Conquering OCD is within your reach

I have achieved so much with the help of NOCD!!

I am now very much looking forward to entering the therapist/counselor community and helping others. This is a challenging disorder, but it very treatable with the right therapy, strategies, education and helping professionals!

New milestones

Through my therapist at NOCD, I’ve learned that thoughts are “just thoughts”. They do not have to run my life and I don’t have to react to all of them. OCD does not control me anymore and I am now shifting to becoming more disciplined and consistent with using my tools. Personal and professional success have taken off. Thank you so much

Feeling proud finishing up 2024 ☺️

It’s nice reflecting on my progress and feeling like I’m taking back control of my life. Thank you NOCD!

ANYONE can become CONQUERORS!!!

To be honest with you all. About three years ago when I was really rockbottom. I heard multiple times that anyone can overcome their OCD and be in control. I thought really for me it was impossible to reach. But, impossible doesn’t exist only possible. I am thankful and honored to say that I am now and forever a OCD conqueror. I want to thank so much for my current therapist for really pushing me towards OCD’s face. Because without having her by my side for support. I don’t think I would be receiving this medal. Thank you so much! To conclude, I know this moment might be about me and my accomplishments but it’s POSSIBLE for YOU to also reach this milestone as well. Now I know. Words becomes action and action becomes change. Thank you NOCD and thank you for listening!

Overcoming my OCD

2024 was a crucial year for my OCD. I went through the biggest health scare of my life the end of 2023 due to my OCD. 2024 was the year of healing and renewing for myself and I could honestly say I have overcame OCD and those unwanted and triggering thoughts. I still have my thoughts from time to time, as they will always pop up, but I’ve learned how to not let them take control of me anymore, I control it. The best advice I can give you is remaining compassionate towards yourself, get the help for as long as you need, and continue to shower yourself with love and grace. Everyone’s journey is different, but understand that you can overcome this. Healing is possible when you put yourself first and continue to do so. Thank you NOCD for being apart of my journey for the time that was needed.

OCD Conqueror

I was super reluctant to start this treatment. I did not believe it would work for me but lo and behold, here I am conquering OCD and feeling better than I ever thought possible.

Conqueror

Really really happy with how treatment has gone. If you’re reading this and having a tough time, you can do this!

Yay!

I never thought it would get better but it did. Thank you to my therapist and those in this community who supported me. Attending and sharing in support groups really sped up my progress. There is always hope!

Lost and found creativity

Utilizing ERP with a therapist to manage OCD gave me something back that I didn’t know I lost… Creativity has always been a strength of mine. OCD, however, really flipped my use of creativity to the less fruitful side of the coin, when it comes to imagining obsessions and what-ifs creatively. All people I know with OCD are extraordinarily creative; just think of some of our fears and obsessions. If you remove the guilt and shame of obsessions, you’ll find this crazy amazing ability to create elaborate things from something sh*tty or nothing at all. Using ERP allowed me to expend less creative energy on obsessions and more on projects I want to use it on. It helped me live a more values driven life, as cliche as that may sound. It didn’t eliminate OCD, but honestly even if it had, that probably wouldn’t have fixed my life in the perfectionist way I’d like. Working on ERP to let myself live better was great. I now do a lot of hobbies I wouldn’t have had the mental energy for prior to treatment: woodworking, sewing, ceramics, singing, comedy and more. I can pour so much of my creativity and zealous energy into these different hobbies. You may think, wow that sounds insane that she has that much time for that many hobbies. Maybe. Or does it? OCD takes a lot of mental time/space/creativity. ERP will undoubtably not solve all of your problems and it won’t change everything, but it changes your mental energy/focus/ability, and in its own way, that really does change everything. Take heart that there are better (notice I did not say perfect) days ahead where channeling your creativity finally feels nontoxic and fulfilling.

OCD Recovery is a Journey, Not a Destination

Perfect mental health and a perfect life don’t exist. And that’s okay! Life is not mean to be perfect all the time. I was originally diagnosed with OCD in 2018. I have had tremendous success with ERP therapy for the past almost 7 years. There have been many, many ups and downs. I used to see it as a failure when my symptoms acted up. Now, I see it as just something that’s part of my imperfect life. My OCD tends to want me to strive for perfection, but it’s just another trick it’s trying to play. I’m proud to have gained my OCD conqueror badge through NOCD 6 months ago. It’s another symbol of the hard work I’ve put in to maintain my mental health. It’s also okay to not feel like an OCD conqueror everyday. It’s not a failure to have setbacks. Having the courage to stand up and try again is what makes an OCD conqueror. ❤️

rOCD

I see my interpersonal relationships more logically and will be able to keep them stable.

this is so cute :)

opening up about ocd is so hard, even when i know i’m in a safe space, but i’m so glad i did. i wouldn’t necessarily call myself a conqueror, but i know i’ve definitely made significant improvements; and that, in itself, is something to be proud of. i’m still learning how to accept that ocd is a part of me and my journey, whether i like it or not, but i’m so grateful to have access to the tools that help me do that. one of THEE most important things i’ve learned how to do is sit in a uncomfortable feelings and not run away from it. it’s such a helpful technique, especially knowing that negative emotions are going to affect you throughout your life, so it’s important to realize you don’t have to be afraid of them. i haven’t been feeling the best lately but that’s ok. i know i’m not where i was a year ago and i’m so incredibly proud of that.

❤️

I'm proud of myself!

There’s hope!

Since my experience with NOCD, my life has changed for the better. There was a time when I thought I’d have to settle for a daily battle with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and fear. For those of you in the thick of your OCD journey, I want to give you some hope that it can and will get better, despite what you may now be experiencing. Learning how my brain works, what my triggers are, and how to practice ERP—among other tools—has improved my life dramatically and helped me see that my mind is a gift.

A Milestone

Therapy has really helped. I will continue to use the tools and face the fears instead of avoiding them. I know I can handle the things life throws my way. I'm thankful for therapy and I am on the path to more growth and that makes me so happy.

Yaaay!

Life is so different today. When I started ERP, my main focus was to become a better person as a way to safeguard myself from certain actions. That’s not what happened. I still have intrusive thoughts all the time. I am still at times gripped by my main theme. The difference is I am able to respond to them in a nonchalant tone using my response prevention messages, ie “ maybe, maybe not”, “cool” “hmm, I don’t know” “ that may or may not be true.” At first, I thought responding in this way it was kind of bullshit. Now I can say these things out loud while the intrusive thoughts are strong. Sometimes I feel discouraged when I’m not feeling happy all of the time- but then I remember there was a time where my OCD was so bad I wasn’t able to shower or brush my teeth. This morning, I got out of bed, made a pot of coffee and went to work. Anyway, I’m off to purposely trigger myself wish me luck LOL.

I made it, y’all!!!

I’ve been participating in therapy with NOCD for almost a year now, and I’m finally an OCD conqueror!!🥳 the journey has definitely not been easy, but through the help of my wonderful therapist Brooke and my desire to serve a mission for my church and Savior Jesus Christ, I have made it this far. I definitely still have improvements to make, but I’m proud of me for this accomplishment. 🫶🏻 encouragement to everyone out there that you can improve!!!!!

You can do it too

I promise you, you can. Taking on ERP might be one of the most difficult things you ever do. It’s staring at your very worst fears in the face and refusing to back down. It is difficult and takes time, practice and hard work. There might be days where you wonder if it’s even working, especially in the beginning when it’s almost guaranteed to get worse before it gets better. Just. Keep. Going. What’s much more difficult is living staying stuck in OCD’s loop of terror. It does not need to be that way. You might feel unhelpable, beyond repair, that OCD has “won”, but these are all just tactics that it uses to keep you trapped. Recovery is possible for absolutely everyone. You CAN get to a point where your days are largely or completely unbothered by OCD. There might be days that are slightly harder than others, the difference is you know what to do and how to react. So wherever you are at in treatment, however real it is feeling (likely 100% as OCD likes to do🤣), keep trusting the process and just keep going. I promise your wins will add up in the end.

Hallelujah!

Thank you to Nick for all of his help! I cannot believe the difference I feel. Anyone can get through this with hard work!

Becoming stronger each day

I been diagnosed with OCD since 2016…but had symptoms my whole life. I think I felt my first OCD fear at age 5 or 6. I thought I was such a bad person and/or crazy. When I was diagnosed I thought “that can’t be me, I’m not organized and super clean”. My therapist explained to me OCD and I cried because I had never felt so seen after thinking I was going insane. I was in my early 20’s! After being diagnosed I tried ERP Therapy but I was not consistent. (I also was unmedicated.) This summer my OCD got so bad with so many themes that have haunting and bullying me. I seeked help and found NOCD and my current therapist. I didn’t have hope but with each session I felt stronger and better. It had been hard, especially at first. As the sessions kept going and doing ERP and realizing these themes aren’t bothering me as much. My therapist is also amazing! And to be told I’m a OCD Conqueror was such an emotional moment for me! I NEVER thought I’d get here! There is still so much work but I am happy with where I’m at so far! I was so hopeless so many times in my life about OCD. So many tears and sleepless nights. I never thought it would get better. Please know you’re on the right track! I can’t wait to see how much more I can accomplish. Thank you NOCD and to my therapist.