From someone who suffered OCD and recovered

[Petal22]

I’m experienced in knowing what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is and how it feels to have this condition I suffered with this condition and now I’m recovered thanks to the correct treatment from health professionals.

I want to share my experiences in how it feels to have OCD and to let you know there is HOPE that you can recover aswell if you are experiencing it..

I was diagnosed with OCD by a psychiatrist…….. for me when I had OCD my intrusive thoughts seemed irrational but “ felt” very real……

As an example of OCD and how the sufferer feels: you can be driving a car and pass a pedestrian….. your intrusive thought will say “ what if I ran that person over” a person with OCD will experience severe anxiety that will accompany this thought…. with many scenarios running through their mind the OCD sufferer gets fixed on these thoughts/ images……. the OCD sufferer feels the urge to turn around the car and go and check in actually fact to see if they did run the pedestrian over…… they go back and check the pedestrian isn’t there but they will still constantly worry about it and have severe anxiety over it … with many what if s running through their mind….. because the sufferer “feels” extreme anxiety over this scenario the feelings seem very real……..

But to someone who doesn’t have OCD they will have the intrusive thought that they may run over the pedestrian….. but that’s we’re it stays as a thought and they forget about it…

Some people with OCD may have intrusive thoughts to do something eg pick the correct coloured sock if they don’t they have the thoughts of “something bad will happen to someone they love if they don’t select the correct coloured sock” this thought is accompanied by extreme anxiety…….

This condition is a very exhausting debilitating condition and it’s a very cruel disorder …. some people who suffer with this condition feel as though they are going crazy….. it’s a horrible disorder to have.

OCD sufferers can feel “ stuck” scared, fearful and very exhausted.

People with OCD perform compulsions to try to bring down the severity of their anxiety…. Eg seek reassurance, google search symptoms, check things over and over again…….ect

Their anxiety comes down for a little while but it starts back up soon after because OCD is a vicious cycle.

OCD is treatable..

I will explain in my next thread

[white knight]

Hi Petal,

My wife has very mild OCD. That's all I know about the topic. Rest assured there is many out there that have read this valuable post. This reply will take it back to the top and might result in more replies. Regards

TonyWK

[Petal22]

Hi TonyWK,

Thank you for your reply, I’m sorry that your wife has mild OCD if your wife ever wants treatment there is a effective treatment- Metacognitive therapy it worked for me.

I actually wrote another thread about it …..Effective Treatment for OCD …. Metacognitive Therapy….

Thanks TonyWK

[missep123]

Hi Petal22,

I am so sorry to hear that you have been going through that. When I read your post I could see your honest- raw experiences with it. Although I don't suffer from OCD myself, the rumination associated with anxiety is definitely something I can relate to. It can feel as though you are a prison in your own mind! Once someone said to me 'If your thoughts can make you suffer, on the other hand if you change your thoughts could they potentially heal you?'. I was definitely curious about this even though it is definitely much easier said than done.

I mainly wanted to post on your thread to say that you are not alone and I really hope that you find comfort and support here on the forums!

[Petal22]

Hi missep123,

Thank you so much for your lovely reply!

I have now recovered from OCD for 4 years going strong…. Thanks to the help I received from Health Professionals and the therapy I did. I actually wrote a part 2 of this thread it’s - Effective Treatment for OCD if you are interested in reading?

Yes at the time of having Severe anxiety OCD I felt very much in the grips of this horrible cruel condition ….. I feel very grateful to have had the correct treatment so I could recover from it…

So true you can be the prisoner of your own mind as I have experienced but from doing the metacognitive therapy I was given all the tools ( keys) to free myself…. It took perseverance to learn all the skills I was taught but I’ve now perfected them and I’m free of this condition…… I hope to give many others HOPE that are suffering with this condition that they too can be free of it with the correct help…..

Thank you, I only wish I knew of these forums when I was in the grips of OCD I know all of the beautiful people in this community would have helped me ❤️😊🙏

[missep123]

Hi Petal22!

4 years! Wow! I think that is absolutely incredible. I know how much strength, bravery and perseverance you have needed. It is definitely not unnoticed! You should be very proud of yourself.

Your experience is so valuable to help others, I am so glad that you are so open and are able to give insight to people who are suffering from the same.

You are a great help to the forums!

[Petal22]

Thank you missep123 for you Kind words I really appreciate it 😊

Yes it did take a lot of perseverance, strength, bravery and hard work….but it was so worth it!

Being on the other side of OCD is just amazing I feel reborn again.

Thank you yes, I feel I need to be as open as I can with my experience with OCD, I believe I have to be to help others………..

I also believe I went through this condition and came out the other side so I could help others who are experiencing mental health..

Thank you, I’m very grateful to be a part of the forums. 😊🙏

[missep123]

Hi Petal22,

That is an incredible way to see your experience.

It sounds like you have so much insight, self-awareness and have gone through a journey of growth.

I like to see my life as a 'book' with chapters of learning 🙂

It's great to have you here on the forums!

[Petal22]

Hi missep123,

Thank you 😊

Yes you are so correct I have a lot of insight and my self growth has been huge….. my mental health journey has taught me a lot. It actually also taught me a lot about myself and I was made aware of the things I didn’t really like internally about myself and have now been able to work on those things and changed them….

Having OCD started as a real life struggle for me it bought me to my knees but from my journey and the self growth and wisdom I obtained from it it has been an amazing journey ! I’m a new person and don’t regret having OCD because without it I wouldn’t be the stronger new version of myself I am today 😊

“It’s a gift when you come to see your worst days as your best days. Your deepest scars as your greatest gifts.

You can’t build muscle without having something to lift, it will strain and be painful. It won’t be easy.

But if you don’t it could crush you. The day you find the strength to lift it, is the day you stop being pushed down by your past, and rise towards your true self.

the problems are the gifts 🙏❤️

Thank you missep 123, I believe our lives are like chapters aswell 😊 I can’t wait for the next one…. ❤️🙏🦋

[Kat1234]

Hi Petal22.

Thank you for taking the time to post this.

I've suffered from OCD (contamination OCD) for decades and agree that it's a cruel and debilitating illness. It's robbed me of so much of my life.

I've tried - somewhat halfheartedly - over the years to get treatment and now, as an older person with so much of my life gone (but still a few good years left, I hope!) and no real excuses left not to focus on my own well-being (my child is an adult and I have no other family left) I really want to make an effort to beat OCD ...and take back the rest of my life.

It's great to hear that you've succeeded in doing this...it gives me hope!

I would love to hear from others who are battling/have battled OCD and I'm happy to share more of my own story...and hopefully my progress!

Cheers,

Kat1234