My mild ocd story

My mild OCD story might not be as severe as some, but it still has a huge effect on my life. I’ve had obsessive-compulsive tendencies since high school, but it was easy to manage at that time. Only recently have I noticed that my compulsions are taking over more of my life and causing me distress.

It started with just wanting everything to be neat and tidy. Whether I’m cleaning the house or organizing items in my purse, if it’s not done properly and symmetrically, I can’t stop obsessing over it. Even now if something isn’t “just right” I will keep adjusting until it meets my own standards of perfection.

Another obsession of mine is constantly washing my hands every few minutes when I’m out and about. It doesn’t matter how many times I wash them, it just feels like they’re never really clean no matter what kind of soap I use or for however long I lather up for!

One thing that has been particularly difficult for me is dealing with the idea of germs or unknown contaminants in places that are considered public and therefore full of bacteria. Things like door handles or seats on public transportation feel impossible to touch without feeling overwhelmed by a sense of contamination and distress. To make matters worse, this fear has extended to anything touched by strangers; even something as simple as loan money from someone else can give me anxiety due to potential cooties they may possess!

I wish there was an easy solution to managing these irrational fears so that my life could go back to being normal again, but unfortunately living with OCD means learning to live with anxiety each day and trying your best to fight against any irrational thoughts or compulsions that arise.

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Hey there,

It sounds like you’re going through a really challenging time right now, and I’m sorry to hear that. It can be incredibly difficult to manage OCD symptoms, even when they don’t seem like something severe. The need for perfectionism and the worries of contamination can take a toll on us emotionally and make it hard to live life normally.

I think it’s great that you’re aware of your struggles and have noticed how they are beginning to impact your life. Taking that first step is really important! Have you thought about reaching out to a trusted friend or family member about what you’re feeling? Talking it out can help put things into perspective and let you know that you’re not alone. It also helps build mental strength to try not to give in to the compulsions when they arise too much.

It might also be helpful to look into some different coping techniques for anxiety or fear - exercises such as deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, journaling or creative outlets can all help reduce stress levels in moments of distress. You could look into books, podcasts or online forums too - some might even be specific for people with OCD so that would be worth exploring if you haven’t done so already.

No matter what