*Recovery Update* Hey Everyone, a few weeks ago I posted some of my recovery story so far. I am about 75% recovered so far and many of you had some questions and concerns about your own OCD Journey. Firstly, I know after a period of time, your OCD starts to feel more real and convincing. Bare in mind, this is completely normal. Yes you read that right, NORMAL! RELAX AND TAKE DEEP BREATHS when you feel overwhelmed! Your mind is playing tricks on you. OCD is a bully, it has a lot of power over you and can easily trap you into believing its lies but you do not have to fall for it no matter how real it feels. No matter whatever the thought is, the fact that it is sticking in your mind and you’re obsessing over it is still OCD. The fact you may doubt it’s OCD is still OCD. It is a doubting disease. You will have lapses and relapses. You will have days where you want to throw the towel in and give up. You will have days where you want to do millions of compulsions. But ask yourself, where has reassurance got you so far? Probably in a worse place. You do not need to explain yourself to OCD. It’s not worthy of an explanation. You’re bigger than this B**tard. You’re worthy of fully recovering and getting back to living a normal life. You deserve it if OCD tells you, you don’t tell it to F OFF. Another tip I would like to give people is stay away from all forums as much as possible, this made me so much worse. It can become easily triggering and once you read another theme that an OCD sufferer has may trick you into that theme too. Depersonalisation/Derealisation is very common too. It is a defence mechanism when your brain has suffered too much stress/trauma caused by anxiety. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. I will be happy to help.

Keep up the good work. You are each day closer to recovery.

Thank you. I am delighted to hear you are recovering too. Also, to anyone reading this, stop believing people who say you can’t fully recover from OCD. You can you just have to put the work in. It’s not easy but anything worth having requires hard work and dedication. You will get intrusive thoughts from time to time. Everybody does. The difference will be you can let go of them when you’re recovered. I have gone 22 years of my life without suffering from OCD. I’m pretty sure I can go another 22 years without it too.

@Shaun91 This is so true also. People do get better

@Jsem12 They sure do. I have read many success stories which inspired me to get better. My OCD started during quarantine unfortunately.

@Shaun91 Same for me. Mine went from ROCD to HOCD

I want a community. I wish people wouldn't detail their themes on here because they are triggering to me sometimes.

@Sunflower 1234 It is def beneficial to stay off the forum because you can use it as a compulsion. I used to, and I check this maybe once every few days now

@Jsem12 Do you have any other ways besides ocd forums to get support as you work on your recovery? I have a good network of support in real life but none of my close family/ friends have ocd. They are kind and supportive but they just don't understand. You are right. I need to try to check maybe once a week. I feel like I use this app as a distraction/ place to vent when I feel bad.

If I’m being brutally honest, YES. As much as possible. Don’t get me wrong the NOCD community is great but it can be quite triggering if you’re reading somebody else’s journey who may be negative about their experience. A lot of people want self pity but in order to get better, you have to put the work in unfortunately.

@Shaun91 Thank you for your honest opinion. I have been thinking recently whether it is unhelpful for me to be on here or not. I agree 100% with you that we can recover completely if we put in the work and self pity doesn't get us anywhere.

@Sunflower 1234 I definitely think you should take a break at least and see how you get on. You know that in order to recover you must do ERP. It’s as simple as that. Once I learned that I learned I no longer need to keep going onto forums to hear other people’s struggles as that was making me worse.

@Shaun91 Thanks. I will take your advice.

Thanks for the advice. Good luck on your recovery. I will take your advice and be on here less. I need to be comfortable being alone with just my mind and no distraction.