New diagnosis

How did others do after first getting diagnosed? Did the diagnosis cause you to spiral initially? It feels like all the symptoms have become so much worse since, maybe because I am noticing them and focusing on them. I have been stuck on looking back through my whole life but now through an OCD lens and it’s been incredibly overwhelming realizing how much OCD has impacted me my whole life. I had previously assumed all the symptoms were part of my having ADHD and Autism, but I am now realizing a lot of my struggling was actually OCD. I’m 45 and I was diagnosed with severe OCD a week ago. Tomorrow I start ERP and I’m quite anxious about it. I feel pretty unfixable at this point, but I’m trying to be hopeful. I have my doubts that I will be strong enough to do this.

Username: CisforcaroCisforcaro

Date posted: 50w ago

It was a rush of relief for me, because my anxiety was so bad I would disassociate and I thought I was developing psychosis. I always thought OCD had to do with hand washing and repeating numbers/phrases until it felt right but that's one small facet of the disease. I felt comforted learning more and learning about other people with similar symptoms, but when I have a spiral, it can easily turn into reassurance seeking so I have to keep it in check.

Username: Ellie4 Ellie4

Date posted: 50w ago

@Cisforcaro Thanks for sharing. I can relate to that as well. I felt some relief initially. I also struggle with a lot of dissociation.

Username: ☾ ᴍxɢɪᴄᴀʟᴍᴏᴏɴ ⋆˙⟡☾ ᴍxɢɪᴄᴀʟᴍᴏᴏ...

Date posted: 50w ago

Hi! I'm glad you finally got your diagnosis! It's going to be hard, but you CAN learn ERP! It's never too late! I'm a little curious though, what OCD symptoms did you assume were part of having ADHD and Autism?

Username: Ellie4 Ellie4

Date posted: 50w ago

@☾ ᴍxɢɪᴄᴀʟᴍᴏᴏɴ ⋆˙⟡ Thanks! I guess it’s because with autism there can be ritual type behaviors, kind of obsessive interests, sensory issues that for me lead to handwashing (but some handwashing for me is also probably a compulsion due to fears of contamination). So it can kind of overlap in a lot of ways I think. I guess what makes the OCD stand out is the distress it causes. For example, I get stuck researching things online for hours and I thought it was just related to my autism special interests, but then I started to notice that there is a stressful, almost frantic quality to how I am searching online about various topics. I keep opening a whole bunch of tabs, trying to get through all of them. I am not really reading them and just sort of skimming. I feel like I almost have to keep going even when I don’t want to anymore. A lot of autistic people will do deep dives on the internet on topics of interest, but it’s a pleasurable thing, unlike a compulsive thing I guess. I am brand new to all of this though and just trying to figure it all out and tease things apart.

Username: Anonymous78Anonymous78

Date posted: 50w ago

Yes I had an experience really similar to this! It can get a little weird before it gets better, but stick with it! It does get better!

Username: Ellie4 Ellie4

Date posted: 50w ago

@Anonymous78 Thank you for sharing that

Username: Anonymous78Anonymous78

Date posted: 50w ago

@Ellie4 I even made a similar post after my diagnosis. I felt like I was in a fog for a few weeks but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! There’s also meta-OCD where you can doubt that you even have OCD. Getting diagnosed definitely triggered that for me, but I’ve been in ERP for less than a year, and I feel way better already. You can do it!!

Username: gracied

Date posted: 3y ago

This is the first post I’ve made here, as I have just recently been told I have OCD. I started therapy when I was 15 for an eating disorder, and have been pretty much consistently going for the past 5 years. It is incredibly scary to me that it has gone undiagnosed this long, and it took a few horrible spiraling episodes and me admitting I had a fear of smelling bad for a therapist to tell me it might be OCD. I’m primarily concerned about having another undiagnosed mental illness, that I have done unforgivable damage to other people’s mental health, and the general fear of losing my sanity. If someone could share the benefits of accepting the OCD diagnosis and starting ERP even if it is petrifying, I would greatly appreciate that. Warm wishes and peace to all of you struggling right now:)

Username: Ken!

Date posted: 1y ago

Newly Diagnosed

Hi friends, I have recently been diagnosed with OCD these past few weeks. It all can feel really all encompassing and overwhelming. And almost like I’m completely at the bottom of the mountain and still realizing so many things I have dealt with were actually OCD. Does anyone have any advice or things they wish they knew in the beginning of starting treatment? I appreciate you all and the community. 🖤😊

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 35w ago

Confused

I was diagnosed with OCD about a month ago and have only done 2 full sessions of ERP. This new OCD diagnosis is confusing to me and it is impacting my sleep like no other feeling like I cannot turn off my brain from my repetitive thoughts. I feel like all of my thoughts are OCD related thoughts right now and I am having a hard time disconnecting myself from them. I truly want to feel better, but having a hard time figuring out how to move forward with my life with this new diagnosis. Any tips for a newbie looking for some hope?

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