I just had a epiphany moment and wanted to share it. I'm always trying to think why my OCD developed, whilst it feels like I've had it all my life, I didn't develop it until about 9years old although I wasn't diagnosed until I was 14 I know that the behaviour I was exhibiting at age 9 was in fact OCD behaviour, so with that being said does that mean I was a happy child with no difficulties before then, no it doesn't I've actually always felt different and out of place compared to other children and now to other adults, way before I developed OCD, I'm not saying that in a naive way of thinking everyones the same and I'm such a unique individual because I'd love if I was like other people, my life would be way easier but I'm not and the epiphany moment I had was maybe me developing OCD was my way of coping in this neurptypical world as I suspect I'm on the autistic spectrum, it's also interesting how alot of people that are on the spectrum have OCD aswell. I'm still awaiting my assessment which could take up to two years (I'm in the UK) but I will be very surprised if they don't diagnose me with Autism and it's not like I want to be, I just know it would explain alot and if I'm not autistic and then I really im just a weirdo with OCD 😅. Rant over.

I don't know how it works in Australia but I know here you get what's called a screening test to see if its worth putting you on an actual waiting list to get the assessment that will determine if you have autism or not, I tried looking into going private but it's too expensive so I just have to wait patiently.

NOCD is available in Australia 😊

Thank you for sharing 😊

Hi I already got diagnosed with OCD by cahms when I was 14. GPs are terrible for referrals but my best advice is to keep telling them you need an assessment for OCD, eventually they will get fed up of you asking, but persistancy is key when you're dealing with the NHS, another way might be to look for OCD support groups and they will have ways to get you an assessment or at least provide you with the means to do so. I think ocd uk is one good one. I pay for therapy on here tho because unfortunately I dont feel like the NHS was providing efficient enough treatment but everyones different and so are their financial means. Please let me know how you go.

Heres the website I was talking about: https://www.ocduk.org/

@Tanaya Thanks for replying. I really hope to get the help I need soon

@suffererofocd I hope you do too! Dont give up I know it can be hard to try and get the right help but it is out there

@Tanaya Can I ask if your experience with with therapy has been effective or not for your ocd. I have contamination ocd and I dont know how much therapy would help.

@suffererofocd Sorry for the late reply my phone didnt show a notification until I opened up the app. One of my subtypes is to do with contamination and therapy has deffiantly helped but of course it's not easy, just to note you will have to do the things OCD tells you not to and be prepared to sit with the feeling of anxiety it brings, it seems impossible and terrifying at first but honestly once you do it you realise how much of a coward bully OCD really is

@Tanaya Thank you for the reply. Glad to hear it can get better. It's so refreshing to hear that there are people like me out there.

@suffererofocd You're more than welcome! I've found since being on this app theres loads more people than I thought that are dealing with the same if not similar problems to ours. So even though we're suffering we aren't alone and it does and can get better 💕

Thank you so much! I get why people on the spectrum would be weary of people self-diagnoising themselves because sometimes people just want to be "quirky" not realising that being on the spectrum is a whole minefield. Everything I research and put labels on myself can be easily explained by being on the spectrum if that makes sense? And ever since I've done proper research, especially the misdiagnoses of females especially, I can relate to alot those peoples stories (the ones on Youtube) and most not all dont get diagnosed until later on in life and it's not seen as a possibility that they're on the spectrum because females are better at masking than males are. For me being around people that finally get where I'm coming from would be so alleviating, like I'm not just that weird quite kid, theres actually a reason why I am the way I am.