Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common mental health disorder in which a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. These obsessions are intrusive and unwanted and therefore trigger intensely ditressing feelings which can significantly impact a persons quality of life.Quite often sufferers of OCD are portrayed in the media as individuals who fear germs and clean excessively, however this is only one manisfestation of OCD.OCD can trick people into thinking they are a person who is polar opposite to them e.g. a paedophile, a psychopath, a bad parent. Hence these intrusive thoughts or images are unbearable for OCD suffers which can destroy their confidence and make them believe they are someone they are not. As a cognitive behavioural therapist I get to help these courageous individuals who are affected by this mental health disorder who are willing to face their fears and stand up to OCD.One of my clients Mark, who has found CBT very effective for treating his OCD. He informed me that when he was sufferring in silence for many years, he would have benefitted a great deal from hearing from someone who regained a quality of life after OCD. Mark believes this would have instilled the hope he needed to challenge the OCD alot sooner.Consequently one of Marks goals in therapy was to help others who are suffering from OCD .Therefore Mark has written a letter giving his understanding of OCD and what has helped him manage his OCD to embrace life once again.This is Mark's Story:I have and always will have OCD. I have been to the darkest and most horrendous places in my mind that left me wondering if I was the worst ever Father and husband in the world.I can promise you that I know just how the anxiety that comes with our condition can beat you into submission and leave you in a world of the most excruciating pain that I never thought was possible.I have been on my knees in tears screaming in frustration. I have washed my clothes every day because of the fear of contaminating my family at a temperature of 90 degrees.I have bleached the inside of my car and washed my hands so much that my skin has cracked and would bleed.I have wasted the doctor's time by seeking reassurance and I have asked my wife so many OCD related questions that my 5 year old daughter started to scan for contamination and would tell me that it was ok.I have probably always had OCD. I can remember being a worried child and I had ticks which embarrassed me in primary school.I was in the Army when I really started to suffer and OCD ultimately caused me to be medically discharged after 16 years and prematurely ending what was once a promising career.But I always said that I wish that when I was in my world of pain which was almost 4 years ago that if someone who had recovered from our condition would have written me a letter to explain that there is a life after OCD it would have made me fight it sooner.This is my goal writing this. Whoever is reading this I promise you that you can take your life back. I promise you that you can enjoy life without the brutal anxiety and constraints that OCD shackles you with.I will probably never meet you or know what your OCD is but it is all the same condition just a different title.I will say though to get better you need to expect that you will be in the biggest fight of your life.Don’t underestimate the will power and sheer courage that you will need to invest to finally be successful. But I promise you it WILL be worth it.The path to a life beyond OCD will be horrible but you can do it. And with most OCD sufferers you always want proof. Use me as your proof. I am better and you will be to. I am not a mental health professional and I have experienced many so called professionals who are next to useless when it comes to treating OCD but I have overcome the worst of the condition and you can to.My hard won tips which helped me are below.

Find a great CBT therapist. ONLY use a therapist that is qualified in CBT. If you are at Silver Linings then you have made the right decision.
Find a therapist that will push you to your limits when treating you. If your therapist just gives you the reassurance that you crave you are with the wrong person.
Listen and do the work that you are set. No matter how hard it is just do it. It may be awful at the time but it is worth it. Trust me.
Stop using Google. Google just feeds the OCD. Once the seed of doubt has been planted and your OCD has started to grow then using google will feed the monster until it is out of control.
Do the opposite of what the OCD is telling you to do. OCD is paradoxical. It's a bloody liar. It will make you see and believe things that are not there. You will see threats that do not exist. Do what it doesn't want you to do and watch as it dies. Because it will.
Fight everyday. Even today as I write this I have been stung by the OCD anxiety spike.
Be strong and believe in yourself. You are stronger than you think. You are bigger than OCD.
In the Army we are taught to know your enemy. OCD is our enemy. Take the time to learn about our condition. Build an armoury of weapons in your mind that you can use to destroy the anxiety.
Always be prepared. I can assure you that OCD does not like to be beaten. It will fight for survival but the more you fight back the stronger you will become and the easier it will be to hit back hard.
Be kind to yourself. It's ok to cry. It's ok to feel low. It's ok to need a hug. It's ok to ask for help.
Have faith and take the first step.

I believe in you and you can do it.Mark

The Battle Of OCD

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