To anyone who has been professionally diagnosed with OCD: how were you diagnosed and what was it like?

Great question. I kinda figured out through googling I had symptoms. Found OCD of Los Angeles. In recovery now. Go to support group. Check out ocd of LA webpage. Great info..good luck

I knew from a fairly young age that it was super likely I must have it: most of my challenges were compounded by a really chaotic home life. Like many other people, I was scared to disclose my thoughts to a professional. It wasn’t until my OCD spiraled out of control and I went to the hospital that a doctor formally diagnosed me with OCD. It was a pretty powerful moment when he looked me in the eye and confirmed that’s what it was.

I thought I simply had GAD and panic disorder for most of my life. I had been through many “themes” over the years but both I and my various mental health professionals always categorized them as anxiety and simple catastrophizing. Once my TOCD theme hit, I sat down with a pen and paper and mapped out all of my different “themes” and “breakdowns” and what they had in common to try to figure out a pattern. I did a lot of googling and found Pure O stories that related to my current and former themes (HOCD, existential ocd, health ocd, ROCD, etc.) I found an OCD specialist and was diagnosed during my first session. I’ve been in treatment since (it’s been about 6 months) and my relationship to my anxiety, catastrophized thoughts, and self in general has all shifted. I’m much better able to see my OCD in action and I’m now tackling some of the highest triggers on my hierarchy that I initially set up with my ocd specialist. It has been hard. But having an answer and practical treatment answers has been empowering and freeing.

I genuinly only found I had OCD last month. I’ve had almost every type of OCD since I was a child and never knew it. I haven’t been diagnosed but I know I have this. I often obsess to an extreme level about normal things when I don’t have my intrusive thoughts what gives me hope is that I have beat gayocd hocd and the constant confessing side of ocd so to anyone reading this, you will be fine, it takes time but I can think of harming someone or myself and being gay with no issues at all. Just keep accepting your thoughts and believe you will be fine

These are great testimonials. We really all need one another. ❤