“I jolted awake multiple times throughout the night just to check her – and recheck her – and recheck her again. I would wake up, scared she was missing or strangling in our sheets. I worried she would be kidnapped.”
‘Read it again or else your fear will come true.’ An image of my mom flashed in my mind, lying on an ambulance stretcher.’: Woman shares journey to motherhood through OCD, anxiety
OCD Is So Much More Than Cleaning Obsessively
“It is debilitating, mind warping, and disturbing.”
‘How is your house so clean with two kids?!’ They don’t realize the literal pain I feel inside when it’s not.’: Woman details navigating motherhood with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
“I’ve always needed things to be kept clean, in order, and put in just the ‘right’ place. I used to joke for years about having OCD. Then I got diagnosed a few months ago, and it wasn’t so funny anymore. It was a slap in the face.”
‘I’m unfit to be a mother.’ I wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for the rest of my life.’: Stay-at-home mom shares mental health journey
“I felt resentment toward everyone who was finding joy in this time at home. Wiping butts and being screamed at to watch Blippi isn’t my idea of joyful and fulfilling days. I felt so alone.”
‘When I was face to face with someone, it popped up. ‘I want to kill you.’ It tortured me.’: Woman with OCD urges ‘you don’t have a bad brain’
“I had to keep washing my hands until they were chapped and bleeding. I couldn’t stop until the ‘bad thoughts’ ceased.”
‘Something happened,’ I sobbed. ‘We had a fight and she called the police. I’m going to the hospital.’ I was convinced my boyfriend would break up with me on the spot.’: Woman with Bipolar Disorder details eye-opening journey to acceptance
“I was so afraid of being ‘crazy’ I couldn’t admit I needed help when I was literally in the hospital for psych evaluation. Today, I’m healthier than I’ve ever been in my life. But it came at a price. I lost my best friend. My soul sister. I live every day in fear of the monster who lives within me.”
‘You are on the highest legal dose, but let’s increase anyway.’ I was trapped.’: Health coach overcomes OCD, anxiety, ‘It taught me how to treat my body properly’
“Growing up, I had a very typical, easy going childhood. I had great friends, a loving family, I enjoyed school, was active and involved in sports and activities, and overall was just a happy, content kid. This all drastically changed in February 2004. When I was 8 years old, I woke up in the middle …
‘Turn that light on and off 50 times so no one in your family dies.’ I’d freak out. I was fighting an internal battle every day.’: Mental health advocate details life with OCD, says ‘be kind to yourself’
“I’d have to wash my hands at least six times or I started believing somebody was going to die. I’d sit in my room and cry for hours. I felt watched and trapped in this space. At some point, I felt anxious even leaving my house.”
‘You’re too intense.’ My heart beat out of my chest; there wasn’t enough air. I became addicted to the relief of self-harm.’: Young woman diagnosed with OCD after years, ‘I learned so much about myself’
“Someone honked their horn. Was I just involved in a hit-and-run and didn’t even know? I had hallucinations of objects flashing before me.”
‘I had to wear adult diapers. ‘Do you realize how stupid you look?’ He was mimicking my tics in front of the class.’: Young woman with Tourette’s Syndrome finally finds help, ‘I got my quality of life back’
“I felt stupid because no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t stop. I would spend an hour straightening my shoes, trying to get them ‘just right.’ My dad had to sleep on the floor next to my bed and I had to wear adult diapers. I was left with my self-esteem in shatters. I believed I was a naughty kid.”
