Just some advice I guess

I don’t really consider myself someone who gives advice, especially because I still struggle with OCD myself, so take this with a grain of salt. But after dealing with OCD for about 5 years, and having two years that were probably the worst I’ve ever experienced, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about what it’s like to live with this shit. I’m in a flare up again right now, and honestly, when it first started I was terrified. My biggest fear was going back to those two years that felt like the worst fucking years of my life. But looking back now, I realized something I didn’t see while I was in it. I still lived my life. Those two years felt like I was doing nothing but surviving. I had so much anxiety, fear, rumination, intrusive thoughts, paranoia, anger, and so much negative self-talk. I hated how I felt and constantly thought, “This is my life now.” But today I was looking back at pictures and memories from those years, and wow. I traveled. I celebrated holidays. I spent time with my family. I went out. I played my favorite games. I tried new things. Tried new foods. I made memories with my husband and my son. I still did things I enjoyed, even when OCD was screaming in the background. And honestly, that realization has helped me a lot this time around. So if I could say anything to someone struggling, it would just be keep living your life. Not in some cheesy “everything is going to be amazing!” way because sometimes it fucking sucks. Some days you’re going to feel like shit. Some days OCD will be loud as hell. Some days ocd will feel tolerable. And some days might actually feel great. But you can still live while it’s there. Find little things you enjoy. Go out. Talk to your people. Play your games. Watch your shows. Make plans. Do things even if you don’t feel 100% like yourself. And try to be a little kinder to yourself too. I was SO mean to myself during those two years. Everything was negative. “My life sucks. I suck. Everything is ruined.” And obviously that didn’t exactly make me feel better. I’m still learning all of this myself, but I’ve started looking at these things as little habits I have to keep practicing. Finding the good, being kinder to myself, accepting that I won’t always have answers or certainty, and just continuing to show up. I’m not saying this is the answer to OCD or that it will magically make it go away. I’m just sharing something I’ve personally realized that has helped me look at this flare up a little differently. OCD can be loud as hell, but it doesn’t have to be the only thing happening in your life. ❤️