When did it start for you? What age?

But becoming aware of this disease was 2 years ago, I didn’t even think about OCD before, I was like “nah this disease is about washing your hands and stuff so you definitely don’t have this, rather another anxiety disorder” but when the best friend of my younger brother died intrusive thoughts and magical thinking (which I already had before) started to appear IMMENSELY. Compulsions too. But I always thought I’d do them on purpose to prove it’s OCD. But it’s gotten worse and I couldn’t resist so... yeah now I’m in really bad condition.

when i was 4 i had to sleep with every single one of my stuffed animals on my bed otherwise i would hurt one of their feelings hahahha

Pretty sure I was born with it. Pure O onset was in my early 20s. I’m 30 now.

Yeah, for a long time I would have said it kicked in when I was 8 but as I have learned more about myself and about OCD, I’ve realized this isn’t true. Looking back, I was 8 years old when a certain particularly dramatic and external compulsion began, but I’ve had this all along. Family members can recall me avoiding touching certain objects at 18 months old, and some of my earliest memories involve me being weird about door frames and leggings (seriously, who hates leggings?! they’re wonderful). My OCD takes very different forms and has morphed over the years, which in some ways frightens me, but in other ways is something I can now anticipate and deal with. These days I see it coming and can often head it off at the pass. It’s part of who I am and has caused me a huge amount of pain over the years, but it’s also made me both tough and empathetic. As an adult, I actually have a really nice life- both personally and professionally, and while I’ll never be “cured” of OCD, everybody has their challenges.

i had my first major episode at 12 but looking back i can see ocd affecting me throughout my whole life

I think it started when my mum told me my grandpa died because of a heart attack. I was 6, and I remember my first “ritual” took place shortly after. I had to lay my hand on my chest and repeat a few words before I went to sleep because I was afraid if I didn’t do so, I’d die from a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

I was 5 or 6. My mother was using a butcher knife in the kitchen. The worst day of my life, remember it like it was yesterday. Nothing was ever the same after! Started of harm ocd then morphed into pretty much every theme.

My whole life?

I’m just figuring it out now at 23

I was 15

When I was 6 I had to get my Aunty to put on my shoes six times until it felt just right

I was 8... I’m 21 now ?

19... I'm 21 now soon to be 22

All these younger ages, so horrible. I’m with Eliza C, pretty sure I was born with it and it kicked in when I was 24. I think back to when I was a teenager and how much of what I was going to could be related back to this.

The big one was 19. Looking back I can see a few traits in teens. Still with me, age 40...

17, i couldnt control my mind. not sure about before 17.

earliest i can remember it being bad was when i was 8-10ish, could b earlier tho idr a lot from my childhood like that

It got really bad at age eleven I was diagnosed at age 12. Have been severely struggling