New Resources for Living with OCD

[MeghanIOCDF]

Hi Everyone! We at the IOCDF are looking to add more content to our website about living with/managing OCD in every day life. We have just added a new section to our website and are looking to continue to add valuable content. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see covered, please feel free to reply here. View our current living with OCD content at iocdf.org/living-with-ocd/.

[mom3ocd]

I have struggled to find treatment in my state for the past 15 years. Any success I have had has been going out of state to treatment programs. While those programs have been very helpful to me, without proper maintenance therapy available in my state, I continue to have relapses and then have to go back into treatment.

2 things I think would be useful topics:

1) How to convince your insurance to allow you to get coverage out of your insurance network when resources are unavailable. I have shared how I have done this with other sufferers who had no idea how to navigate through the insurance and felt helpless.

2) What to do to find proper treatment. Where to go if nothing is available near you. Perhaps suggestions for online therapists or peer support professionals. Why talk therapy will only prolong your symptoms.

[mom3ocd in reply to mom3ocd]

I do see you mention single case agreement, but perhaps you could go into further detail on how this works. For me, I have spent well over a year each time I have needed treatment convincing the insurance to cover it. Most residential programs start at around $20 - $30k, and I for one, don't just have that readily available. Maybe discuss appeals and how to not give up when it feels like you are getting no where. Always ask for a case manager at your insurance company. Someone to help you through the process from the inside.

[MeghanIOCDF in reply to mom3ocd]

Hi Mom3ocd, we do have an article that discusses How to Access and Understand Your Mental Health Benefits and Obtain Referrals here, iocdf.org/expert-opinions/e.... Please let me know if you find this information helpful.

[Tikirob in reply to mom3ocd]

Hey Mom3ocd! I had the same problems and on multiple occasions asked International to act as a patient advocate which they said that they would not. I also inquired about receiving support to bring a residential OCD program to NYS which they told me the numbers don’t support and I think they were not being honest. The Tri state area has tens of millions of people’s, 4 leading research OCD hospitals, and

I am sure there is a 6 month waiting list at Mcclean for a reason. If one percent is estimated to have OCD than out of 20 million people you would have 200,000 OCD sufferers and all you would need is one percent of those to be severe justify a residential OCD in NY state. I tried for 3 years as I was bullied out of my job to get support and into programs that never adequately treated my disorder. International OCD was not helpful.