- Date posted
- 1y ago
Q&A About OCD w/ Me!
I haven’t done a Q&A in a long time, but I finally have a few hours of free time! Please ask any and all questions about OCD and I’ll do my best to answer ❤️
I haven’t done a Q&A in a long time, but I finally have a few hours of free time! Please ask any and all questions about OCD and I’ll do my best to answer ❤️
Not a q but wanted to say I remember you from the day I joined this app and it warms my heart to see ur here i appreciate all you’ve done🥹♥️ your posts always brought me comfort ♥️
@CurlyHairedPoodle Aww thank you! ❤️🌸
Are you one of the therapists on NOCD? Or just a really experienced patient? Or both? 😊 As always, your insight and inspiration is always appreciated.
@Joey_867 I’m not a therapist anywhere; I just do volunteer advocacy work on here and also in person. I am an ongoing patient though I have been subclinical for 4 years now after 6 years of intense therapy for OCD and PTSD specifically. Then I tackled GAD and depression.
@Nica Thank you for sharing. I was diagnosed with GAD and depression 13 years ago - it was blatantly health OCD (in hindsight). Shockingly a psychiatrist missed it. It amazes me how many of us go undiagnosed. Thankfully, it was caught this time around after 10 years of remission. Best 10 years of my life. Everyone listen to Nica!
@Joey_867 I’ve been missing too! Though it was bipolar and schizophrenia 😆 oopsy… it was PTSD from childhood trauma though.
@Nica Misdiagnosed* bad typo
How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? And when would you say your OCD was at its worst?
@Catlove9 I’m in my early 30s. It was bad from 2012-2016. And I had started therapy in 2013 for my issues, so it didn’t take for a while because I was fighting back a lot.
@Nica That’s awesome. I’m 36 and I wish I would have gotten treatment earlier because it’s the worst it’s ever been for me. I appreciate your answer.
@Catlove9 It’s better to seek out treatment now instead of waiting longer! Even if you feel that you waited too long, it’s better than never getting to it.
@Nica Thank you ❤️
Do you have any advice on where to seek therapy if someone doesn't have a lot of money? That would be really helpful:)
@Solar eclipse Nathan Peterson’s OCD course which is a one time fee.
I have no access to any specialists in OCD, as my state unfortunately sucks with accepting/offering free mental healthcare. I'm unsure if I have OCD because I've only just started looking into it, and I don't want to end up falling down a hole of hours and hours of 'research'. But I also feel scared to try coping mechanisms for a label that isn't tied to me because, in my head that makes me a bad person. Even if I'm the only one that knows. (I know that makes no sense 😔) Do you have any advice for for someone trying to tell if they may or may not be experiencing longterm compulsions/rituals that just seem 'normal' now?
@CatWhiskers I suggest looking into Nathan Peterson’s online OCD course so you can get the help you need. It’s a one-time fee and I’ve heard he can help with payment plans. Because you’re so deep in the compulsions and can’t easily differentiate between what is and is t one, I think jumping into a program is the best way to go even if it’s not 1:1 therapy.
@Nica Oh! I'll definitely look into that. I agree, I'm looking for anything that could help me because I am genuinely struggling. Thank you very much for your care and time!
@CatWhiskers No worries! 🤘🏻❤️ you got this!
Have you experienced SO-OCD?
@missbluesky Yes, I have
@Nica My problem is this: I’ve suffered from SOOCD since I was 12. I’m 22 now. It comes and goes in waves, but when it “goes” it’s still in the back of my mind; I just don’t do very noticeable compulsions like come on here or google or scroll on Reddit for hours. I still notice women, I still think about if maybe I am actually a lesbian or actually bisexual, but I don’t have as much anxiety around it. It still bothers me, but it isn’t as bad as it gets when I have a flare up, like I’m having now. These flare ups happen 2 times a year usually and last up to 3 months. I have never done ERP in a committed way— if I do ERP, do you think that will help? Or am I simply too far gone?
@missbluesky Yes, you should absolutely do ERP. You’re not too far gone at all.
@Nica Thank you for your reply. Also, do you think that’s a “normal” OCD cycle?
@Nica Like the periods where it’s not so bad but it’s still there in my mind ?
@missbluesky Intrusive thoughts will always be present; it’s a human thing. You need to learn not to give it any energy. No energy, it doesn’t become an issue.
I had another question. Not sure if you’ll see it. Back in August I went to the concert of my LIFETIME favorite artist. It was when I was still drinking and I got way too drunk. To the point I don’t remember the last hour of the night. Of course I woke up the next day thinking I must have assaulted someone in the bathroom. Well since the concert, I can no longer listen to this artist and I used to listen to him every day. I love his music but listening to him makes me feel immense guilt. Do you have any recommendations on what to do?
@Catlove9 Listen to the artist for self ERP.
@Nica Okay. Thank you, again. And thank you for all you do on here to help others. It’s very meaningful to people like me.
@Catlove9 You’re welcome ☺️
I’m having a big OCD relapse and would like to hear anyone’s tips on how to be present and healthily deal with these intrusive thoughts and the “need” to preform compulsions. Thank you!!
Hi everyone, I’m Cayla. I’m a mom that’s lived with OCD since childhood, but my breaking point came more recently after having my son. I was consumed by terrifying thoughts—What if I hurt him? What if I did something awful without realizing it? I was so afraid of my own mind that I couldn’t be alone with him. The shame and exhaustion were unbearable, and I convinced myself I was broken. In 2024, I finally sought help. ERP therapy at NOCD was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it saved my life. Even now, I have tough days, but I know I don’t have to be ruled by OCD. When my 12 year old daughter began showing signs of OCD, I felt overwhelmed with guilt. I never wanted her to go through what I had, but I knew what to do. I told her that I have OCD too and made sure she knew it wasn’t her fault—and that she wasn’t alone. One of the hardest parts of this journey was trusting someone else with my daughter’s OCD. I knew how vulnerable it feels to share intrusive thoughts, and I wanted her to feel safe. Her NOCD therapist was able to establish trust and genuine empathy from the start, and that relationship gave her the confidence to face ERP head-on. Seeing her build that trust made me certain she was in the right hands. ERP has helped both of us reclaim our lives, and it is beautiful to see my daughter managing her condition and making visible progress. Parenting with OCD while raising a child with OCD isn’t talked about enough, but I know so many parents are struggling with these same challenges. If you have questions about managing OCD while parenting, helping your child through ERP, or breaking cycles of guilt, drop them below—I’d love to share what I’ve learned. I’ll be answering all of the questions I receive in real-time today 4-5pm ET.
Hi everyone, I’m Andrea and I am a member of the Intake Team here at NOCD. In junior high, I was known as the “aneurysm girl” because I was convinced any small headache meant I was dying. At just 12 years old, I read something that triggered my OCD, and from that moment on, my brain latched onto catastrophic health fears. Any strange sensation in my body felt like proof that something was seriously wrong. I constantly sought reassurance, avoided being alone, and felt trapped in an endless cycle of fear. Over time, my OCD shifted themes, but health anxiety was always there, lurking in the background. I turned to drinking to numb my mind, trying to escape the fear that never let up. Then, in 2016, everything spiraled. I was sitting at work, feeling completely fine, when suddenly my vision felt strange—something was “off.” My mind convinced me I was having a stroke. I called an ambulance, launching myself into one of the darkest periods of my life. I visited doctors multiple times a week, terrified I was dying, yet every test came back normal. The fear never loosened its grip. For years, I cycled in and out of therapy, desperately trying to find answers, but no one recognized what was really happening. I was always told I had anxiety or depression, but OCD was never mentioned. I was suicidal, believing I would never escape the torment of my mind. It wasn’t until 2022—after years of struggling, hitting rock bottom, and finally seeking specialized OCD treatment—that I got the right diagnosis. ERP therapy at NOCD was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it saved my life. Today, I’m 34, sober, and living a life I never thought was possible. Do I still have hard days? Absolutely. But I am no longer a prisoner to my fears. The thoughts still come, but they don’t control me anymore. They don’t dictate my every move. Life isn’t perfect, but it no longer knocks me off my feet. If you’re struggling with health OCD or somatic OCD, I see you. I know how terrifying and isolating it can be. But I also know that it can get better. If you have any questions about health & somatic OCD, ERP, and breaking the OCD cycle, I’d love to tell you what I’ve learned first hand. Drop your questions below, and I’ll answer all of them!
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