- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Thought that POCD would do me in. I really thought a year ago that I’d be dead in a few months, but I’m still alive and I’m still just me… it hasn’t changed anything 💜😁
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
I still have hard days, good days, mediocre days. I have a skill set that helps me in those rough movements make things better or tolerable
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Realizing that I make the decisions, not my OCD. emotions/feelings/thoughts mean nothing, I assign the meaning.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Hard to say right now: hard day. But I would say: it was cool I had a dream the other night that I was talking to someone and I like declared: I have no idea what will happen.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Not feeling pressure to keep appearances up. Thats been freeing
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Love that I’m able to listen to whatever music now and be present in conversations with friends and not feel like I have to manage the battlefield in my head. Still taking it day by day but good Lord has my NOCD therapist truly saved my life!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Learning how to differentiate between OCD and true. myself
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Knowing that stories we tell ourselves are just stories and not based in reality. Also the power of embracing discomfort
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
The ability to get control over my thoughts and limit my time spent on compulsions.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anthony S. Big big shoutout to my therapist! I very genuinely feel his guidance has made me feel like my battle against OCD is winnable 🙂
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Realizing that I did not need to do a compulsion. It would not change the outcome. This improved so much anxiety.
- Date posted
- 1y
Being able to handle my dogs medical emergencies without panicking has been the biggest. I was also able to use ERP at home to overcome my fear of needles and blood draws. I use to cry and almost pass out before.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Stop focusing on the emotion, start to focus on the reaction. And that we are truly not alone.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
That’s hard to say. I think the most rewarding part is finally getting rid of the picture hoarding issue, which is the reason I even agreed to treatment. It’s been nice to go through my day without feeling the need of taking hundreds of pictures of basically everything I do, and there are some other aspects of OCD that my therapist identified and is helping me overcome them! It’s wonderful and I look forward to continuing my treatment with NOCD.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Realizing that not only do I now have the tools, but I can also choose when to use them and when to put them away. Not everything is a battle. Staying uncertain and accepting ourselves is the thing ocd folks have to practice, but with all things, the more you practice, the better you get.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
That OCD feeds on compulsions. Content does not matter to OCD. It uses what will get me to react.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
With ERP I’d say the most rewarding feeling is being able to acknowledge the thought and sit with it and learn to go on in your life without it ruining your day.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Looking back and seeing the growth and potential that we all have in us. Time, Patience, and Self Love is incredibly important
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
The tools for dealing with intrusive thoughts
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Gaining even more insight on OCD intrusive thoughts/fears and dismiss them immediately with non-engagement type responses.
- Date posted
- 1y
Getting out of isolation and making new friends again 🌻
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Feeling not alone. Many face this terrible disease. ERP has taught me to know that thoughts are not facts. I’m learning to have self compassion and hope one day I’ll be in maintained without flare ups.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
I am not alone. OCD is an anxiety disorder, not a thought disorder.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 24w
Today I over came something that had been consistently bothering me with my contamination OCD and I'm over the moon I never thought I could do it yesterday the anxiety was there but I sat with and it faded I'm so happy thank you for all your support guys and I recently started working out and I feel much better To anyone out there struggling it gets better trust me a few months ago I was at the Lowest point in my life I couldn't even leave my house I failed really badly at school but now I can even go outside I try to socialize some days are harder than others and I've had a few hiccups along the way but it has gotten much better And I'm starting a recovery course for school to make up for my grades I'm so happy guys 😭then I can finally get into uni
- Date posted
- 15w
When you become a “conqueror” does it mean you’ve completed ERP or you’ve just gotten to a good place with it? If so, how long did it take to finish therapy and how did you finally make progress? I’m having a hard time sticking with it right now as it feels unproductive. I’ve been in ERP for about 2 months and I can’t wait to be done.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 11w
Hi NOCD community, I wanted to share my story of my journey so far with OCD to provide perspective to anyone who needs it. I can't believe how far I have come with a huge part because of my NOCD treatment and utilizing ERP. For reference I am a 24-year old male, so for anyone who is like me and on the fence with treatment, trust me it is worth it. If you ever want to talk about OCD and are not sure where to start or need guidance please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am now almost 2-years into treatment and working on recovery to this day. Sending my support to all. My OCD Story Adolescence Growing up, I didn’t know what mental health was—or even much about who I was. I was somewhat consciously aware, but something always felt off. My life seemed surrounded by reacting to fear instead of exploring or discovering like a regular kid. It felt like there was a switch in my brain that never let me settle in. My earliest compulsions were more physical than mental. One example that likely went unnoticed was how I would obsessively organize and align my toys in a certain way. It may have seemed like I was just being finicky, but now I recognize this as an early sign of OCD. The key is understanding that anything can become a compulsion—it’s not about what you do, but why you do it. In my case, it was always to avoid a bad outcome or neutralize a feeling. Another moment that stands out was in preschool during a performance. I was reciting something I can’t remember in front of an audience—a common childhood fear—but the way I coped was by repeatedly hitting myself in the head with my fist. I wasn’t aware I was doing it, but it calmed me, even though inflicting pain had no logical connection to the fear itself. Looking back, this was clearly a physical tic. My dreams were disturbing too. I’d experience that terrifying space between sleep and consciousness. My parents once had to put my limbs in ice just to fully wake me. And even the process of going to sleep became ritualistic. I had to jump into bed using my left foot, pray a specific way (including naming everyone I didn’t want to be affected by harm), rotate clockwise, shake my pillow four times, and do various actions around my room—cleaning, checking the door, and more. All to prevent the visions in my mind from becoming real. Teenage Years Though my childhood was tough, things really escalated in high school. My family life was chaotic—divorce, shifting homes, and being the older sibling trying to hold it together. I was smart and creative, and I found joy in creative writing, fantasy books, cartoons, video production, and drawing. But the storm really hit freshman year of high school. I was bullied relentlessly—for being shorter, having low self-esteem, and dealing with an undiagnosed mental illness. One night while trying to fall asleep, I noticed my heart beating fast. I panicked, convinced something was wrong. My dad said it was heartburn and gave me soda (caffeine), which only made things worse. I slept maybe an hour, and we went to the ER the next morning. After a full workup and an EKG, the doctor concluded I was physically fine and gave me anti-anxiety medication. But that wasn’t the end. I had more episodes. I became obsessed with the idea that something was wrong with my body. I had blood drawn thinking I had a thyroid issue. I panicked at doctor’s visits, which spiked my blood pressure, fueling more health fears. I was also in an advanced biology class, learning about diseases and cancers—which triggered me to the point I felt like I was going to pass out. Motion sickness and vertigo became a daily fear, and I became terrified it would never go away. That became a core theme in my health-related OCD and deeply affected my quality of life. It was also during this time I developed HOCD (Homosexual OCD). Intrusive thoughts about my male friends consumed me. I couldn’t relax around them or enjoy hanging out. I compulsively told myself I was straight, watched porn to “test” my reaction, and mentally analyzed everything I thought or felt. It was exhausting. It chipped away at my confidence, especially with women, though I know other external factors played a role in that too. Still, I had no education around mental health and assumed this chaos in my mind was normal—or that anyone seeking help had to be “crazy.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. Adulthood Despite all that, I managed to graduate high school with good marks—even finishing at a new school I attended for just eight weeks after moving in with my mom. College was a major turning point. For the first time, I experienced independence and the ability to sit with my thoughts. I still didn’t know what I was dealing with, but being away from a broken home and forging my own identity was incredibly freeing. Freshman year felt like a fresh start…until the pandemic hit. Like many others, I was forced to return home. For someone with OCD, the sudden lack of control and isolation was devastating. I was trapped in my room, stuck in my head, with nothing but virtual classes and uncertainty. Still, I eventually got back to campus, focused on my career in the sports and entertainment industry, and was accepted into a prestigious program while working multiple internships and completing challenging coursework. But with roommates and stress came new obsessions—and still, no diagnosis. I eventually sought therapy for anxiety, realizing my mental state was unsustainable. That’s when two of my most distressing OCD subtypes emerged: Staring OCD and POCD. They worked together in the worst way—fears of inappropriately staring at people, especially children. It felt like I couldn’t exist in public without fearing I’d harm someone just by looking at them. It shattered my self-worth. I couldn’t enjoy life, couldn’t even look in the mirror. The guilt and shame consumed me. I turned to talk therapy, where I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. While sessions brought momentary relief, it quickly became clear I wasn’t getting better. In fact, the act of confessing my thoughts—seeking reassurance—was fueling the OCD. Still, I didn’t have the language for it. After doing my own research (a compulsion in itself), I discovered POCD and Staring OCD. For the first time, I read stories that sounded exactly like mine. I brought this to my therapist, but they dismissed it. Unfortunately, OCD is still widely misunderstood—even among professionals. Because I didn’t fit the “cleaning and checking” stereotype, I wasn’t taken seriously. In 2023—just two years ago—I found NOCD, a teletherapy platform specializing in OCD. I scheduled a free consultation, thinking “Why not?” I was miserable and desperate for relief. The therapist who evaluated me confirmed: I had OCD. She administered the DSM-5 criteria and said I was a textbook case. This was the turning point. Through NOCD, I finally received proper treatment with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I learned how OCD functions, how to track and reduce compulsions, and how to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. It took time—5 to 6 months before I noticed true change—but for the first time in my life, I felt heard. I wasn't alone. NOCD gave me a judgment-free space to unpack the most disturbing thoughts and to not be defined by them. I won’t sugarcoat it—this journey has been painful, frustrating, and nonlinear. I still live with OCD every day. But now I have tools. I’ve continued treatment with multiple NOCD therapists, joined support groups, and practiced exposures: scripting, imaginal scenarios, response prevention, you name it. I’ve learned to live with uncertainty instead of trying to solve the unsolvable. The biggest lesson? Stop trying to figure it out. OCD is emotional, not logical. The moment I stopped trying to outthink it and changed my relationship with it, everything shifted. Today, I’m not “cured,” but I’m grounded. I’m more myself than I’ve ever been. And now, I want to give back. I want to share my story so others know that they’re not alone—and that OCD doesn’t have to rule your life. Whether you're 14, 24, or 44—there is help, and there is hope.
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