Writing About OCD

[bk_writer_180]

Hey! Are there people on here who write poetry or stories? I'd like to know if any of you have written pieces on your OCD. I'd like to know what it was like for you to write a piece about OCD.

[Luna-blade]

Hi. Hope you’re well. I have written about my ocd during times of crisis but then I would delete them right away not wanting to recall those extremely dark moments. Been suffering since birth from pure ocd and still. Imagine when you have to work 8hrs a day without others knowing what you suffer from on the inside. It’s a real challenge but despite this, I’m working on my phd in linguistics and I’m a writer myself. Others around you tend not to notice that you’re suffering as you struggle to work with a team under pressure and with narrow deadlines. Despite this, I succeeded to prove my competence as I’m new to this company. However, what deeply hurts is that I suffered immensely during that period, went and still going under pressure, had deadly panick attacks, but God is always with me!

[bk_writer_180 in reply to Luna-blade]

Yes He is! It's great to see that you powered through the OCD. You are strong!

[Luna-blade in reply to bk_writer_180]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[Mlk307 in reply to Luna-blade]

not recalling dark moments of your OCD, will follow you all the time. the monster knows that you are afraid, then he wins. I almost lost my PhD in Physics 20 years ago if I gave up. writing your moments of crisis is the healing process by itself. under the pressure ? it is the best time. when you opponent is in the boxing ring that you can hit him not when it is waiting inside the room. I am still suffering, I certainly lost so many things but it could be worst. write and do any thing to fight against this bullying monster.

[Luna-blade in reply to Mlk307]

Thank you for your reply. Speaking things out or writing them is for sure a relief but in my case, it would not contribute to healing just a temporary one. I suffer from the most intense type of OCD; the one that gives you not regular panick attacks but nervous breakdowns, where one idea sticks to my mind and frightens me to the extent I almost lose my senses. During that horrific episode, I have to take lexotanil or other benzos, wait for their effect to kick in, while trembling and trying to shift my focus and control myself. I have suffered from these since I was 13 years old despite the medication I am on. I’m on three meds plus biogram for urgent cases. I am kind of stable on the meds but not secure. Never felt secure or happy or relaxed throughout my whole life due to my condition and due to stressful conditions at home. I do not mean to undermine anyone’s condition but even psychiatrists that I consulted categorized my ocd as being very intense. The only relief I feel is when I talk about my condition to someone who understands it like this forum. The other relief is when I cry which I do frequently upon thinking of my condition which deprived me from marriage, commitment, and a regular life. Thank you again for your reply and I’m available to anyone who would like to share their stories with me.

[Sallyskins]

I certainly do write, but not usually about my OCD, simply because I can think of so many other things to write about. Prose only - if I attempted poetry it would be best left in a drawer!

But it can be therapeutic to write, whether you write about OCD or something else - there is a really helpful book called Writing as a Way of Healing by Louise DeSalvo.

[bk_writer_180 in reply to Sallyskins]

I write poetry, haha. I was a little hesitant to write about my OCD at first because I was in denial about my diagnosis and felt like I wasn't like in the place to write on that subject. Now I accept my diagnosis and wrote a few poems.

[Sallyskins in reply to bk_writer_180]

That's great. Keep on writing. I love poetry and read a lot of it, though I stick to prose in my own writing.

It can be a good way to process your thoughts and feelings.

[overthinkingalways]

Hey! I write all the time.....I practically have a whole book on my life. I am going to keep writing and at some point I actually want to find an editor and try to publish it.

[bk_writer_180 in reply to overthinkingalways]

Same here! I want to publish a book in the near future.

[letitgo75]

I have not written about OCD, but I do write short fiction and poetry and I love the idea about writing about OCD. I’m currently reading a young adult novel about a character who has OCD. It’s Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. The author has OCD and it was therapeutic for him to write about it. The book depicts in a very moving and very realistic way the intrusive thoughts the character had and how they hijack her attention! I highly recommend!!

[bk_writer_180 in reply to letitgo75]

Thanks! I'll check that book out!

[Hidden]

Hi bkReally loved your post because I believe that one of the key elements to reduce some of the OCD episodes is to try and divert thought patens and disrupt intensity of the obsession. This can take place in many forms, and writing is with out a doubt one of them. Another is learn to play an instrument or a creative craft. Studies have proven evidence that music and creative arts stimulate the brain and increases higher function brain activity.

Just a thought bk have you considered forming a writers group for OCD or this community? You seem to have a good following of replies and some talented people in comments. If you do please keep in touch.

Thank you Tony

[bk_writer_180 in reply to Hidden]

That would be a great idea! Although I'm a bit shy. I'm not sure how I would go about forming a group, haha.

[Mcfly64]

Hi. It’s funny because I was just thinking about this exact subject today. I used to write poetry many years ago about my thoughts and feelings before I was diagnosed with OCD and I was wondering about whether I should start again. More writing now about my feelings and emotions but I’m a bit hesitant at the moment.

[bk_writer_180 in reply to Mcfly64]

I encourage you to give it a try! I wrote a few poems about my OCD last week and it was therapeutic for me!

[Mcfly64 in reply to bk_writer_180]

I’ll see how I go. Thanks

[Hidden]

Wow great positive response to this post. Got you thinking McFly it can go where ever you want it to if you want it to. bk to take a risk and inspire others its, human that's why we are all here today without our predecessors taking chances we might not be who we are. Just think about doing something that you can leave behind or others can take away. Perhaps even inspire them. leave a legacy shyness is confidence in disguise so Elvis says. Sallyskins , Luna, MLK, overthinker and letitgo great responses to the post get your heads together make something happen. The hardest part is making a start to commitment. Remember you have OCD be obsessive in a good way.In my thoughts Tony

[bk_writer_180 in reply to Hidden]

Hm, I think for starters I'll post writing prompts. That's if it's not being done yet, if it is I'll have to think of something else!

[Hidden]

Ya Make a start bk It don't matter if its slow to begin with. To build something always takes time and planning. I like the bit where you say "I'll have to try something else" that's positive thinking Love it. I'm going to take a wild guess that you like perfection or a least, if you are going to do something, you like to put in maximum effort. Might be a wrong assessment of you but you are a thinker and like to give 100% effort in what you do.May I suggest to start you campaign make contact to the posts of the people that already shared vison. Try to get them on board they seem creative people. please don't give up this is a great idea.Look after your self.

Tony

[mrmonk]

Hello bk_writer_180,

I read and write poems, and though I haven't yet written explicitly about how OCD informs my daily living, I have written a few poems that touch on some of the feelings I've experienced coping with mental illness more broadly.

In addition to phobias, I have health anxiety, which seems to work in tandem with OCD to monopolize my thoughts and behaviors, especially in the past several years.

I wrote a poem once during or shortly after a bout of intense health anxiety, which is unusual for me to do because I typically need to be at a remove from a feeling before I can try to capture it. But this time, the lines came without much work or revision (also unusual for me); consequently, there's an urgency and desperation to the poem that takes me right back to the moment of that feeling whenever I read it.

I have heard read a couple of poems involving OCD that I thought were quite good. The one that immediately comes to mind is "OCD" by Neil Hilborn, his recitation available on YouTube -- the performance element of the poem enhances the embodiment of an obsessive-compulsive mind in action.

If there are other OCD-centric poems that you or anyone else reading this thread can recommend, I'd love to hear about them.