This is my first time in my life recognizing that what I’ve been dealing with is more than just anxiety. I feel a sense of hope that there is a name for what’s going on. But I’m not going to lie, I’m also feeling a little overwhelmed. I have my first session on Monday. It gives me some comfort that there is a community on here of other people going through the same thing.
I want to also add that I think now that I’m aware I have OCD I’m more fixated on my symptoms and it feels more intense just since signing up for this yesterday. I’m assuming it gets worse before it gets better.
Yes! Your first sentence really stands out to me. “This is my first time in my life recognizing that what I’ve been dealing with is more than just anxiety.” If you’re like me, which it seems that you are, then you’ve probably tried getting help for the “anxiety” many times to little or no avail. That’s what I think struck me the hardest with NOCD - the fact that this isn’t the same old song and dance where we’re asked to replace thoughts, or asked to analyze why we feel the way we do. When I first realized that “Oh. There is actually help for somebody like me, and I’m starting that help soon,” I felt a RUSH of hope and overwhelm. My experience (6 sessions in) has replaced anxious overwhelm with something more controlled. Like, it’s hard to really describe, but I feel that I have more autonomy and agency over this disorder than I did just a few weeks ago. I think you deserve to be proud of yourself for taking the HUGE step to get into treatment. I know that my OCD tried to talk me OUT of getting help a billion times before my first session. If you’re feeling that, too, let your therapist know! It could be a great starting point.
@Annohnnamuss Thank you for sharing your experience! What you said definitely resonates for me. I’ve been in therapy for pretty much the past 20 years. I’ve tried countless types of therapies, self help, psychiatry, holistic medicine, meditation, spirituality, exercise, etc etc. I would get some relief but never feel like I was moving the needle of what was actually wrong with me. It is helpful to hear that you’ve found help through just 6 sessions. I am feeling hopeful. I finally got to a breaking point a couple days ago. These NOCD ads kept showing up in my algorithm and honestly this has been an answer to a prayer. Thank you for the encouragement!
I am in the exact same spot! Maybe hopeful but also overwhelmed. Kind of sad too that it’s taken this long (I’m 42) to see that this is more than just typical nerves/anxiety.
@blackbird913 I am 41; I definitely get where you’re coming from. But I also try to look at it as I don’t think a lot of mental health practitioners are well-trained in OCD so it gets misdiagnosed a lot. It’s not our fault. Maybe we’ve all done the best we could with what we’ve had at the time. I think I’m going through a grieving process right now for the young part of me that has struggled most of her entire life and nobody ever really saw her or knew how to help her.
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