Hey, I’m Lee, and I’ve worked with OCD Recovery for 18 months now. My main themes have been health anxiety and sensorimotor OCD around dizziness and chronic fatigue.

During a huge setback around 12 months ago, it became apparent how much work I still needed to do. I started the belief work, read all the books, and began cutting compulsions and avoidance behaviours.

One of my biggest compulsions was around my chronic fatigue. I was constantly monitoring my energy levels, planning my weeks into “manageable” chunks, observing my body after exercise or new activities to see how it had “coped,” and generally avoiding pushing myself if I felt I was already at my limit or if my fatigue symptoms were bad.

With the guidance and encouragement of Momin, I started doing more. I took on a physical part-time job and began doing everything I had planned regardless of how exhausted I felt, and trust me, I felt exhausted a lot.

Momin’s main piece of advice was to take on a little more than felt comfortable. I’ll be honest, I completely doubted this approach and couldn’t see how it wouldn’t result in a major relapse and going back to square one. When my fatigue first kicked in, I was mostly bed-bound and only able to walk 5–10 minutes for about six months. I was really bad.

I pushed on with the advice, and it was really tough at times. I would go on long walks feeling completely shattered, like I could pass out at any moment, or go to work after no sleep thinking, “How will I make it through today?” But I did make it through, and actually the next day I would wake up and feel okay, sometimes even with more energy. After a couple of months of “not breaking,” I started to gain confidence, and this began to snowball.

Twelve months on, I’m working more than I have in five years. I work out more regularly, socialising doesn’t drain my battery completely like it used to, and I can concentrate for longer periods of time. Overall, I just feel more like me and more switched on. Some days I go to the gym, go for a walk, and play sport, something I thought was impossible and that I’d never do again.

I still have things to work on with my OCD, but the huge improvement I’ve seen in my chronic fatigue has given me the confidence to face all of my symptoms and themes head-on and work towards full recovery.

Thanks so much, Momin and the team!