I opened up about my OCD to millions. Ask me anything!

@1505Pineapple many people told me its not that ok to tell this stuff to your partner bc they can interpret it differently and confessing can turn into a compulsion, im not the one who you asked the question for but i wanted to respond

@alexlockc I’ve been with my partner for 7 years and recently got diagnosed with ocd. I think it’s beneficial to share with your partner so they understand where your thoughts are coming from and don’t internalize them. Mine has since been relieved that I’m figuring out the root of the cause so we can both continue to grow and learn about it together! This all depends on the unique relationship, but I think learning about it together, especially when it affects your relationship, can be really helpful to both of you.

I didn't know for a long time what was going on with me, so after I got a diagnosis my partner and I did a lot of research together on OCD, and he looked into ways to support me best! Which ultimately is not giving into my reassurance seeking, and calling me out when he notices I have some OCD behaviors creeping up. ROCD is a whole other beast that ERP helped me so much with.

Thank you so so much!! I also really struggle with my OCD flaring up worse around my period. I think being conscious that this is happening and being prepared for it is crucial so I am actually giving myself grace when this creeps up. Take care of yourself physically as much as you possibly can! I know I personally don't sleep as well as I should around my period, and sleep has such a big affect on OCD!

@nicolerafiee thank you so much for the encouragement!! this genuinely makes me feel so validated, i will definitely seek out this advice around those times! keep up the amazing work and good luck with the upcoming tour!

@kiwilover18 I totally get this too! I was super into staying up on current events but it was taking a toll on my mental health. I had to delete the apps I would check. I would love to know if there’s a balance and how you found it.

It's so so difficult. In 2020 it had gotten so bad with me checking Covid statistics every single day that I just was no longer allowing myself to check. I try my best to focus on helping causes in ways I know I can, like fundraising and spreading awareness, but also putting down my phone when the distress becomes too much, or especially if it's close to bedtime. I cannot help others or help inform others if I am unable to help myself.

@ashalex same! ty Nicole, I first subscribed a couple years b4 your first video opening up about OCD (which was then really special because someone I trusted was talking about these struggles), and that video was the one that pushed me to get help and an OCD diagnosis. And I’m doing so much better today because of it. Ty 🫂🫂🫂

Thank you so so much, I really appreciate it <3

@Anonymous What do you feel has helped you the most? Medication, ERP? How were you able to afford this help?

@stuckagain Like many are saying in different threads, definitely ERP. That was completely true for me. Also critical I think, I had an established mindfulness practice that connected right into ERP (and made it easier) with letting thoughts come and go. Also, I am well insured as a student and it breaks my heart breaks that not everyone has access to care. Wishing you luck on your journey.

@mj_mj Thank you for your time. What is your mindfulness technique like? As much as I try to read about mindfulness, it sure seems difficult to understand and to practice.

@stuckagain Hmm a good question and a little hard to explain, I recommend the podcast episode “Meditation and OCD” by the Purely OCD podcast. They do a great job explaining :)

@mj_mj I will check it out, thank you!

That makes me so so happy to hear! I still struggle with meta OCD to this day!!! When I am questioning if something is OCD or not, I have learned to just react "maybe it is, maybe it isn't. guess we'll never know!" and continue on with my day. It's not foolproof, but so much better than sitting and ruminating about it all day. And yes! Medication was something very very scary for me, and transparently I was not on the correct medication for me the first time I tried it. Luckily my psychiatrist was very understanding, and wanted to help me, and we tried a different medication that fit me so so much better. Having a support system around me during the adjustment periods was so so crucial.

Thank you so much!! I have "retired" from ERP therapy, but had a few spikes the last few months after moving, and knowing I can reach out to my therapist and set up a call was such a relief for me. Also taking care of myself physically is a must. If I'm not sleeping/eating/exercising/resting well, then I'm sooooo much more likely to have an OCD spike. So having non-negotiables in my days like some form of movement, eating 3+ meals, sleeping 8+ hours, time to myself, time to read, are an absolute game changer.

3 weeks is still so fresh! I remember I didn't open up until 3 weeks in, and didn't see any major progress until a couple months in. Progress can't be made overnight (although I wish) and sticking with it was so so incredibly rewarding longterm.

I did! I had 2 separate friends with diagnosed OCD tell me that I heavily reminded them of myself, and recommend I get treatment. (I didn't until many years later because I talked myself out of it and convinced myself I couldn't have OCD lol)

Take care of your physical self as much as you possibly can! I took really poor care of my body for so many years because I didn't realize how much my mental health gets affected by my physical health. Although I recommend ERP and medication for OCD so so much, it's crucial you focus on getting proper nutrition everyday, keeping yourself well fed, well rested, sleeping 8+ hours, some form of exercise or movement you like everyday, etc. In therapy I have learned that although my OCD will never go away completely and I will have ebbs and flows for the rest of my life, I can only control what I actually can control. Everything else I have to make peace with.

@nicolerafiee thank you so much for your response! i agree, i do notice such a shift when im actually taking care of myself. it can just be so challenging when you’re in a bad episode. i love your channel, thanks so much for your transparency and honesty ❤️

Omg they say hiiiiii! And happy motherhood heheh Cowboy was very very sick when he was a kitten, and it gave me such bad health anxiety and I had the worst feeling that I had made a mistake and shouldn't have gotten him. I started ERP right around that time, and doing my exposure work like writing out worst case scenarios of what could happen to him helped me so so much.

@Anonymous Looking back I definitely see that I was showing signs as a child, especially with religious themes! I used to pray for everyone I knew before I went to bed or if I was going through a tumultuous time, and if I messed up or thought something “impure” I’d have to start all over again. However I had no idea I had it until 2021!

@nicolerafiee i can totally relate to this! looking back through my childhood certainly unlocks some memories that very well were signs of it

Thank you so so much!! So sorry to hear about that, I personally have dermotillomania! I had to get rid of anything that was big triggers during my worst episodes, like tweezers, mirrors, extraction tools, bobby pins, etc. and then slowly reintroduced them back into my routine! I also cut my nails down short for a period of time. That in combination with addressing the major stressors that are causing me to have an episode have been so so helpful at keeping my symptoms at bay.

Omg so excited to see you then too!!! Ugh I feel you heavily on this. For me it was personally the worst in 2019 and 2020. I had to block certain words and phrases from my social media from appearing on my feed because it would send me into actual meltdowns. I try to redirect what I actually have control over vs. what I don't. For example, if I can fundraise, I will fundraise. If I can spread awareness, I will spread awareness. But I do need those reminders that I am not in control over the whole world, or terrors that may happen in it. You've probably heard it a million times, but heavily lean into non-news and digital media. Like books/movies/shows that are light-hearted, especially before bed, or delicate times, rather than doom scrolling and ruminating how you can fix the world.

Thank you so much! Ultimately seeing all the good that has come with me opening up about having OCD far outweighs the bad. External people who may judge me or leave negative comments do not mean anything to me when someone else tells me that my content has inspired them to try ERP or seek a diagnosis!

@DatDiggityDawg I am not as confident as I seem I promise!! I am the epitome of faking it til I make it lol. For a long time I couldn’t differentiate my personality from OCD traits. I know this isn’t very helpful, but persisting with the belief, “maybe this is my OCD, maybe this is my personality, guess we’ll never know!” has given me a lot of relief. I found that me searching for an answer was just another manifestation of my OCD!

@DatDiggityDawg And thank you so much for the kind words 🫶🏻 can’t wait to see you on tour as well!

@itsvictoriaashley So some of the best advice my ERP therapist has given me is to treat every thought I have through the lens that it may be OCD. Use the two pronged approach and do my best to avoid reassurance. Truth of the matter is, I’m diagnosed for almost 4 years and I still feel at times like I am “faking” OCD or that I don’t have it. All I can do is put trust in my diagnosis from multiple doctors and do the work!

100%! After my diagnosis things got worse before better, and also after starting ERP things got worse before they got better. I knew this might happen, so being vocal about it with loved ones, and giving grace to myself helped so much. Hearing so many success stories helped push me to keep going, and I'm so happy I did. The time will pass anyway, and it is better than dealing with my OCD untreated for eternity.

Absolutely! I have had similar thoughts before. Ultimately finding things in my life that bring me joy everyday keeps me going. Also being aware that my time with loved ones may be cut short, but nonetheless being able to spend time with them and make memories, gives me a lot of fulfillment and feelings of purpose!!

@nicolerafiee Thank you Nicole! My name is Christine btw… I truly appreciate your honesty and response.