If you’re comfortable discussing... what are decisions or actions you’ve done in life in response to your OCD? Meaning, are there any decisions you’ve regretted or maybe weren’t the best for you, but it was because it was an OCD decision now looking back?

What is your OCD story? I’m curious to hear about what other people’s journeys with OCD have been like. When you were diagnosed/what kind of treatment you have tried/what kind of OCD or symptoms do you have/what has helped you most? For me personally I don’t have a lot of people that I feel comfortable sharing my journey with in real life so I like having the chance to let it out on another platform. I’d love to hear whatever you are willing to share. I’ll start by sharing my journey. I was first diagnosed with and treated for OCD when I was seven (12 years ago). It started when my parents noticing that I was constantly smelling and washing my hands. I also worried a lot about my family’s safety and had a lot of magical thinking: I couldn’t throw anything away, had special walking rituals, had to touch things certain ways, etc. When I got to high school my symptoms got worse. I was re-diagnosed with OCD, dermatillomania, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and depression. My OCD had morphed into just right/perfection obsessions (took me hours to do a simple homework assignment and I spent hours per day reviewing my interactions to look for mistakes), contamination OCD (couldn’t go outside, in my car, downstairs in my home, etc.), magical thinking OCD (knocked on wood over 60 times per day), health OCD, fears of losing control and intrusive thoughts. My life was consumed by my disorders so I entered a partial hospitalization program for OCD for 12 weeks. Two years later I was still struggling to function. I felt like I had tried everything. intensive ERP, 13 different medications, 11 different mental health specialists so I decided to enter residential OCD treatment. I was there for 3 months. It helped a lot to have the intensive ERP and 24/7 staff support. I got also got a much better grasp on my issues. I still struggle but I know how to deal with my obsessions and compulsions. I doubt anyone made it this far but if you did thank you for your time. I’m definitely interested in reading other people’s stories no matter how short or long they are :). Have a great day.

Is there anyone else on here that gave into one of their obsessions? I feel disgusting. I feel like if this app would have been a thing years ago I wouldn’t have. But I’m always with the what if or this would have/could have happened. It makes me question if I even have ocd and maybe I’m just a sociopath (although my previous therapist had told me I definitely do have ocd) being on this app sometimes makes me feel worse like I was such a weak person I let it eat me away until I was going to commit suicide and then decided no maybe I’m just a sociopath let me see. I’m struggling with suicidal thoughts because of it and have been for years. NOTE: please don’t flag this, I am not going to commit suicide. Suicidal thoughts don’t necessarily mean you are premeditating and in my case, I am not. Also I am TERRIBLY sorry if this makes anyones ocd reading this worse and you start to think “maybe I will do something” you most likely WON’T. I’m writing this because I have NEVER seen this side (where you gave in) of OCD written on here by anyone!

Hi all. I was diagnosed with OCD last year. I have had ups and downs with managing my symptoms. I went through rough patches where anxiety was really bad. Now suddenly I feel a bit better so I’m trying to keep up the effort to maintain this slight progress. My question is. How did you make the decision on if you should try medication or not? I am a very indecisive person.