Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | My Experience

The speaker describes the debilitating effects of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) on her life, highlighting how intrusive thoughts and compulsions dictated her actions to the extent that she couldn't wear clothes or eat food, leading to a state of extreme distress and weight loss. She discusses her journey towards understanding and treating OCD, emphasizing the importance of addressing the underlying issues that fuel the disorder.

The narrative delves into the speaker's childhood, where signs of anxiety and what she later recognized as 'pure O' OCD were present. She shares her experience as an overachiever and the anxiety she felt, particularly about safety, which was dismissed by her parents as nightmares. The speaker also touches on her family's military background and its influence on her need for achievement and perfection.

The speaker recounts the day when her OCD reached a critical point, leaving her with no clothes to wear and an inability to consume food or water. She vividly describes the internal struggle and the moment of 'breaking' that led her to seek help. This paragraph illustrates the intense fear and the isolating nature of her experience with OCD.

In this paragraph, the speaker credits her mother for helping her take the first steps towards recovery by seeking professional help. She describes the pivotal moment when she connected with a child psychiatrist who specialized in OCD, which provided her with a sense of relief and understanding that her fears were not unique or divine messages, but symptoms of a treatable condition.

The speaker explains the process of cognitive behavioral therapy she underwent, specifically exposure and response prevention (ERP), which involved confronting her fears in a controlled manner. She discusses the gradual reduction of anxiety through repeated exposures and the realization that her brain was working against her, creating a false sense of danger to alleviate her fear.

The speaker reflects on her high school and college years, detailing the challenges of managing OCD alongside academic and social pressures. She shares her initial belief that she was cured when she went to college, only to realize later that her OCD was still present but ignored. The paragraph highlights the ongoing struggle with mental health even amidst a seemingly normal life.

In this paragraph, the speaker discusses her journey into adulthood and parenthood, and how becoming a mother forced her to confront her untreated OCD. She also reflects on the emotional toll her condition took on her parents and how her own experiences as a parent have given her a deeper understanding and appreciation for their struggles.

The speaker emphasizes the transformative power of therapy in her life, encouraging those who are struggling to seek professional help. She admits her initial resistance to therapy and how it ultimately provided her with the tools to understand and manage her OCD. The paragraph concludes with a call for self-love and respect, advocating for the importance of self-acceptance in the journey towards mental well-being.

The speaker shares her experiences with the support she received from her husband and colleagues, illustrating how understanding and accommodating loved ones can be instrumental in managing mental health challenges. She highlights the importance of communication and the willingness of others to help when they are made aware of one's struggles.

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses the importance of openness about mental health issues, noting how sharing her story has led to others sharing theirs. She encourages embracing vulnerability and the power of community in overcoming the challenges of mental health, leaving the audience with a message of hope and the value of connection.