I was continuously worried about the little things, like making sure I finished my chores perfectly or that everything in my room was organized and tidy. Even when I finished a task without any mistakes, it seemed like I didn’t trust myself and had to double-check and redo them over again. It left me feeling exhausted and frustrated with myself because I felt like no matter how much effort I put in, it wasn’t good enough.
It wasn’t until a few years later when someone close to me suggested I might have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). After doing some research and talking to a professional, I confirmed it. The more I learned about OCD, the more relieved that I finally found an explanation for my behavior; It was comforting to know that this isn’t affecting just me but many people as well.
While it has been difficult managing my OCD symptoms, there are several helpful coping mechanisms that have allowed me to manage my worries better. Whenever those anxious thoughts start to pop up in my head, taking deep breaths helps soothes away the discomfort while allowing me to take time to reflect on the situation from a rational perspective. Talking through what’s bothering me with friends or family also helps if discussion doesn’t make me too anxious. Taking breaks when needed is also crucial; while having structure and organization is important in controlling anxiety, sometimes taking a break can be the best way of getting back control of things in your life instead of feeling overwhelmed all the time.
Finally having an understanding of why my brain behaves the way it does has made living with OCD more manageable than before. There are times where situations still overwhelm me - but low-and-behold those moments become increasingly few as each day passes by!