I’ve spent an inordinately and necessary percentage of every hour of the past five years focusing on my OCD. My Pure-O OCD, the underlying and symptomatic anxiety, the rituals both outward and inward, the lists of solutions mostly crossed out for different solutions. I have not solved my OCD. It is, however, in a much … The post A Complete Shift in Life and Blog Focus, Ongoing appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

I can split my OCD experience into two time periods: the era when I dealt with my OCD alone, and I was the only one that knew this was what I was suffering from, and the era after I was open about having OCD and when those close to me (and eventually acquaintances) knew about … The post My OCD Does Not Define Me appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

It is a paradox of sorts. I have extreme social anxiety, and I need to find a way to communicate this anxiety to those around me. Yet, I have anxiety about communication in general. It almost seems like a cosmic set-up: I need to take action to better my life, but that which I need … The post 5 Things I Wish Others Knew About My Social Anxiety appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

There is an entire industry devoted to trying to motivate you to do what you’re currently not doing. People are paid for what is literally called “motivational” speaking. Some of these people are successful in their own right, some successful just because they give motivational speeches. Motivation is an industry. The core of all help … The post You Don’t Need to Be Motivated appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

I have so much I want to say, but I don’t fully know how much energy I should be spending to say it. I’ll let you in on the battle I have every few days- and have been in this battle for years now writing this blog. I feel the need to publish an article … The post This Is Where I Go on About Taking a Break appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

It is part of the human condition to allow our perception of others’ perception to weigh in on how we present our mental health issues. That is a statement with a lot of weight to unpack. This is because when dealing with how the outside world perceives our disorders, we often work completely internally without … The post Don’t Self-Dismiss Your Mental Health Issues appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

It was the freest I’ve felt in years, almost a high—dopamine, endorphins, who knows. I try not to overthink these often fleeting feelings of, well, good. I spent the previous night in an OCD episode. Nothing was right, and I felt others were to blame. I have a very specific way I want my surroundings … The post Letting Things Be Wrong appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

One of my readers completely stumped me today with something I felt I should know the answer to easily. While I am not a therapist or a doctor, I am here to communicate with others about my struggles with OCD, some of which I’ve overcome. I certainly don’t have all the answers, and I am … The post OCD and Embracing Laziness appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

Here’s the thing. The truism that none of us will move beyond. There is no solution to OCD. It cannot be wiped away forever. It is not that type of disorder (which is the case with many mental disorders.) This is OK! It is not a sentence for a life wasted. It is not a … The post Moving Beyond OCD, Just Once appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more

Don’t let others shape the narrative. I’ve had a rocky relationship with the outside world. The world of—people, but ideas and movements as well—that exist outside my thoughts. At one point I was convinced I disliked every person, not me. At one point I realized I feared everyone for their reactions and me not fitting … The post This Is Your Struggle appeared first on Yeah OCD Blog ..read more