Would talking about problems with OCD be bad or good for people (like, talking about how the thoughts have affected us or what the thoughts are or our compulsions, etc)? Or would that be like talk therapy, which doesn't work with OCD? Or would it be bad in a different way? Maybe just that people would be focusing too much on their thoughts when they talk about them? Or could talking even be a compulsion? I mean, if the person ends up doing ERP or another therapy that helps after talking about their OCD, and they don't talk about it as a compulsion (assuming it could be a compulsion), then would it be alright or even good? What makes talk therapy bad? Is it just that they're trying to have people with OCD "solve" their thoughts, or is there more to it than just that?

I can relate

@loveisanopendoor it sucks. i really love my therapist and it feels like just another thing OCD is gonna take away from me :/ oh well

@CR Yeah. But it’s like going to a podiatrist for a heart problem

@CR So did you go to that therapist initially because of OCD?

@Anonymous no, i didn’t get diagnosed with OCD until about 2 months ago

@Anonymous I stared seeing her because of PTSD & depression

@CR I was misdiagnosed too and participated in talk therapy for about 7-8 years. OCD is traumatizing (along with other trauma) and often brings on depression.

@CR Were you misdiagnosed? Or did OCD also come up sometime along the way?

@loveisanopendoor A counselor I went to before going to Nocd tried saying I had something else that I don't. I wish every therapist/counselor got some training in recognizing other problems, even if they aren't trained to help with them.

@Anonymous i feel I was misdiagnosed with bipolar as well as depression. i KNOW i suffer from PTSD and OCD. i think ive always went thru different OCD themes especially in childhood but i had some events really bring on the full onset of OCD this last summer.

@Anonymous I definitely should have been diagnosed with OCD way sooner. it feels like not a lot of therapists are educated on it even at a bare minimum.

@CR Likewise (about events bringing on my OCD worse, and having OCD for a while)! But the events that brought on mine happened last summer. I think I've had OCD since highschool and maybe a little before (perhaps since I was younger? Idk).

@CR So do you still need to see your talk therapist for your PTSD?

The comment above is a great example.

I think you know your compulsions and can try to control them. The problem with talking to others is I find those not educated in OCD will reassure you until the cows come home. “I just feel like this is dirty…” “I just feel like he doesn’t like me…” “I just feel like something bad will happen if I don’t check the stove…” No way! It’ll be fine. You worry too much. It’s fine.

Usually it’s an issue with what they say that could be providing you unwelcomed reassurance

The OCD community is here for you and understand!

I agree with that. So, if I was stressed out about something and I simply told that to someone, knowing it was OCD I was stressed out about and I tried not doing compulsions, could that then be okay? If it is a form of confessing, it would be bad, but what if it's not? Also, if I had a certain obsession (take my obsession of bugs and spiders being in my room for example) and I tell that to someone, would that be okay? And if I was looking to see if someone else had the same obsession, would that also be okay?

@Anonymous Absolutely! Just start with something like, “As you know, I have OCD. In my treatment, I’ve learned that it’s best to face my own fears. I don’t want any feedback or reassurance, but I’m really uncomfortable with________ Thanks so much for listening”

Yes they know. It’s definitely genetic

Did your grandparent have it? My grandfather had it, then my aunt and dad, and then me.

@loveisanopendoor Nah, I don't think either did. But maybe my grandma??? But idk, it's not very visible, if she does have it. Just a few of my cousins and an aunt have it.

@loveisanopendoor But I hope you can get better and show your family what good treatment can do.

@Anonymous Thank you. Sometimes I feel so alone because none of my siblings or cousins got it that I know of. They had other mental health issues though. I hope you can feel better as well

@loveisanopendoor Thank you too. Sorry to hear that you feel lonely sometimes. Yeah, I understand that feeling. Rn I'm kind of feeling lonely too because of a few things, and OCD is one of them. The only people who have OCD and know I have it are my therapist (I think she has OCD) and one of my cousins; the others who know I have OCD don't have it. Also, we all have different obsessions, so that doesn't help... But I was generally feeling kind of lonely even before I found out I had OCD.

@Anonymous I wonder how your siblings and cousins feel with their mental health?

@Anonymous My sister got sick with depression and anxiety and mood problems but got better. She’s off of all her previous meds. My brother was somewhat depressed with low motivation but seems to be getting better. I have a few cousins with general anxiety.

@Anonymous My sister’s getting married, and I’m supposed to be in the wedding. I hope to get better by next fall.

@loveisanopendoor I hope you feel better, and your family too. I hope you get to a point where you can enjoy the wedding.

@Anonymous Thank you 💕 I really hope so. It’s something to work toward

Do you mean avoid or deny talking about their OCD? Or deny they even have it (to themselves too)?

Because I know people do both, but I was wondering which you were referring to here.

@Anonymous Both

@loveisanopendoor Yeah, all of that is sad honestly. OCD isn't really a "bad" thing to have. It is an unpleasant thing to have, yes, but it doesn't make someone bad at all, nor does it mean that the person who has it is different than the person who doesn't (yes, they are literally "different" than the person who doesn't have OCD, but just in the fact that they have OCD and the other does not. It's not a bad different; it's like if one person has allergies and another doesn't). So it is sad that some people deny acknowledging they have OCD when (A) it doesn't make someone bad or different, and (B) it doesn't make anything better and they still have OCD whether they acknowledge it or not.

@Anonymous My dad has OCD, and we’ve had to enable him my whole life. (Through keeping secrets about where we went, extra showering, avoiding touching certain things, etc.) I’m the first one in my family to seek treatment.

@Anonymous He denies having it although it’s very obvious. He has classic contamination OCD, asks for reassurance a lot, doesn’t listen if he thinks you may trigger him, etc.