A new member here!

[psychcoffee]

Hello, I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 16 which was three years ago and have been struggling with it until now. So far, I think it's safe for me to say that OCD has changed my life almost completely and that everything I do never seems to be good enough. However, I am still hanging on though! Although, I am starting college soon so I am insanely terrified of what may happen because of it.

[psychcoffee]

Woops. Sorry, I was diagnosed two years ago.

[OCDbooks]

Hi psychcoffee, I just joined this platform today so this is my first comment. Your post caught my eye though, because just a year and a half ago I was in your same shoes. I was diagnosed with OCD my sophomore year of high school, did CBT therapy, and then was really nervous that when I went off to college everything would get harder again. OCD is hard, and I get feeling like nothing you do is good enough, that’s one of the favorite lies OCD likes to tell me when it combines with my perfectionism. So I’ll tell you what it’s probably hard for you to tell yourself, I’m proud of you for hanging in there! Are you seeing a CBT therapist? One of the things I did with my therapist before heading off to college was make a game plan for how I would self-compassionately manage my OCD at school, and that was really helpful to me.

[psychcoffee in reply to OCDbooks]

Hello OCDbooks! I hope you're doing okay despite the virus and all and thank your kind words! They made me quite happy, hihi. To answer your question, I do see a therapist and we've tried CBT, however, I've had some setbacks while practicing it and it really impacted my progress so she decided to start Acceptance Therapy instead. I believe there's a proper term for it but I can't remember. (sorry!) Since she's also helping me with my depression and our session is usually just an hour long, I think I'll ask her to consider helping me with college. That may have to wait since my country is on a restricted movement period so her clinic isn't open. :/ If I may ask you this, has your game plan been helpful so far? It's okay if you don't feel comfortable talking about it though, I understand.

[anonymous_on_here in reply to psychcoffee]

Try ERP therapy if you haven't done it yet

I hope you feel better

[psychcoffee in reply to anonymous_on_here]

Yes, that's the term I was looking for!Thank you and you too!

[NovaOllie in reply to psychcoffee]

The term you were looking for is ACT not ERP. ACT is acceptance commitment therapy. ERP is Exposure Response Prevention. They are not the same therapy.

[OCDbooks in reply to psychcoffee]

ERP is great! I hope that you're doing well in the midst of this virus, where I live we are on restricted movement too. My game plan has been really helpful. My therapist and I came up with a schedule for me to do ERP, and also tried to think about in advance what OCD would pop up and come up with responses I could say. That being said, that does not mean I have not had some OCD flare ups – I think that often one of my greatest challenges with OCD is the expectation that I will always handle it perfectly, and that never happens – but I have had a wonderful time in college. I've enjoyed and engaged in my classes, made wonderful friends, and even met my first long-term boyfriend (which led to plenty of Relationship OCD, but I'm making it through!). Know that OCD will try to tell you you can't have a good college experience because of OCD, but you can. Still, create a support system for yourself at the college you are going to. Find out if there are any therapists there you can talk to if things get difficult, because while we can absolutely make it through, life happens. We need to be self-compassionate (I'm trying to practice that right now. This virus and being home all the time with little to do but think is leading to a flare up for me, so I'm meeting my therapist online today). OCD has at times been difficult at college, but one thing that helps me is remembering that everyone going to college has something going on we don't know about that will make their experience difficult at times. Know that plenty of people with OCD have gone to college before you and had wonderful experiences

[psychcoffee in reply to OCDbooks]

Whoa, this was super thorough and helpful! OCD so far has been quite challenging or frankly terrible for me but knowing there's people like you whom are going through the same thing and is still trying is a great motivation for me. I'm so happy to know that you're doing well in college and I hope your boyfriend is treating you well! I will do my best to keep your advice in mind and hopefully, I'd get through college just fine. Thank you so much for sharing this with me, you're so kind!

[OCDbooks in reply to psychcoffee]

I'm so happy I can help, I completely understand what you mean. OCD is really difficult, and it's so important that we all support each other and stand together, it's always meant a lot to me to hear other people's stories too. Good luck in school!!

[nkotbjoeymc]

Sorry to hear about this.

[NovaOllie]

Please contact your school disability office, if you haven't. Don't wait to see if you need help, do it now so you can get the accommodations you will likely need to get through. If you had an IEP in high school it would be similar.

[psychcoffee in reply to NovaOllie]

I didn't think they'd have that because that would be super helpful! Thank you so much! Stay safe, okay?

[NovaOllie in reply to psychcoffee]

It won't be called an IEP, but bring whatever documentation you have to your appointment with your school's disability services Dept to prove you are disabled by your OCD. They might give you a note taker, which is a person in each of your classes that can take notes for you if it is difficult for you to keep up. Extended testing times and quiet testing rooms are other things they may offer. Not all schools have really great disability services departments. Have you chosen a school yet?

[psychcoffee in reply to NovaOllie]

I have but unfortunately I don't think they'd accept OCD or any mental illness as a disability. Plus, it is a small campus with a small number of students. However, I will ask my lecturer to see if they do offer such services and if I am eligible to apply, I will. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me!

[NovaOllie in reply to psychcoffee]

If they have a disability services Dept they have to consider OCD as a disability. Mental illness is a recognized disability.

[psychcoffee in reply to NovaOllie]

Unfortunately, mental illness is not considered a disability in my country. Mental illness is still very highly stigmatised and proper help towards people with mental illness is not easily available here.

[Hidden]

I would like to welcome you to the OCD Support Network.

We are here to support and offer hope to each other.

We are in this together, by battling OCD.

My OCD was severe when I was in college, but I was on medication, and it helped me get my degree.

Thus, do not give up hope.

You are strong enough to deal with OCD and go to college.

I hope you can get some treatment for it.

I wish you all the best in life.

[psychcoffee in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much, desipurple19. I will do my best to support this community and I hope that you are doing great and the best for your life as well.