Anyone else relate?

I’ve suspected that I have OCD for a little over a year now and it has gotten worse since then. I’ve had a few themes here and there but my main one that won’t go away is a taboo one. It’s constantly on my mind 24/7 and my brain is always either analyzing, ruminating, performing mental compulsions, or thinking about the OCD itself all day. The intensity has gone up ten fold since the last year and everyday just feels like I’m at war with my mind from the second I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. There’s some days where it’s calm and there’s other days where I’m like is this even OCD? I’m scared that this theme is just a part of me now and I will never be the same as I was 2+ years ago. I feel like I’m going crazy and my mind just won’t shut itself off. Since last year my quality of life has definitely changed and I cannot focus on school work or rest and I often just do the bare minimum everyday. I’m not currently in therapy or on any meds. Does anyone have any tips for now about how to navigate through this before seeing a therapist? Thank youuu!!! :)

"Pure" OCD

Anonymous

Date posted: 22h

Hey, this sounds similar to my story. I had moderate OCD for around two and a half years before I figured out it was OCD. I thought about my themes 24/7. I have pure OCD so I perform a lot of mental compulsions. At one point, I was performing compulsions all day long. I didn’t know how to get better, and everything felt hijacked. My thoughts, my emotions, my identity, and my relationships all became affected by my OCD. Before therapy and information, everything I tried to feel better just continued to make my OCD worse. I started experiencing panic attacks and insomnia. I allowed it to shrink my world too. However, once I figured out it was OCD, things slowly started changing. Even after my diagnosis, OCD still likes to tell me that I don’t have OCD and that I am actually my thoughts. I started therapy in May of this year and currently in November I am starting to feel better and think better. My thoughts do not gripe me so much and I can move on from them and return to the present moment easier. I have genuine moments of peace in my mind and sometimes I forget I have OCD. Where before treatment, my entire day was OCD noise in my head. Recovery timelines look different for everyone but there is hope and treatment does work. I started to notice a positive difference pretty early, but my true breakthrough didn’t happen until this month. You aren’t alone, there is a way through this. You may not be exactly the person you were before OCD (maybe you can), but the person you become will have a better understanding of themselves and the way their brain works. I am currently just in therapy, but I am not against medication. Don’t give up on yourself, you are worth recovery. A good place to start is watching Nathan Peterson’s YouTube channel called OCD and Anxiety and also read his book, “You’re OCD Will Hate This Book”. Also if you can talk to a NOCD therapist I recommend that too. Those things really helped me in this journey. Good luck, keep living in according to your values and have self compassion.

🙈

Date posted: 15h

@Anonymous Thank you for your advice!!!

Amy B.

Date posted: 21h

I'd get with an ERP therapist as soon as possible, mine has been invaluable and I wish I had started sooner. You are worth that. In rhe meantime, the NOCD youtube channel has lots of good stuff. Keep pushing towards the fear, and good luck!

🙈

Date posted: 15h

@Amy B. Thank you sm!!

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