From someone who was diagnosed with OCD at 15 in the mid 1990s when we Did Not Talk About Those Things. Thank you. This is so amazingly brave and so important. I went from being excited to see OCD in the media and have representation to devastated seeing it used as a meme. The way we talk about this is so important. I also want to say that things get better. At 42 I still live with it but through meds and therapy it takes up so much less of my life. I still have relapses, but each time I do it takes less time to get myself back. I don't have contamination OCD, I have a different kind, one I'm still not ready to write about yet. It's part of my life but no longer controls it. (That last sentence was hard to write because I desperately wanted to negate it by saying 'touch wood'. But I'm standing by it. It is in my life, but it is not my life and writing it down is not going to jinx it.) Anyway, thank you. Every time someone speaks up it helps so much. Here's a blog I wrote a long time ago, it's not earth shattering but it contains the most wholesome exchange between two Dudes about the importance of language and shows how much saying something helps https://annakirtlanwrites.nz/changing-the-way-we-talk-about-ocd/
What great writing. Thank you for sharing this. A close member of my family has suffered from OCD for over sixty years. It really frustrates me when people use the term flippantly. I try to explain to friends why she behaves the way she does but it is so difficult for people to understand. They think they know what OCD is because of the way the term is used, and her behaviour doesn't align with what they think OCD means. Writing like this will help educate people and help genuine sufferers of OCD to be better understood.
Thank you for your bravery in sharing these insights with the world. If anyone wants to read more about OCD, Penny Moodie has recently released a book called “The Joy Thief: how OCD steals your happiness and how to get it back”. She’s also done a few podcasts on the topic
Amazing writing. Thank you for giving us such a great insight into what it is like to have OCD. The only portrayal of a character with OCD that I’ve read that seemed authentic to me is the main character in the Patrick Ness book The Rest of Us Just Live Here. I highly recommend anything by Patrick Ness, btw.
This is incredibly moving and well-written, this young person really has a future in writing. Please thank and congratulate them for me. I learned a lot and also felt it must be extra hard living in a time of Covid too. Thank you for using your platform to share.
What great and insightful writing, long may you continue. Representation is indeed cathartic and validating and that is especially true for us when we represent our own experience to ourselves in writing or art. It helps to externalise the issues we face so we are no longer stuck in an internal loop. Well done you. <3
From someone who was diagnosed with OCD at 15 in the mid 1990s when we Did Not Talk About Those Things. Thank you. This is so amazingly brave and so important. I went from being excited to see OCD in the media and have representation to devastated seeing it used as a meme. The way we talk about this is so important. I also want to say that things get better. At 42 I still live with it but through meds and therapy it takes up so much less of my life. I still have relapses, but each time I do it takes less time to get myself back. I don't have contamination OCD, I have a different kind, one I'm still not ready to write about yet. It's part of my life but no longer controls it. (That last sentence was hard to write because I desperately wanted to negate it by saying 'touch wood'. But I'm standing by it. It is in my life, but it is not my life and writing it down is not going to jinx it.) Anyway, thank you. Every time someone speaks up it helps so much. Here's a blog I wrote a long time ago, it's not earth shattering but it contains the most wholesome exchange between two Dudes about the importance of language and shows how much saying something helps https://annakirtlanwrites.nz/changing-the-way-we-talk-about-ocd/
Thanks for sharing this great blog post
You're welcome. That means a lot 😁
Also top writing! Thanks also for sharing.
What great writing. Thank you for sharing this. A close member of my family has suffered from OCD for over sixty years. It really frustrates me when people use the term flippantly. I try to explain to friends why she behaves the way she does but it is so difficult for people to understand. They think they know what OCD is because of the way the term is used, and her behaviour doesn't align with what they think OCD means. Writing like this will help educate people and help genuine sufferers of OCD to be better understood.
Thank you for your bravery in sharing these insights with the world. If anyone wants to read more about OCD, Penny Moodie has recently released a book called “The Joy Thief: how OCD steals your happiness and how to get it back”. She’s also done a few podcasts on the topic
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Penny-Moodie-Joy-Thief-9781761068669
Amazing writing. Thank you for giving us such a great insight into what it is like to have OCD. The only portrayal of a character with OCD that I’ve read that seemed authentic to me is the main character in the Patrick Ness book The Rest of Us Just Live Here. I highly recommend anything by Patrick Ness, btw.
Patrick Ness is wonderful. x
So wise and so beautifully written. So glad you’ve given it a wider audience.
This is incredibly moving and well-written, this young person really has a future in writing. Please thank and congratulate them for me. I learned a lot and also felt it must be extra hard living in a time of Covid too. Thank you for using your platform to share.
Thank you so much for a beautifully written & articulate article dear author, and great appreciation of you for sharing Emily.
Beautifully written, creative AND informative 💗 Thank you for sharing this with us, Emily Xx
This is an absolutely beautiful piece of writing. Thank you so much.
Beautiful writing. Thank you for sharing your experience and educating me a little more.
Amazing writing! and so insightful!
What great and insightful writing, long may you continue. Representation is indeed cathartic and validating and that is especially true for us when we represent our own experience to ourselves in writing or art. It helps to externalise the issues we face so we are no longer stuck in an internal loop. Well done you. <3
Top writing! Thanks for sharing.
What a brave piece for the author to share, this was beautiful and poignant. Thank you.
Thank you ❤
This was illuminating, thank you.