- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
It sounds to me like you are very passionate about going back to school to get your Master's. Don't let your negative thoughts ruin this for you. And definitely don't let thoughts of what your parents may or may not say to you get to you, especially without talking with them first. It is a big decision. I'm sure you are not too old to go back to school. Nobody's too old. I will say a prayer for you to make the right decision. Remember you have to be happy with your own decision.
- Date posted
- 3y
I know exactly what my parents would say "You tried going back to school before and it didn't work out." But back then, I was living with them. But I have been living on my own since 2017. So I feel like they should not have as much of a say. I also don't have any other debt and don't like the idea of getting more student loans. But I'm 45, so I'm sure I could get grants. If I could get school 100% paid for that would be awesome. But there are a lot of things to consider. I appreciate the prayers.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
I’m actually in your similar boat. I’m a little younger, but still a decade older than the median of grad students. I’m pivoting away from work that I thought was my dream work to study and become an ocd therapist as well. I worried about the loans- but then it’s loan. It’s owed to the government, not to the school. You have as much time as you need to pay it back. And the investment in yourself is much more valuable than the money… I also thought about, how can I help others when sometimes I feel like I can’t help myself. And you know what? In my acceptance paper I wrote about being a wounded healer. The perspective of someone who has been in the trenches and really understands the fight. We need more of that in our mental health system. We need people who get it on a deeper and visceral level. Not just intellectual and conceptual…. And I thought about my age. But then I realized life isn’t about a timeline. It’s about getting up and moving and being present with your task. And connecting and having a relationship with what you are doing and those around you. So I went for it, and I got accepted. And I’m starting in April. And I’m taking the risk. Will it work out? I don’t know, but I’m excited for the adventure and the momentum of having a path that my soul is asking for . I wish you the same
- Date posted
- 3y
Wow! That is fantastic. Thank you for sharing. Based on the things I have seen you share on this forum, I think you will be awesome. That is one of the reasons why I want to become a therapist. OCD is something that you simply can't truly understand unless you have experienced it. I also have personal experience with depression and social anxiety. I am familiar with the concept of a wounded healer and its something that really resonates with me. Thanks again!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Lms526 Thank you! That means a lot. And I’m rooting for you! You will be amazing and it will be part of your own healing as well. Part of OCDs strength is our self absorption. But when you heal others you no longer are thinking about yourself. This path will help you uncover that. And I’m sure it will for me too.
- Date posted
- 3y
I met a woman in my history class who had retired from her old job and come back to college - you're never too old for learning. It sounds like you really want to become a counselor, and that is a good dream to have - if you're not passionate about your current job, then there's nothing wrong with changing careers. I would simply advise caution. Put some serious thought into how you're going to make your dream happen and what it's going to take so you have a plan of action. Whatever you decide, I wish you luck and success. <3
- Date posted
- 3y
Yeah, there is a lot I need to think about an consider. I'm not going to rush into anything, but I'm more worried about allowing fear and anxiety paralyze me.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Lms526 The best step personally for me, was to go at my own pace, but go. Look up the info, take the introductions if offered, talk to people who went to the schools and got their degree. But just do things. Life isn’t as scary as ocd makes us think. And that little bit of confidence boost can help us see that
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha Its okay if you don't want to say, but what school were you accepted to? There are just SO many options. Its kind of overwhelming. Gah!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Lms526 Antioch, in Los Angeles. I picked it because it doesn’t require GRE or psych requisite courses. It’s also median age is 39, and it’s fitted for people who have full time jobs. And it’s also more centered on you as the person and less rigid.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha Thank you!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Lms526 No problem! I know Pepperdine does this as well
Related posts
- Date posted
- 21w
There’s this one situation that I haven’t stopped thinking about from last night . So basically, I was reading 'The power of Now' which is a book that I love so much and really got me into spirituality. It’s been so helpful for my OCD and rumination but it’s also been pretty triggering for it as of late, so I’ve taken a long break from consistently reading it. The excerpt I read was about abundance and how its not about being bountiful, necessarily in material things but realizing and being grateful for the things that exist in your life now and in doing so, you will open yourself up to more good things. I understood it but I re-read it a lot because I didn't feel confident enough to explain it to someone else. but otherwise I LOVED IT. It made me feel so at peace, I agreed with it, and it gave me hope to start focusing on the good things in my life rather than the bad. So when I went to bed I rehearsed myself explaining it to someone on a podcast and then all these questions started flooding in like “why should I only focus on the good and aren't we supposed to accept the good and bad? Aren’t those the values of Buddha and spirituality” “Ya, we're supposed to accept the good and the bad but why?- so we can feel more good??? And isn't the point of OCD to not label things as good and bad? and why should I focus on the good- so I can feel good? why should I feel good? because I'm worthy of it? why am I worthy of it? because I'm a good person and do good things? well I’ve also done bad things so why shouldn't I consider that. I just don’t understand why I should feel good without it being selfish. And then this went on for like 2 or 3 hours. Like holy shit. I over explain these ideas and concepts that I resonate with to the point where they don't even make sense to me anymore. It becomes very existensial very quick. And I’m not suicidal but these questions make me feel hopeless in society for some reason?? And myself. Like if everything contradicts everything then what’s the point to life? If nothing can be understood or explained in a senseful way, then how do people move forward and make decisions, like AT ALL? There’s never a right or perfect answer and I feel like with any decision I make in regards, I’m doing a compulsion either way. If I don’t answer them, then I’m avoiding it and if I do then I’m checking and seeking reassurance. I’m sorry if this was way too long and over-explained I just need some advice or to know if anyone can relate in any way. Also, I’m sorry if some of those back-to-back questions were triggering.
- Date posted
- 21w
First off - I’m sorry, I post here a lot. My thoughts are going to be scattered because I have the adhd/ocd/executive dysfunction wombo combo. Im so embarrassed I am THIS neurodivergent. I swear my brain couldn’t pick one struggle and settle with it. I’m not making these diagnoses quirky personality traits by any means, in fact, in this post im venting about how exhausting and embarassed I am living with a brain like this on the daily. I need to hear someone’s advice please. I love hearing everyone’s advice on posts because it’s so useful, and brings me back down to reality. Everyone on here gives advice so tastefully in a way where it doesn’t feed into the self reassurance compulsion, but it’s also been thorough and constructive enough where it’s reminded me to ground myself in a healthy way. I love seeing others helping others, it soothes me. This community has been so kind, and I’m so happy I found it. I wish I could ask more, but I have so many questions I think it’d drive everyone here crazy lol. I am doing erp therapy now, and it’s been teaching me so many amazing techniques. I’ve been making progress. However, I sometimes have my moments of vunerablity. I’ve been experiencing this especially now more than ever because I am going through a breakup. He did it through text after nearly 9 months together. I’d do anything for him and love him through anything, and he broke my heart when I least expected it. I’d make his bed for him multiple times, but I haven’t done that for myself in years. I’d sit with him for hours to watch and do anything he likes, but he’d never do the same and I’d never do the same for me. I’m also at fault because I was too scared to speak up so I let a lot of disrespect slide. Why did my ocd do that? Why does ocd make me people please even when I don’t want to? Why does OCD make me care so much about things that will never effect me (like wanting validation from a random person on the street and hoping they’ll think I’m pretty enough to look at), but then when it comes to my future or positive wellbeing (like focusing on college/doing well in classes/personal hygiene/health), forces me to not care/neglect myself and those needs? I don’t understand it. Ocd makes me think everything’s a setup or a trap. I can never believe that I am fine right where I want to be. Why am I so hard on myself? Why do I even think this much? I care and feel so deeply but it becomes unhealthy so fast because ocd makes me fixate and I stay there for a while. For some reason I let this breakup define my self worth. I let it topple into the ocd fear that I will never make it in life - that I won’t be successful, I’ll never get the career I want, the love I want, or the life I want. My OCD’s version of “logic” isn’t even logical. Yes, I understand how the breakup means feelings of low self worth which will then topple into feeling bad about other things. But why has my brain been wired to think this way? Why does it seem so easy for everyone else to function normally with life but not me? Honestly this is the first time in my life where I’m dedicated to focusing on myself and learning more about myself instead of others in my life and it’s a very odd and bizarre feeling. I’m excited of course, but I’m also scared. My ocd makes me ruminate like “what if I will never make the most of this life I’ve been given”, “what if I truly have no worth and the most I will ever be in other people’s lives is a background character”, “why do I care if I’m a background character or not? I should feel guilty and ignorant for assuming everyone will automatically like me”, “are people lying to me when they call me pretty, smart or kind?”, “I need to look and sound perfect in both pictures, videos and in real life. I will never be satisfied for accepting who I am now”, and a bunch of other annoying questions. But sometimes it’s like I just can’t take the reality for what it is but at the same time, but I also acknowledge that I know this is ocd talking. This is so, so difficult. Do I make any sense with what I’m saying? Can anyone help?
- Date posted
- 15w
Hi everyone, I'm in a bit of a difficult situation and I wanted to ask for some advice. I recently finished my studies and I am living from my savings while I look for a job. However this process has turned out to be a lot more difficult and tedious than I expected. I suspect I have OCD as I relate to a lot of the experiences described here, in particular those corresponding to pure OCD. I have continuous intrusive thoughts about how what I'm currently doing is not enough, I constantly need to reassured that what I'm doing is right, with some magical thinking and concerns about my relationship sprinkled in. These intrusive thoughts have made it very difficult to make any significant progress in looking for something. Added to this I'm not even sure I have OCD as I don't have the money to afford therapy right now (my mind keeps telling me that it's silly to write this message because there's no way I have OCD). I live in Switzerland so as far as I understand my insurance won't cover sessions with NOCD. In conclusion I'm a bit stuck, therapy would help with finding a job but I need a job to get therapy. If any of you have had any similar experience and have some piece of advice it would be very welcome.
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