Don’t Sit in OCD Alone
God has always blessed me with good friends, particularly in the church body. I am a full-throttle extrovert, so being able to socialize with friends and family always brings joy to my life. When I was first diagnosed with OCD in college, I didn’t really know how to talk to my friends about my fears, so I usually kept my sharing simple by saying I “just” struggled with anxiety. I knew people could see my sometimes-extreme behaviors, particularly with germs or in relation to what they thought of me, but I hoped people would overall look past my oddities. I’ve known a lot of people who struggle with anxiety, but until recently, I didn’t really know anyone who worried exactly as I did.
After publishing my book and beginning the website, I started interacting with new contacts who also have OCD. The relationships I’ve formed through these connections have provided a freeing relief I didn’t know I needed. I can discuss my experiences and struggles in new ways with each of them, knowing that we share a similar mental thread. I realize now how much I’ve been missing by not having a working community of people who I could talk to about my OCD before now. There is a calm that comes from dialoguing with others who understand the cycles of OCD in an equally personal way. I don’t need to over-explain patterns of thought or leave conversations worrying about an intrusive thought that could’ve been misconstrued. There is safeness that oozes through our conversations; a shared need for peace from a mental whirlpool that doesn’t want to stop swooshing. The friendships and bonds I’ve gained through conversations like these are, no doubt, a gift from God. I’ve been able to peek at my past fears while at the same time analyzing my recovery in healthy ways because of the precious friendships God’s given me with people who possess brains that resemble mine. We cheer each other on through Exposure Prevention Therapy, give one another reminders about being kind to ourselves, and confess hard fears that don’t easily want to be brought into the light. These are all vital parts of getting better and growing into a healthy life with OCD.
It’s hard to be real about OCD in therapy and it may even feel impossible to be open with anyone else in the world besides a counselor but being in a community with people who struggle similarly is how God designed us to operate. We need each other. We need to be able to point one another to the strategies God provides in therapy while sharing our stories as an encouragement to others. Being able to see God working in and through the lives of other people who have OCD (whether they believe in God or not!) while also sharing how God has worked in my own life has been a huge blessing in my life and in my heart. I cherish my new companions and am thankful God placed them in my life.
I would encourage those of you reading this blog who have OCD (or a different diagnosis) to find a community of people (or just one person) who have a similar diagnosis. Following Instagram influencers who have OCD and are posting about their experiences, joining a support group online or in person, or reaching out to someone recommended by a counselor as a potential resource are all great ways to find community with others. Let’s hold firm in unison as we fight irrational musings by climbing up the mountain to find a rich life with Christ and with OCD.
