dropped out of school because of ocd, quit my job because of ocd. anyone almost 18 or 18+ who just dont know wtf to do with their lives bc of their ocd being so disabling?

Yes? you are not alone. OCD interferes with work and my relationship with my boyfriend constantly. I want you to know that I think it's okay that you haven't finished school yet. You'll get there if that's what you want. Just focus on doing what's right for you and your mental health now. Im 24 and it's hard to imagine things getting better. But looking back, it has and it will continue to. We just have to take it one step at all time. I know that it's a pain in the ass but if you need assistance, you have every right to it. I wish you all the best?

Hey Ker758 i know the feeling when you just rather not live because living with OCD is a living nightmare and everyday is filled with fear and guilt , but I encourage you to hold on and try to do things to relieve anxiety like going to the gym and practicing breathing, also try to be around loved ones as well, lastly seek a good therapist who understands how to deal with OCD

thank u so much?✨ just feeling a lot of pressure from family etc bc im supposed to be an adult and i feel like im 5 lmfao. its so hard to try to recover when ive been like this for almost 10 years without anyone stopping me letting it become so severe its completely out of control now ? but i will try my best to not stress myself out whew yall are super sweet ?

I'm turning 50. I partially dropout of life a long time ago because the obsessive thoughts were causing panic attacks. Stayed in my parents house until i was 30. They moved... i moved into a city that i hate. Got a phd in abnormal psychology... to this day I've never harmed anyone. Never harmed myself. Never acted on ANYof my obsessive thoughts. I do have to mind my compulsions or I'll fill this house with clothes and books... and cats :) . Please, find a way to make ocd work for you. Or at the very least never stop fighting it. There's a great man who used to help people in the 60s with ocd. Dr. Abraham Low. His techniques kept me in school, from ever being checked into an institute. He really is amazing but no therapists use his methods. Medications, SSRIs, really do help. You'll win small battles. You'll lose some. But after time you'll regret the things you didn't do. I have far more regrets than Good memories. It is essential with your still forming brain to tackle this before it becomes more than just ocd. And i know it's originally unpopular to sty this these days... don't self medicate, especial with marijuana. I have an id twin sister who does and she's completely reliant on it and other people for everything.

Well ive not dropped out of school or my job (work study my college gives just to get cash) but I want to because life is so dam hard. I cant do it anymore. I just want to give up and just die or somewhat. That would be better.

I think something that makes OCD so hard to deal with is that when it becomes so strong and pervasive in our minds that we are forced to take breaks from school and jobs that no one can SEE why. Having an invisible illness is tough but it is absolutely as valid and real of an experience as any physical illness. I too have had to take a leave of absence from my job due to OCD and even changed careers. But if this was a physical illness we’d get great sympathy and support. Know that this struggle is tough and that we understand. Don’t judge yourself or feel like a failure because this was absolutely a medical problem out of your control.

You are only 18 it’s totally ok to do that and take time to find recovery. But you must make the effort to NOW take action to get better. And when I say better I don’t mean the quick results in making everything go away I mean the hard DAY TO DAY - MOMENT TO MOMENT PROGRESS of improving, understanding and moving forward.

Yes!

22 year old who left school this year because my OCD became so debilitating (again). It’s so, so hard. But I try and remind myself that I am not living my life to the fullest when I let my OCD win, and continuing the way I have been would lead to a pretty bleak, sad life. I’m also in a weird place of transition where I’m not quite in therapy and I’m still scared but I’m not as bad as I was 4 months ago. I just try to remind myself to be in the moment and that eventually I will feel content and happy. Breaking habits and compulsions is so hard but we’ll get there:)

M.a.d I’m pretty much in the same place as you. It’s ducked my life up, 22, just been off work for 3 months. Really struggling today with ‘false memories’

I’m 21, I’ve got a 1 year old baby, it stops me from doing a lot of things, currently in the process of getting therapy, so I struggle most days

I’ve been feeling like this from the time I came to college

Yup ??‍♀️ I’ve dropped out of nursing school and also dropped out of my Early childhood education course because of my ocd , now I feel like I want to quit my full time job because of constant anxiety and panic attacks, it’s so exhausting for me at this point and Very hard to deal with my erratic anxiety

@worrieddriver said it all.