- 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
- 25w
Hello! I am really looking for some advice. I have been struggling with OCD for a few years now and it drastically affects my daily life. I am going to give a quick run through of my OCD, and then the current situation I am in now. So for almost 2 years now my most prominent themes of OCD have been getting sick with the stomach bug (emetaphobia) and watching someone die/ having to see large amount of blood or do CPR on someone (I just graduated nursing school). Last year I stopped eating out, wouldn’t touch any of my food with my hands, would wash my hands until they bleed every day, bleached everything I touched when I was in public etc… I would have these major panic attacks all the time and the thought of getting sick hasn’t left my head 24/7 for 2 years. I was unable to complete my nursing school clinicals due to panic attacks each time I was at the hospital afraid someone would die and get these terrible images in my head. I didn’t sleep ever, barely graduated. I did ERP after school and was able to make up the clinical days I missed. Got to a point where I was eating again, felt like I was able to get my hands clean just by washing them. I have been doing exposures every day, and have accepted that getting sick will probably happen at one point and I am okay with it as long as I am at home when it happens. So locking myself in my apartment for 48hr every time after I could have been exposed to the stomach bug is major progress for me and I have been overall doing much better. Fast forward to now: It’s time for me to start my new job on a med/surg floor in a hospital. This week I have made it through a few days of orientation with panic attacks day and night but I am doing it even though I am petrified. I don’t feel ready for this big of a step, being exposed to both of my biggest fears constantly. Today at orientation the girl sitting next to me told me she had been vomiting all day, and continued to run out of the room a vomit the rest of the day. I now am 90% sure I am going to get sick and feel as if I would rather die than continue this amount of stress and anxiety I have felt from just a few days of being on the job. This is my BIGGEST fear and it’s coming true and I don’t know if it’s worth putting myself through this every day at work to just be having constant panic attacks and be miserable. I know with OCD you have to face your fears but I have been pushing myself and trying so hard and I don’t feel like it’s worth it to work this job. I would also feel incredibly guilty for quitting on the first week, but there are a million other nursing jobs that are not in a hospital. I think this is too big of a step for me right now but I wanted to see what others think. Any advice at all is so appreciated!
- Date posted
- 19w
I have had ocd for decades! Could I still be cured???? (Of you can call it that?) I have seen different therapists but it never had fully left me...not by any stretch of the imagination. I do want to be free of this ocd and its power over me and all the bad that it brought into my life!!! Some days I am strong and feel like I am fighting it put other days...many days...I don't get things done or if I do I take a long time to-do the things I need to get done. I feel like I know this is just then ocd stopping me and that these are just thoughts but nobody in my family understands and though they have shared my journey and hated it a I do.....it just feels like I want so bad to be the best person I coukd be but I avoid places, people, things, that have any reminder of my ocd.......and so it restricts me from getting better and completing tasks the way I used to. Now UI might go and make 2-3 trips cuz I am worried to shop at a place and therefore it takes my time up. The avoidance I do is bad! When I actually don't listen to my ocd and don't avoid something...I feel great! ,However, it happens so rarely!!! I.dont know how finding a therapist through NOCD will help me. It is not in person and two be honest I almost think I need medicine to push me along. I don't have anybsteady and consistent improvements. However, I don't think I want to be on medication for the rest of my life! I am very confused!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 16w
So I’m not sure how many/if any of you are Christians, but I’m assuming this can still make sense to some of you. This morning has been rough. I’m constantly thinking, “am I saved? Have I never been saved and I’m tricking myself into thinking I am? When I’m listening to Christian music am I doing for the right reasons? Is it too late for me?”. Things I know the truthful answers to but yet I still think these thoughts. I don’t understand why. Why do I constantly think about these “what if”’s? My heart always feels so heavy and I feel as if I need to talk to God right then and there to make it stop and go away. But then am I talking to the Lord for the wrong reasons? And the cycle repeats. Thankfully, day one of my therapy is tonight and I’m hoping to find at least a little clarity on this stuff. I’ve had OCD for 7 years and I don’t even know how it works. Any advice?
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond