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I can empathize with this, I am in a similar situation. I’m 33 and have been struggling with GAD and depression for years. But when I started seeing a new doctor recently, it became apparent that my symptoms were more aligned to OCD than GAD. I started seeking re-assurance through googling and mental rumination to mitigate my intrusive thoughts. I am learning that these practices are actually my compulsions to soothe my intrusive thoughts. Still learning more each day, but I started therapy with NOCD to learn how to manage my intrusive thoughts and compulsions better.

Officially diagnosed at 37 although I definitely had things I now recognize as OCD symptoms through the years, especially in my late 20s and early 30s.

I was 49 years old when I got my diagnose. 28 years since onset. I also had a lot of panic attacks around 30 as you. I never knew it was OCD. I thought it was PTSD. I didnt tell anyone in fear of being labelled as absolutely nuts. I knew the thoughts and behaviours where completely irrational- but the latched in to topics from my PTSD so with time it just grew to complex of thoughts and intrusive thoughts and anxiety and a living nightmare alongside the normal life I was running on the surface with avoidance as my main compulsion. OCD came at the cost of everything. I lost everything in the cresendo. Now two years after the diagnose I am feeling I have a new life.

Yes, I was diagnosed at 30. I can SOME things from childhood but nothing like what I’m dealing with as an adult. I’m going through one of my worst episodes now at 35. I relate with you with the schizophrenia because my mom has it and it’s been a fear since I was young. I feel like my anxiety developed into ocd but who knows honestly