From Intrusive Thoughts to Freedom: My OCD Story

My journey with OCD started when I was just 8 years old. At first, it was small, subtle things, but as I moved through high school, my anxiety grew more severe. Intrusive thoughts, constant checking, and rituals began to dominate my life. I felt trapped in a cycle that seemed impossible to break, and I often wondered if anyone could truly understand what I was going through.

It wasn’t until I reached graduate school that I began to fully understand what OCD really is—and what it isn’t. Studying the myths versus the facts about OCD was eye-opening. I learned that it’s not about being “weird” or “weak,” and that many of the strategies I’d been using on my own were actually reinforcing the cycle of obsession and compulsion.

The turning point came when I started practicing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Facing my fears, rather than avoiding them, was terrifying at first—but slowly, it worked. I learned that freedom doesn’t come from eliminating thoughts, but from learning how to live with them without letting them control me.

Today, I can say that OCD no longer runs my life. It’s still there, but I’ve found tools, strategies, and hope that allow me to live fully. If I could make it through, I believe you can too. This blog is for anyone struggling with intrusive thoughts, scrupulosity, checking behaviors, or relationship OCD—because you are not alone, and there is a path toward freedom.