Hi, I’m new to this app and I’m not sure if it’ll help me, but I’ll try anything to get better. For anyone who wants to read, here’s my story: I think I began having OCD when I was young, after my parents divorced and I went through being abused by the parent I was living with, while also going through bullying at school. I went through a trauma, and that’s when it set in. I’m now 21, and within the past 2 years I’ve got my first car, first real job, moved out on my own, and had a baby. So a lot of major life changes. This has thrown the OCD into a state that’s just unmanageable. I can’t fold laundry because it’s impossible to get it perfect, so it stays in the dryer. I can’t clean up anything without having absolute silence and taking hours. It’s hard to shower, having to OCD anything I touch. It’s hard to make dinner, it’s hard to wash dishes. Everything is hard anymore. I tried medication, but it just gave me severe headaches and dizziness, which only agitated my OCD more. I just want hope that this is something that can indeed be treated. It only keeps getting worse with age and it’s extremely hard to live a normal life like this. If anyone has similar stories feel free to share, I will definitely read them.

I have the same problem. I try to “perfectsize” the environment. I just stuck this note in my fridge this morning: “Everything doesn’t have to be perfect before you start”.

Yes. I’m trying to get used the fact that life is not perfect and doesn’t have to be before you engage in doing things. It’s a slow process and you learn along the way.

Remember ocd comes and goes and what occurs at 16 will change as you get older. The more you can learn and apply knowledge the better your life will turn out to be.

I have the same issue. If something is super messy, I want to clean it, but if I know it’s gonna be too hard to clean it right, I’ll let in sort of an “organized mess” until I have quiet and hours to spare. I had a girl in my class that had trich as well and people would make fun of her when she was little, so I can understand that. But I think as we get older people are more understanding. So you’re right, things will get better in time!

First things first, congrats on the baby and on the job, and on moving out-which I'm very jealous of. Secondly, there is hope for you, we're a community here. I've been on this app for about 24hours now and I've spoken to so many wonderful people today. I'm only 16. There's hope for you.

Thanks ?

Most likely 2.5 times your age

Old enough to be your father....lol

I’m on here to tell you youngsters not to waste your life over ocd. To learn how to manage it and live with it.

Congratulations on the job, baby and moving out!!!!!! That’s huge and you should be proud of that. For me I have a similar issue to your laundry folding, I just moved back home and everything is a mess in my room. When I organize, things have to be right in the perfect spot or I can’t deal with it, and have lasting anxiety. I don’t know how to describe the issue exactly, but I’m anxious that it’s there, but when I organize it and can’t get it how I want it in my head (impossible standards to reach) I get more anxious so I leave it where it was (usually placed there out of need, someone else doing it, etc) While organizing my moms office, it took me a whole day to do her cabinets. I had to move things back and forth depending on how many of each item she had, if it fit perfectly, if the slot was too big it couldn’t go there, it had to look nice, not incomplete, or else I couldn’t leave it like that. As for living a normal life, I have trich, which is hair pulling compulsions. So the “normal life?” I get it. I can’t see someone without putting make up and hiding the fact that I look like an alien without eyebrows and lashes. Constantly paranoid that someone will see. If people look at me too long I get anxious because I think they’ll notice. It will get better. Not now or right away, but over time. I’m excited to use this app because i think it’ll help. Especially talking to people who also have similar issues.

I’ve had ocd for a longtime. But just recently found out it was ocd.