By Paul Illidge I must. How many times a day do I hear that question in my head, always answering the same way in my subconscious, if not to myself out loud: I must! The musts dominate my life, as they do the lives of the millions of people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder which, according to the American Psychiatric Association, has become “One of the leading mental health issues of our time”. What is OCD, as it’s called in the Diagnostic […]
Liv shares her story of starting her mental health journey as a pre-teen and living with an eating disorder then anxiety then depression and now OCD. She knows that enduring mental illness is not dirty or shameful.
Over 1 year, Renée’s mom died, she came out as queer, lost her job, and started deconstructing her faith. She became overwhelmed with depression and obsessed with life events. It would take hearing a comedian for her to finally understand what was going on.
Zac first experienced a panic attack when he was a teenager. But upon reflection in adulthood, he realized his mental issues began with OCD as a child. After struggling with both, he found ways to recover.
Kathryn’s mind is always trying to find answers to questions about her identity; the main questions being 1) Is my relationship right for me? and 2) Am I gay? This leads her to a diagnosis of ROCD (Relationship OCD) and HOCD (Homosexual OCD).
Robert was suicidal as he struggled with stress and betrayal. He knew he needed immediate help. He was forced to wait months, left to cope on his own and fighting for his need for therapy.
I haven’t felt I was worthy enough sharing the darker sides of my OCD (namely the effect it has on me) and the fact that since my last article, I haven’t gotten any better. As my OCD takes a much tighter hold on me, though, I find the need to be honest—honest about my frustration and my pain, so you can be honest about yours. One of the most powerful things for me is the solace found in knowing you have allies when you feel lost and helpless—when you feel out of control.
~ Shana Herron