Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide, but it’s often misunderstood. Most people attach OCD to being somebody who cleans a lot or is associated with symmetry and having things in a particular order. This usually leads to misconceptions about the disorder, particularly the idea that it’s simply about being “neat” or “obsessive about cleaning.” While these are real symptoms that some people with OCD may experience, the reality is much broader and more complex.
This is something I don’t often speak about as it doesn’t affect me as much anymore, but it is something that caused my life to be hell and also caused me a lot of stress and pain. When I was 18, I was diagnosed with OCD in the form of repeated behaviours to suppress my anxiety. It is quite hard to explain to somebody who has not gone through this, but if you have, you will know what I mean when I say it is the worst and most exhausting thing I have ever been through.
After I was diagnosed with OCD and anxiety, I was able to start CBT therapy. This was a massive help and got me through the years when I was suffering from it quite badly. I was able to overcome and regain my life and learnt all the tools I needed to get through it. I am filled with knowledge on this topic but have always found it hard to talk about it until now.
The point of the blog post is that I want to raise more awareness for OCD and also help other people come forward and know that it is okay to reach out for support and ask for help. I hid away from this for a couple of years until I finally couldn’t deal with it on my own anymore. From this, I was able to get support and get my life back on track.
Don’t get me wrong; there are still days where I struggle with anxiety and worry quite a lot, but I have now learned tools and coping strategies to be able to not let OCD or anxiety control my life.
If you relate to this, I hope this has given you some comfort in knowing you are not alone and there are other people out there suffering with this. I wish I knew more about OCD when I was younger, as this would have massively helped. If you are suffering from this and would like to reach out, please drop me an email or a direct message on social media.
Lots of love x.