Recently, I drove past the mental hospital where I spent months as a 14 year old. I had to stop and take a moment to reflect.
At the time, I’d been admitted following a severe self-harm. I was highly anxious and angry, often losing privileges, and on one occasion I was even restrained in a straight jacket and isolated. Whilst there, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Like many of us, my OCD symptoms went unnoticed, and I wouldn’t receive an OCD diagnosis for another 13 years.
My experiences in that hospital were mixed. Some were painful, but surprisingly, there were parts I found helpful and even comforting. Because of that, I’ve never feared being sectioned or even prison in the way some do; I can see those situations more rationally, because I know firsthand that institutional settings can also provide stability and support.
Unfortunately, because my OCD wasn’t recognised, I didn’t get the right help at the time – not that the right help really existed for me back then. Over the years I saw numerous specialists, psychiatrists, and CBT therapists, but none were able to give me the tools I truly needed to manage my OCD.
That changed about 5 years ago, when I discovered OCD Recovery. The progress I’ve made since then has been life-changing. I barely recognise the person who once felt there was no way out.
At OCD Recovery, we know what it’s like to feel hopeless, because we’ve been there ourselves. We also know it’s possible to get better. Recovery is hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it – and you are not alone.
If you’re struggling, I encourage you to take that step toward working on your mental health. No one ever regrets the effort they put into healing – only the time they spent believing it wasn’t possible.