Age question

[PipM82]

Out of curiousity what age were you when OCD really started hitting hard? I know I had OCD in my early teens - issues with clicking my teeth in a methodical manner, sniffing my hands as I thought they were smelly and special numbers - but it got REALLY bad from 23 years old. TIA.

[Lauragbr]

I was 15 and it was 1970. No one knew what was wrong with me, my mother was so worried. I went to therapists, doctors, etc. Besides the anxiety I had many intrusive thoughts. Eventually it went away, but would come back during stressful times. Unfortunately as the years went on and symptoms would come and go I started to read more and suspected what I had was OCD. Unfortunately, during all those episodes I did all the things that made OCD stronger. Tried to stop the thoughts, neutralizing thoughts, etc. It wasn’t till 2006 I had a terrible relapse and got the right help. I got a psychiatrist who diagnosed me and prescribed meds and found an OCD therapist. Since then I have had only 2 relapses, one recent , but I have had years of feeling great with very few symptoms. I feel good for young people now because so much more is known about OCD. That’s my story.