deadlines stressful. After speaking with my advisor, I applied for an Individual Learning Plan, which provided accommodations like extended deadlines. Knowing I had that flexibility lifted the pressure and allowed me to do my best work—I finished my degree with Merit, close to a 3.8 GPA. If you’re a student struggling with OCD, know that support is available, and it’s okay to ask for help. What strategies or accommodations have helped you succeed in school while managing OCD?

Students with OCD

Christy Str...

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 21w

OCD & Isolation

OCD can be an incredibly lonely experience, especially when people around you don’t understand the thoughts and fears you’re facing. But you’re not alone—others have been there too. What’s something about OCD that makes you feel isolated or alone?

AJ__

Date posted: 21w

OCD & social isolation

I remember reading a comment someone had made to one of my posts on an OCD subreddit and they told me how they believed their OCD symptoms got worse during a time in their life when they were socially isolated. Reading this comment made the brightest lightbulb go off in my head because it basically summarized most of what I’ve been going through. In addition to OCD, I also struggle with depression and social anxiety. I feel like these three things and the profound sense of loneliness I’ve felt throughout my years in college (undergrad) feed off of each other. I know that OCD can manifest in so many different ways regardless of what your social life looks like, but I can’t help but feel like the lack of relationships (specifically friendships)/community in my life has something to do with my mental health and the delay in my recovery. Side note: I’m still relatively new to NOCD, but I’m happy to say that I’ve been making some good progress in my therapy sessions <3

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