When I came to Rob just over a year ago I had very little understanding of what OCD was. I was adamant that I didn’t actually have OCD, and that I was just being misunderstood. I’d seen a plethora of therapists and counsellors in the past and had come to the conclusion that there was only so much that could be done, and that I’d have to just accept that I would live the rest of my life feeling anxious, depressed, and alone. After just one session with Rob my entire outlook shifted, and I started to realise that he completely understood everything I was going through, and that there was hope for recovery. Previously I’d been encouraged to talk about how I was feeling, but was never taught any skills to process and live with those emotions. It felt like I was just going round in circles, and becoming more cocooned in a bundle of problems. Since seeing Rob and Nick over the past year, I have gained a toolkit of skills to help me manage my OCD in a way I never thought was possible. Understanding the fundamentals of unconditional acceptance, doing exposures, and breaking down beliefs has allowed me to start living, despite having OCD. I never thought that possible before. I put off so many things over the past 5+ years, with the mindset of ‘I’ll do that when I’m better’. Nick and Rob have taught me that life doesn’t wait, and OCD doesn’t have to control your life, so long as you’re willing to work at it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a long road to get here and I still have a fair way to go, but thanks to OCD Recovery I have finally started to be able to live again, rather than just exist, and for that I will be forever grateful.