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@Crook Keep doing the hard work! You got it!

@AnonymousAisha Feeling so much more present in life. I have regained the ability to function in day to day things, and no longer feel like OCD controls me. I have tough days, of course, but I can typically recognize them as patterns of ups and downs rather than detrimental setbacks. My anxiety is lower, and I feel like my mind isn’t constantly ruled by thoughts of sleep (health OCD manifested as sleep OCD), death, health diagnoses, or constant rumination. I can recognize compulsions sometimes before the happen (whereas before they felt automatic) or I stop them very quickly (in the case of rumination where almost all of my waking hours were previously marked by rumination.

@Avinash I have struggled throughout my life with many different themes, coming in waves during various seasons. I was diagnosed with OCD at a young age but never had ERP (just CBT that seemed to fuel my OCD, I know it works for some!!). This time, OCD latched on to my health, specifically sleep. I was going nights without sleeping, dreading the night, doing all sorts of compulsions to help solve, predict, analyze. My days were ruled by rumination and level 8-10 anxiety. Every thought it felt like was consumed with these obsessions, and I felt like all my compulsions were automatically. In November, I decided to start therapy, thinking “i can’t do this for much longer”. Slowly but surely, with many ups and downs (still have these of course), I learned how to be okay with discomfort, being open to feeling all the crappy feelings; racing thoughts, tightness in my chest, dizziness, GI issues, shakiness, and wakefulness at night. Let me know if you have any questions or want more details! I had many peoples stories give me hope at my lowest, so I hope I can do the same.

@dabney I do have a question. How did you maintain confidence that it was going to get better? I have been in therapy since December and am still struggling

@Crook I wasn’t confident. It’s been a very tough journey, and it still is. I continued to trust the process, trust my therapist, and do really really hard work, pushing myself everyday and treating response prevention like my second job. Over time, the trend started going up, and my downs seemed to be shorter. I hope that is helpful! I am also a Christian, so learning to truly rest in the lord alone, trusting that I dont know the path before me, but I know the one who does.

@Avinash You’ve got this! Start small, and celebrate the small wins!!