Trigger warning: this piece discusses themes of OCD.
At the age of 14, I got diagnosed with OCD, and at 15, it was classified as severe.
Since being diagnosed, I lost all hope of ever getting rid of it; especially after being told that there’s nothing anyone can do for me and that the way it is now, is the way it’ll be forever.
But I have discovered that they were wrong! I can battle this, even if it’s the hardest thing I’ll ever do in my life.
I had given up battling OCD until July this year when I realised it can get better. Gen’s book, ‘Bite Back’, came out and I bought it almost immediately. I read heaps (even though I’m not a reader) and quickly found that Gen had it hard, too, but she got through it! This surely means I can too, right? So, I kept reading and soon discovered some helpful tips. That night, I went to bed for the first time in years without having to do any OCD rituals. It felt weird but freeing at the same time. The next day, I woke up perfectly unharmed and quickly noticed that NOTHING bad happened. It brought a huge smile to my face!
I feel like I came across her book at the perfect time because I was close to trying to give up again.
So, to anyone who has OCD, it’s never ‘bad enough’ to not seek recovery. You just need to find the right tools to help you fight. For me, it was Gen’s book (she’s a lifesaver)! Maybe start there. Anyone with OCD can recover and will if they fight hard enough. It’s definitely worth fighting for!
Keep fighting,
I believe in you.
-Zara
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