30 psychiatric hospitals missed my OCD. Now I fight for better care.

For nearly a decade, Tracie Ibrahim cycled in and out of almost 30 mental health facilities, her OCD repeatedly misdiagnosed and mistreated. No professional understood what she was going through, and she spent years isolated and suffering. When she finally received an accurate diagnosis at age 31, it sparked a mission to close care gaps for OCD—so no one has to endure what she did. Today, Tracie serves as our Chief Compliance Officer, developing policies to ensure that everyone who reaches out to NOCD finds what she wishes she had years ago: genuine understanding, effective treatment, and a path to a life where OCD is no longer in control. She’s especially passionate about fighting shame around taboo themes of OCD, which she started struggling with as a child, through her efforts advocating on Instagram under the handle @tabootracie, and leading community support groups where NOCD Members can freely discuss their experiences with these themes, often for the first time in their lives. Her story shows that hope and healing are always possible—even after years of hardship. With proper treatment, OCD can take the backseat while you steer your life in the direction you choose. Read more about Tracie’s incredible journey, and how she uses her experiences to help shape a better future for people with OCD, here at NOCD.