- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
hey♥️. my debilitating onset of ocd started in august and it took away everything from me. i even attempted suicide in october because of how bad it was. and im gonna tell you right now, it is not easy and requires a shitload of patience. but if you want recovery you will get it. i started erp on my own which was very difficult and scary. then around december i started therapy with nocd. and every single day i practiced what i learned in therapy, and what people have advised me to do on this app to the best of my ability. there were definitely ups and downs in recovery: that’s naturally how it works. but today i can tell you that i feel so much better, and the thoughts have decreased to basically whisper level and i see myself leading a productive and happy future. am i completely there yet? no, but i know that ill get there and i know you can too if you want it, and dont give up
- Date posted
- 4y
thank you. i’m so happy for you
- Date posted
- 4y
I had severe depression and ocd from age 16-25, and was finally able to recover with meds, therapy and a ton of hard work. It’s the biggest accomplishment of my life to date. Now I’m 33, and my ocd is worse than it’s been in a long time. I had a miscarriage over Christmas and in many ways I feel like all the physical and mental wellness I had so carefully built up is shattered on the floor. But. I’m still doing way better than I was at age 20. The difference is, this time I know what recovery looks like. I know this won’t be forever. That’s what recovery does, it gives you the hope and the skills to know you can get up again, even if it’s hard. That’s life-changing. You can do it. Rooting for you.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
I feel this way sometimes too. I just started doing ERP therapy with a therapist here on NOCD. I think it’s really important to remember to take everything one step at a time. When I started I was in your position and some days I still feel that way, but I do have days where I feel better and I hope/feel like that trend can continue. It’s going to be hard but you’ve already handled so much on your own!
- Date posted
- 4y
you’ve got this!
Related posts
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
Looking back, I realize I’ve had OCD since I was 7. though I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 30. As a kid, I was consumed by fears I couldn’t explain: "What if God isn’t real? What happens when we die? How do I know I’m real?" These existential thoughts terrified me, and while everyone has them from time to time, I felt like they were consuming my life. By 12, I was having daily panic attacks about death and war, feeling untethered from reality as depersonalization and derealization set in. At 15, I turned to drinking, spending the next 15 years drunk, trying to escape my mind. I hated myself, struggled with my body, and my intrusive thoughts. Sobriety forced me to face it all head-on. In May 2022, I finally learned I had OCD. I remember the exact date: May 10th. Reading about it, I thought, "Oh my God, this is it. This explains everything." My main themes were existential OCD and self-harm intrusive thoughts. The self-harm fears were the hardest: "What if I kill myself? What if I lose control?" These thoughts terrified me because I didn’t want to die. ERP changed everything. At first, I thought, "You want me to confront my worst fears? Are you kidding me?" But ERP is gradual and done at your pace. My therapist taught me to lean into uncertainty instead of fighting it. She’d say, "Maybe you’ll kill yourself—who knows?" At first, it felt scary, but for OCD, it was freeing. Slowly, I realized my thoughts were just thoughts. ERP gave me my life back. I’m working again, I’m sober, and for the first time, I can imagine a future. If you’re scared to try ERP, I get it. But if you’re already living in fear, why not try a set of tools that can give you hope?
- Date posted
- 21w
6 months ago I had a severe panic attack and it’s changed my life. Scared of 99% of foods, can’t take meds out of fear, been hospitalized a few times cause of blood sugar drops and other health scares due to poor eating. I’m constantly scanning my body finding any little thing that’s uncomfortable and then fixate and panic over the smallest things. Whether be a smell I’m unfamiliar with, a weird sensation in my arm literally anything freaks me out….. who has had success with exposure or has dealt with similar issues. I feel like I’m unintentionally slowly killing myself but I’m too scared for meds and therapy doesn’t seem to make much of a dent right now. Please share some success stories I need hope.
- Date posted
- 19w
I’m starting NOCD. I had several years of cbt as a child (well over 20 years ago) and I see a trauma therapist. But now I’ll be seeking further help for OCD and just really scared. CBT wasn’t helpful for me. How has ERP been helpful for you? Do you feel like you’ll finally get your life back? I’m consumed by my obsessions 😢 Would love others feedback if ERP helped you ❤️
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