Good morning, my friends! This week is International OCD Awareness Week. OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. According to The International OCD Foundation, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions [1]. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress.
That is what OCD is. What it isn't is funny, quirky, or silly. It isn't being neat, organized, or clean. OCD is not fun. It is horrible. It seeps into every aspect of your life, especially when you let your guard down for even a second. OCD is real. It sucks. But it can be managed. I promise. I have written about my OCD struggle here several times over the years. I am sharing those posts again for anyone interested. The one thing I want anyone reading to know about OCD is this: You are not alone. You are not alone when you are lying in your bed, dreading the day before you because intrusive thoughts are swirling in your brain. You are not alone when you try as hard as you can to resist checking one more time. And when you see others living with what appears to be not a care in the world, and you cannot understand how they are not ruminating on an obsession, you are not alone.
Thank you for supporting me, my friends. Sharing a mental health issue is not easy. Keeping it to yourself is much more difficult. If sharing helps one single person, however, it is worth it. Thank you for supporting me, my friends. Have a cozy day.
Billie Jo
Thank you for writing about OCD. It helps others when we discuss it openly. It is time!
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration to all! You have created a safe space for to openly discuss mental health. Great post 🤍
ReplyDeleteThis is very good of you, Billie Jo, to share your experiences with people who might be suffering from the same thing. I'm glad that you have yours under control. Have a blessed day, my brave and beautiful blog friend.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you for always being so open about your experience with this. Hope you are having a great week!
ReplyDeleteI feel honored to call you Friend Billie Jo. Thank you for sharing so much of your life and bringing to light what you have dealt with in order to help others. You have such a beautiful open heart and a brave soul. You are seen and supported beautiful, empowering, kind, caring Friend. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Billie Jo - you are a strong woman and you inspire many of us who also have struggles. Thank you for sharing. I am so glad to call you my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your struggles so openly. I'm glad you are doing well!
ReplyDeleteAn inspired post...thank you for sharing your story and helping your readers. So often my brain feels noisy: worried about the past, present, and future. It's hard to just turn it off - often it's a 3 a.m. chatter that doesn't have anything good to say that will help me. Now I'm really learning to pull the plug and just tell myself "shhh..." to all that noise. yes, easier said than done, but it's a start. Sending wishes for a cozy, enjoyable week. Mary
ReplyDeleteThank you for always being so open and honest. I appreciate learning more about this and I am so very thankful that you have been able to get help and that your beautiful family is so supportive.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. I am going to share this link with my Niece. OCD is real and it sucks. Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way my friend.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. As a person with mild OCD (recently diagnosed) it has been hard to adjust. You're right, it can be managed, but the daily struggle is real.
ReplyDeleteYour honestly is an inspiration and is helping so many others battling the same thing. Thank you for sharing your story with us. You are not alone! Love you love you!!! xo
ReplyDeleteI really do appreciate your honesty and all of the research you do to share with us. We all have different issues. A lot of people wonder how I can walk in the woods by myself and not be afraid....and don't know that driving over there is more scary to me. Take care and thank you so much for being you. We love you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this information. I know it will be beneficial to someone who might be struggling with this. I’m sorry you have to struggle with this. I’ve certainly learned a great deal by reading the links you’ve posted. Take care and know you are supported.
ReplyDeleteThank you for more about OCD. I am sure it isn't the best ot have but thankful you are able to live through it. i remember when I had a slight concussion when I fell in 2020. At times I forgot what to say or pronounce some words. I am finally walking as normal times before the fall. I still have issues with walking on uneven ground. God bless and stay safe, my friend!
ReplyDeleteWow, BJ! You hit the nail on the head - dreading those %#$*&! intrusive thoughts is the worst! I didn’t know what OCD was til I was 35 and that what I had suffered from for all those years was “a thing”…and that I wasn’t the only one!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for putting this out there. I seem to always need the reminder that I’m not alone. God help us all.
P.s. sometimes my meds help, sometimes they don’t.
Mary
p.s. BillieJo, I hope you don’t mind that I linked this post on my Facebook page…it’s so good.
ReplyDeleteMary
I, too, suffer with OCD. Thank you for spreading awareness as to what it’s really like having it, and know we are here for you when you’re struggling!
ReplyDelete