I’m 38 years old. I was diagnosed several years ago, but can now see how OCD was showing up in my life as early as middle school.
Only this year did I finally seek therapy. I tried erp myself for a couple years. I researched and watched every video and read every article I could find. I quit my meds and tried all recommended supplements. Finally I threw in the towel and went back on meds and got therapy.
The cure:
Stop searching for a cure. Much like the person confined in a wheel chair must at some point accept their lot - so must we. And just like them, once we decide to go ahead and live, the reminders of our suffering will lessen. But, there is no short cut. There is no magic exposure, and no magic pill. It’s a combination of medicine, time, therapy and acceptance that eventually leads to peace. And peace isn’t the absence of anxiety. Peace is the state of being that says, “yeah I might be anxious today, and I might be more anxious tomorrow, but I’m gonna keep going anyway.” Eventually through this mentality, freedom is found.
If you’re reading this and you just felt a wave of relief and peace, then you’re only experiencing the temporary relief of the reassurance compulsion that led you here. Your anxiety will come back in 10 or 15 min. Decide now you don’t need to read this again. You don’t need to “do” anything. Go live . The fear is an illusion, and it will never totally go away…… but that’s ok, and deep down you know that.