This is the first post I’ve made here, as I have just recently been told I have OCD. I started therapy when I was 15 for an eating disorder, and have been pretty much consistently going for the past 5 years. It is incredibly scary to me that it has gone undiagnosed this long, and it took a few horrible spiraling episodes and me admitting I had a fear of smelling bad for a therapist to tell me it might be OCD. I’m primarily concerned about having another undiagnosed mental illness, that I have done unforgivable damage to other people’s mental health, and the general fear of losing my sanity. If someone could share the benefits of accepting the OCD diagnosis and starting ERP even if it is petrifying, I would greatly appreciate that. Warm wishes and peace to all of you struggling right now:)

Its common for OCD to be all over the place and have multiple themes. Remember that its tricky and cannot accept uncertainty so it looks absolutely anywhere it can...worrying if we have caused harm to ourselves or others. Worrying its not OCD. Worried we are going crazy. All things I've experienced. Not trying to give you reassurance but usually if we are trying to figure something out or drawing attention towards some "problem" then its OCD knocking at our door. Notice it. Acknowledge it, and continue with your day.

OCD is good at hiding for many people. We struggle with it in hours alone because we know people wouldn’t “get it”. This means we might have to fight it just to share it with a doc to get the diagnosis—totally normal. And now that you know you have, it sounds like it’s hitting on a weakness for you, mainly that it took 5 years to find this, so I totally can hear the OCD voice being a jerk by poking that hole into a fear of what else is missed. If it helps, in all the illnesses I’ve dealt with, I think OCD is the best at hiding; other stuff can be way more noticeable. Strength and comfort your way! 💪🏼💜

Hi friend, I developed and ED when I was 14 going on 15 as well. I think these disorders are common in a lot of ways, they are both obsessive and compulsive. This is my third OCD episode. ERP really is the only way to get better. You absolutely must stop doing your compulsions completely. Everytime I have stopped for awhile, I have gone into full recovery and basically had no intrusive thoughts anymore.