“I’m not sure if I need treatment—I don’t even know if I have OCD.” “My OCD isn’t that serious. Other people have it worse.” Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve said something similar before, or heard a loved one who’s experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) make comments like these.
During my career as an OCD specialist, people shared these thoughts with me often—and as someone who’s lived with OCD for my entire life, I could understand where they were coming from. I hesitated to start looking into treatment, too. I thought I wasn’t “ill enough” or “impaired enough” to take that step.
I now see the flaws in that thinking. And if you’re someone who thinks they need a “big” reason to start looking into treatment for OCD, I want to share what I wish I’d known when I was feeling the same way.
You are worthy of help
Can I just say it? You are worth it. You deserve to feel better. Your level of suffering doesn’t need to be compared to others’. It shouldn’t be—suffering is suffering. The truth is, any limited functioning, any strain in your relationships, any impairment in reaching your life goals, or anything at all that makes you feel like you could benefit from help is reason enough to get treatment.
I think that sometimes, oftentimes, people who experience OCD can downplay their symptoms, deeming their struggles as unimportant or thinking that the needs of others should come first. In my experience, these individuals are often the caregivers or the people who don’t want to take up space. While compassion for others is a wonderful trait, we do ourselves a disservice by not turning that compassion inward and recognizing that we, too, deserve care.
And truthfully, the importance of reaching out for help before OCD becomes too overwhelming or worsens can’t be overstated. No matter what symptoms you’re experiencing, whether you’ve had OCD for years or are trying to navigate a recent diagnosis, getting proper treatment can be so beneficial.
There is no “bad enough”
OCD treatment isn’t just for people whose lives have been taken over by this condition. If you were to speak to those who are no longer able to function in the ways that they used to or who feel their lives have been ransacked by OCD, they would likely all say the same thing: “I wish I had been able to get the right help much sooner.” I know that from my personal experience, I would echo that sentiment.
I’ve spoken many times about what life was like for me with untreated OCD—the missed experiences, the loss of functioning, and the inability to live the way I wanted. Still, as difficult as things were, treatment just didn’t seem like an option to me at that time. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to get better; it was that I didn’t know how I could do that.
There was a lack of information about what kind of treatment would be the most effective for OCD, and when I had tried to get treatment in the past, it had been ineffective and even harmful. It felt downright scary to consider trying again. Thankfully, things have changed a lot since then, and information about evidence-based OCD treatment is more accessible than ever—as is the treatment itself.
Get your life back from OCD
You don’t need to live in survival mode
I know that OCD can make it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes. We can be bombarded with situations and events that we have no control over. The stress of it all can toss us into survival mode. When you’re in that place, it can be easy to get lost in thought patterns of “It will always be this way,” or “I will always feel this way.”
This can be especially true when you’ve dealt with OCD for years. Sometimes we can become numb to the impacts of our symptoms or lose sight of all the ways that they interfere with our lives. We can forget what we’re missing out on, not even realizing all of the ways in which our lives could be more fulfilling. Treatment, no matter what stage of your OCD journey you’re in, can help restore a sense of hope and purpose and remind you what you’re capable of achieving.
And we’re capable of so much more than we think. OCD treatment not only taught me many effective coping skills for when OCD tries to rear its ugly head, it helped me realize that I’m stronger than I give myself credit for. I no longer have to fear a new feeling or a thought popping up because I know I can tolerate it. I don’t have to live in a constant state of fear anymore.
The best part? You can get to this point, too.
Therapy builds confidence in your ability to handle whatever life throws at you
When you stop dreading each moment, each day, because of OCD symptoms, you can start living again. And I mean truly living, not just going through the motions. Your relationships with loved ones, friends, and even coworkers can improve. You can build confidence in who you are and what you’re capable of. You can regain control over your responses to thoughts and feelings, even when you lack control of their content. You can learn how to function despite OCD.
Life grows so much when you are no longer confined by this disorder, and exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy can help you reach that point. ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and the skills it teaches you for managing OCD are lifelong.
You can develop better communication with the loved ones you rely on for support. You can learn tools and strategies that you can pass along to the people in your life, helping them better assist you when you’re in the throes of OCD. And as you become more aware of how OCD operates in your life, you can develop a greater insight into your patterns of behavior and make positive changes. You may be amazed at just how many areas of your life have been impacted by your symptoms.
So many people underestimate the level of impairment that can occur with any major life stressor, let alone a mental health condition. That’s why if I could encourage you to do one thing, it would be to reach out, ask for support, and get the care you need sooner rather than later. You can get to a place where you let go of the need for certainty, embrace all feelings, as hard as they can be, and continue living your most meaningful life. It is so possible.
Ready to start your own journey to conquering OCD? Get started with a free 15-minute call.