Thank you.

A while after I left the comment, I realized that maybe the reason why I feel so compelled to make a bracha over food over and over is because of my OCD!

Hi Nancy Grace, thank you so much for your kind words. It keeps me going when I hear that it’s actually had a positive effect. So thanks again for your kind comment! There is a biological component to mental illness that we need to acknowledge – medicine can help anything else so why not this? While I have managed to work things out through CBT and without medication (I tend to have exaggerated side effects so I avoid it as much as I can) we need to start thinking of this as taking medication as we would any mental illness. The same way there is no shame in getting physical therapy, why should there be shame in any other kind? It’s a big, bold move, and we need to own it, right?

Hi Beth, it can be scary to search for the right professional, but their job is to take you seriously! I was so afraid for so long to reach out. Find one that has a personality that you can feel at ease with and then understand that mental health professionals are the ones who truly know what goes on. They’re the ones who WILL take you seriously – they have specific tests to determine and diagnose with.

HI Rachel, I’ve read some articles on how some of these mental health challenges go hand in hand. Thanks for your kind words! I agree that personal challenges can breed kindness and empathy… but it takes strength of character to bring out that outcome!

Hi Jill, those resonated strongly with me as well! I hope you are getting the help that you need and thank you for your kind words.

HI Amanda, thank you for speaking out! I am happy you’ll be seeking help!

This sentence has more power than most can imagine! As a sufferer of OCD, I could describe nearly my entire personality with those words, doubt and guilt. About everything! While I also pride myself on the few positive traits that tag along, such as empathy and deep consideration, they are the double edged sword that is OCD and often the very source of my worries. I obsess over the thoughts, opinions, and feelings of others to the point that I have none of my own. I’m so deeply wrapped up in how to accommodate everyone else that my anxiety and inevitable depression take a massive toll on my well being… along with everyone else’s around me. So who wins?? No one. I have caught myself countless times feeding the popular misconceptions of OCD and other disorders to those I just assume won’t understand the deeper issues. I’m easily mentally exhausted from even the simplest tasks, so the mere thought of trying to delve into any further explanations that I don’t see being understood is just too overwhelming. My reply to questions about superficial preferences usually ends up being ‘yeah, uh huh.’ That certainly does no one any favors, but instead fuels the fire of those who refer to it as ‘I’m so OCD about…’. I could ramble on and on but just wanted to show my appreciation for the true and very real info in this article. Well wishes to you all!