I’ve always had some form of OCD from when I was young, but it really started to show its teeth I’d say when I was about 18 years old. As Rob says, it really latches on to things you care about or fear the most. At 18 I remember I had started obsessing that if I don’t close a particular bathroom door in my house when studying, I would completely fail all my exams at university. At the time, university was the most important thing to me. Unfortunately, I did not know of Rob at that time so when I finished university, this obsession stopped once I stopped studying but I never learnt to properly recover.

My OCD got even worse when I got in a relationship some years later and I realised how much this person meant to me. I started fearing losing this relationship or doing something that would make me lose it (ROCD – Relationship OCD). I felt so trapped in my own head, anxious all the time, scared of these thoughts I was thinking that I utterly didn’t want to be thinking at all. One irrational, obsessive thought would pop in my head and it would literally make me freeze on the spot and ruin my day. I would spend days in my head ruminating or trying to obtain reassurance!

That’s what OCD does, unfortunately. I remember also trying to get reassurance on my thoughts from my friends and partner which made it so much worse. I had tried to go to a therapist near where I live but she had made me feel crazy for having this type of OCD and it made me feel even worse about myself.

One night I remember searching OCD-related content on Instagram and coming across Rob’s page. I started doing group sessions with Rob. I had my low points and my high points but after about a year of doing a group session per month I am so, so proud and happy to say that thanks to Rob and the work I put in, I have recovered completely and have never felt this kind of mental relief and acceptance before.

Some OCD thoughts here and there obviously do still enter but when they do, I no longer panic. I’ve learnt to accept the thoughts.