I’ve been in recovery from OCD for 5 years, but there was a before. Before I had words for the incessant loop of my thoughts, the terror in my chest, the desperation in my voice, the questions I couldn’t stop asking, the fears I couldn’t stop googling, the superstition I couldn’t stop following, the places and people and clothes I couldn’t stop avoiding, the nightmares that haunted me, the images that shocked me, the paranoia that gripped me, the constant preparation for my inevitable demise — the grief my mind forced me to feel despite no one being dead. The whole of my twenties with a secret, a ghost by my side whispering an insistent prophecy of all the ways I would break my own heart. And then. An answer. A diagnosis. A therapy. Medicine. Group. An after, the after, the rest of my life in my own hands. Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) saved my life. An entire language for my brain, a toolbox for coping, a dispelling of my shame, the kryptonite for my terror, humor and commiseration and relief, real relief, and no more secrets. If this post resonates with you, and you’re ready for your after, I implore you to look into NOCD. NOCD is the world’s leading provider of OCD treatment, and all of their therapists specialize in ERP therapy. They also offer ongoing support between sessions, so you’re never on this journey alone. NOCD even accepts most major insurance plans to make this life-changing treatment affordable. To learn more about getting matched with an ERP-trained OCD specialist, visit NOCD.com and schedule a free call. The rest of your life is waiting for you ♥️ - #ocd #nocd #erp #mentalhealth #therapy #nocd