my experience with OCD

The video script begins with the narrator emphasizing the common misconceptions about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They clarify that OCD is far more complex and distressing than just being overly clean or organized. The narrator, Cami, introduces themselves as someone who has been living with OCD since they were 16, but only recognized and sought help for it in 2020. They share their journey of self-discovery and the realization that the stereotypes about OCD were misleading them from seeking help earlier. Cami also mentions the different subtypes of OCD they personally deal with and plans to discuss them in detail.

In this paragraph, Cami delves deeper into the intricacies of OCD, explaining the meaning behind each letter in the acronym. They describe how individuals with OCD experience unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to significant distress and anxiety, which in turn compels them to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to temporarily alleviate that distress. Cami also touches on the fact that everyone has intrusive thoughts, but for those with OCD, these thoughts persist and can become overwhelming. They mention the subtypes of OCD and their personal experiences with cleanliness and checking OCD, highlighting the daily struggles and the impact on their life.

Cami continues by discussing their experience with checking OCD, a subtype characterized by the need to repeatedly verify things such as locking doors or turning off appliances. They recount the anxiety and time-consuming rituals associated with this subtype, including the distress it caused during their high school years. Cami shares how their compulsion to check doors multiple times led to conflicts with teachers and the development of avoidance behaviors, such as not using certain appliances. They also mention the onset of their checking compulsions and how it affected their daily life.

In this paragraph, Cami introduces the concept of Pure O, a subtype of OCD characterized by intrusive thoughts that are not accompanied by visible compulsions. They explain how Pure O can revolve around themes such as sexuality, responsibility, violence, faith, health, and romance, and how it can be extremely distressing and challenging to treat. Cami shares their personal experience with Pure O, particularly focusing on harm OCD, where they had obsessive thoughts about causing self-harm. They describe the mental compulsions they developed to cope with these thoughts and the therapeutic process they underwent, including exposure and response prevention therapy, to help manage their OCD.

Cami concludes by discussing another form of OCD they experienced, which revolved around driving. They describe the irrational fears and intrusive thoughts of hitting pedestrians and the subsequent anxiety that these thoughts induced. Cami clarifies that these thoughts were not based on any rational fears but were a manifestation of OCD. They express gratitude for finding a therapist who helped them understand and manage their OCD, and they encourage others who might be struggling with similar issues to seek help and share their experiences.