Hello, my name is Richard I am 25 years old and I've lived with severe OCD my entire life. I have always called the things I would do, habits, like a bad habit. At one point I felt like I didn't know who I was anymore because of how consumed I was, but I always knew someway somehow I was going to get through it. I can confidently say I have beaten my OCD. Not that it doesn't affect me anymore but I can live the life of my dreams now, and be the man I've always dreamed of being. I've also lived with a severe non verbal learning disability my entire life and I have been doubted every step of the way. I always kept these two things a secret and when you do that you close yourself off from people and the world and I have finally freed myself from that and it feels incredible. My whole world is starting to open up. I have realized I want to dedicate my life to helping people with OCD and learning disabilities. You can talk to me here or send me a friend request on facebook. My name is Richard Conover and I live in Boston!
Just trying to make a difference. - My OCD Community
Just trying to make a difference.
Bravo! Cheers to you! I too am choosing to rededicate my life to helping others with OCD, and my daughter has a learning disability so I am also very passionate about that. Shooting you a friend request in Facebook now and looking forward to getting to know you more. Keep up the great work and be well! Cheers!
Haha I love your username. That’s perfect.
Thanks much! It’s the title of the advocacy and blog I’m starting to help spread awareness... I’m very ferocious with trying to de stigmatize and help... let me know what you think! Cheers.
That is a HUGE accomplishment. Congrats! I am going back to school in the spring to hopefully help others like myself. I also have suffered from OCD my entire life. It definitely affects all aspects of my life which makes things very difficult. I am a work in progress and I am continuing to work on myself and having better control of my OCD. I hope as you venture out on this new journey, you are greeted with love, acceptance, compassion, and happiness.
Thank you! Right now I'm trying to reach out to as many people as I can. I just want to meet people that are just like me because for a while I didn't know if I ever would get that chance.
And that is amazing. And I’m glad the OCD foundation set this up!
wow! you are awesome. Same here with myself in a lot of ways, I can definitely relate. I to also have OCD and have a learning disability as well. I am going to send you a friend request and feel free to talk anytime you need to. Keep up the great work
Thank you!
Wow thanks for your post! I really feel like I can relate. I was recently diagnosed, and I was so shocked that I had OCD. it was probably the last health condition I thought I would ever have, honestly. It was such a relief to be diagnosed because I had been suffering with severe ocd my whole life. I’m in my early 20s as well. Ocd can be a nasty beast, for sure. Starting treatment and medications changed my life. I don’t really know who I am without my ocd. Grateful to have a community to talk with. Sending lots of positivity your way!
From the people that I'm hearing from it seems like a lot have gotten diagnosed later in their life. I was lucky to have gotten diagnosed at 8 years old so I could just start learning about myself right away. There are just so many different stories to learn from and connect with. Sending all the success you're way too!
I also have severe OCD and Asperger's, which is kind of a non-verbal learning disorder in a way. How did you beat your OCD may I ask? And thanks for sharing and for your message of hope!
It's all about the mindset that you cultivate. I have always called the things I do habits, you know like a bad habit. I have had thousands of habits big and small over the course of the life I have lived so far. At one point in my life, I couldn't walk anymore. I couldn't talk anymore and at one point it was even hard to go outside because if the outside air touched my skin I would have to take an hour and a half shower scrubbing my body clean the entire time to the point where I would then get out and at times faint because of how tired I was. When I first started to realize that my life wasn't going to be all that simple with my OCD in life and my non verbal learning disability going to school. I saw how difficult my life was going to be. Would I ever be able to just walk down the street and not have to walk back and forth like a madman because of my OCD for minutes at a time? would I ever get the chance to succeed in life, get a good paying job because I never was going to be let into college because I have a learning disability? When you feel like you got thrown in jail for something you never did and the keys are thrown away it makes you want to get out that much more right? So what I did was create a vision of who I wanted to be when I finally got the chance to not be affected by my OCD, My non verbal learning disability and anxiety anymore. One day getting the chance to walk with a purpose, talk with a purpose. Park my beautiful BMW on the street and get out wearing the nicest suit and watch money can buy. (Still working on that part though) Haha! Anyway, When I would get stuck in my habits I would let myself feel every emotion I was going through because for example when I was in the midst of cleaning myself with those showers. There was a moment where I thought this might be it for me. How do I ever get past this one? When you are in those moments it makes you ask yourself, How did I let it get this bad? What happened? This is when the critical thinking starts to take place. You realize you don't want to be doing this anymore. People with OCD are natural survivors right? OCD is teaching you how to survive. So, I realized I had to do something to stop taking such brutally long and painful showers. I said to myself, ok, I am going to cut 2 full minutes off of my shower down to 1 hour and 28 minutes. At first it might not work. But you keep trying, it might not work until the 5th try but then, BOOM! You did it and it feels so fucking Good! The thing about failure is when you think you fail it makes you want success that much more. It gives you a hunger for it. Then when you succeed it makes you want success that much more. In turn, it gives you even more hunger to succeed. So now you want to cut 3 more minutes off of your showering down to 1 hour and 25 minutes. Again it might not happen the first try but you keep at it and BOOM! it happens! I now can go outside and let the air hit my skin, I can roll around in the mud if I so choose. (I'm not going to volunteer but if it happens, hey shit happens! Haha! My showers now only take me about 20 minutes each time no matter how dirty I get. This is just one example of how to beat any habit that you have! What the mind can conceive it can achieve!
Wow thats great, i am also 25 years old suffering from OCD also i have problems
I would love to be friends with you!
Thank you so much! Read the post above replying to ImI885, I think it could help!
Let's be friends!
Hello and welcome. You are a good person with a generous heart much needed in the world today.
Thank you! All I've ever wanted to be is just someone who succeeds and helps out when he can!
I’m so happy to hear that you are well. May all of your dreams come true. God bless!
Thank you. Your dreams can come true too!
Hi
Congratulations!
Could you share with me email address i would like to ask you some details. Im still fighting and looks that it still long way to go.
Your support will be highly appreciated Maybe i will find somensimilarities to fight,
Thank you in advance
Thanks!
What are some things that helped you and what advice would you give anyone else suffering from ocd thank you
If you haven't read the reply to ImI885, I describe a bit about it there. When I was on medication for my OCD it did take the edge off but it is definitely not a cure. There isn't a cure unfortunately but, I think the most important thing you can do is if you have not done it yet, create a vision of who you want to be when your OCD doesn't affect you anymore. No matter how hard it gets that vision will lead you to keep fighting. When you think you can't go any further that vision of future you doing whatever you want in this world will remind you, that you have something to fight for. So no matter your age create that vision and let it fuel you. It's all about the mindset that you cultivate. If you have any more questions feel free to ask away!
Just read that im so happy for you ! Instartef having intrusive thoughts about 4months ago it makes me feel like a monster like im danger like i cant trust myself at times and makes me doubt evrything i really have tonaccept that there is no cure 😢 and also heard fighting againt the thoughts and what ifs are no good i love in google and groups in the internet getting reassurance making sure i am not going insane it feels terrible all i wnat is to live a normal enjoyable life and be the best mom i can be to my amazing boys but everyday i live in feat and doubt as much as i wanna give up i cant and i wont 😭thank you so much for your reply
Your OCD is not you. You have two brains, one is your brain and the other is your OCD. You are not a monster. That is your OCD telling that you are but you are not! If you have kids, focus on them because they will give you the strength that you need to continue your fight!
Thank you so much!
Never give up!You are special! May God be with you and your family.
Thank you so much i needed this😔 god bless you too❤️
Richcon,
I have fear of my Body Fluids getting in contact with other persons specially like my family.
I just feel like that's not right in a sexual way!, YES its "Pure O"
Any tips on that because that's the biggest hurdle i am facing with OCD right now!
May I ask has that happened before? If you don't want to answer that here you can private message me. I had somewhat of the same thoughts once but instead of family, it was just me. I had a very hard time letting it touch me which, is obviously kinda hard when it comes out of you. Those thoughts are very difficult ones. You are already on the right path if you don't want to live like that anymore. What is the thought process behind it all if it does happen?
yes! that's happened before, i constantly have fear of that and don't let anyone touch me!
The strategy that worked for me was exposing myself to it. The thing is that exposure is the very thing that is in the way. So it's very difficult because of it. The first step I would take is to tell a family member about it who maybe doesn't know about it but you know would not judge you. In this situation, your OCD is telling you that something is wrong but at the same time is not. Body fluids and human beings are just a part of life. Always talk back to your OCD. If your OCD tells you one thing, say the other. Just doing that is building a resistance.
Good for you in trying to help people!
I agree. I hope to speak about the OCD also. This is refeshing to hear you say this. The best to you!
Hi Richard, I was wondering how you are reaching out to help others with OCD. I'm thinking about starting a support group for people with OCD in my local area. Do you have any other ideas, like maybe public speaking. I want to do that too. Do you have any ideas on what type of audiences might be appropriate. Thank you for any help. Keep up the great work you're doing.
I'm trying to reach out in any way I can right now. I'm trying to meet other people with OCD and hear their stories. I want to someday write a book. I'd love to go on a podcast and talk about these things, maybe even have a podcast of my own one day. I'm just trying to start these conversations any way I can. I can't hold back anymore because there are just so many people that don't know about things like OCD and learning disabilities. Then for the people that have them, I can tell my story and help them to succeed in the best way I know how. I just started a blog too. Yeah, I have a lot of ideas and I'm just starting to take action on them.
Thank you. You have a lot of great ideas. I was thinking of talking to organizations about OCD so people can be more understanding (although some are). Maybe Chamber of Commerce has organizations or the library that can be contacted. Mental Health organizations too. I have this idea about a book too. I hope you tell me how you are doing with your plans. Sounds great.
That is great! keep at it! We can keep in contact through facebook. I know people don't like facebook these days but that is how I keep in contact with other people. I'm going to do the best I can at telling my story in order to start more understanding conversations in order to help myself and other people who have gone through the same things.
Is it possible for you to keep in contact through e-mail? I get too upset looking at facebook, so I really don't use it much. My e-mail address is catsas@peoplepc.com If e-mail is too difficult, please let me know. If not, I'll see if you send an e-mail. Thank you.
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