Mental Health Month

Hello everyone hope all is well in your part of the world. May is mental health month so I thought I would discuss a few things.

I want to share with you some important information about ocd, and what type of treatment would be beneficial to someone that is struggling.

There are several types of therapy that can be effective in treating OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), but the most commonly recommended and the one that I personally believe in is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), specifically a form of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

ERP involves gradually exposing the ocd sufferer to situations or objects that trigger their obsessions while preventing them from engaging in their usual compulsive behaviors.

This process is done with the help of a therapist, and the individual is encouraged to sit with their “discomfort” and anxiety, until it starts to decrease. (Much easier said than done)

I have been doing this kind of therapy on my own for the past 6 months. I do not recommend doing ERP without a therapist.  Even though I am doing it, it is very difficult and a lot of hard work. Even though I am working hard I am still not committed as much as I should be and I am still struggling deeply.

I am only doing this on my own because at the moment I am finding it extremely difficult to find a qualified ocd specialist near me that accepts my medical insurance. And because I know how effective erp therapy is, I decided for me it’s better to try it alone than not try at all.

It’s important to consult with a mental health professional to determine the best course of treatment for each individual’s  needs, so please don’t do anything without consulting with your doctor first.

If you are like me and are finding it hard to find a specialist I encourage you to check with the International OCD Foundation first. There you will find all the information you need about OCD and they will search your area for a specialist for you. Here is their information. https://iocdf.org/

If you can’t find someone in your area I highly recommend contacting NAMI.  They are awesome.  They even have a 24 hour help line that you can call and just chat with someone. They have helped me so much in the past and I can’t say enough good things about them. Plus they offer help for other mental illnesses, not just OCD and anxiety. https://www.nami.org/Home

Both of these places are wonderful, educational, and helpful.  Please reach out to them and discuss your concerns and situation.

Reach Out, Speak Up, And Ask For Help. Nobody should go through it alone.

Christina

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Weekly Smile

Hello everyone hope your all doing great. As for me, things are moving along quite smoothly.

I decided to pull my yarn and hooks out of the closet and start crocheting again. I taught myself a few years back by watching YouTube videos, and I absolutely loved it.

Crocheting is one of the things I started doing to help with my anxiety. It was actually helping for a while. The reason I ended up taking a break from crocheting was because of my ocd. Yep good ole ocd once again had to interfere with something that was bringing me happiness.

As most of you already know, with my type of ocd, I am constantly repeating things. That was also the case where my crocheting was concerned. I found myself crocheting a row, only to redo that row, and it was causing me so much anger and frustration that I finally just stopped altogether.

That was about two years ago. I can’t believe I stopped crocheting for two years due to ocd. But the good news is I am back to crocheting and I am determined to not let ocd stop me.

I have worked hard over the years trying to get my mental health under control. I have my good days and my bad days, but I am focusing on having more good days.

Now when I crochet, I no longer let my ocd control me. Yes the bad thoughts are still there, and yes I do give in a little. But, I am not repeating every row and I am not giving into the ocd like I did a couple years ago when I was crocheting.

If you read my posts you know that I still struggle badly with ocd. So any type of victory is worth sharing and definitely worth smiling about. I love making crochet items. Its fun, its relaxing, and the finished result is rewarding. Yay something to put a smile on my face ☺

To learn more about the Weekly Smile Check out Trent’s page here.

Prompt for Thursday

What’s something most people don’t understand?

Now this question is one that I definitely have an answer for.  OCD

So many people do not understand ocd. I realize this more and more everyday day. Whether it be a random stranger or someone I know personally. Social media, people that joke or create memes, even shows on television get wrong.

Ocd is a serious mental illness and can be very very difficult to deal with. If you aren’t quite sure what ocd is, Please click here to learn about it. And if you would like to know even more, Please read my story here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with ocd and need someone to talk to please email me at webbblogs@yahoo.com

Have a wonderful day,

Christina

Hello/Two Years Blogging

Hello everyone hope your enjoying your day. It is lightly raining here and I absolutely love it.

This morning I received a notification letting me know I have had my blog for two years. Happy blog-aversary to me. 😁😁

When I started this blog very few people knew about my ocd. Besides medical professionals and a couple family members, only one friend knew. That friend was the one that helped me make the final decision to start this blog.

I was scared, nervous, and very embarrassed. I was about to go public and tell the world about my ocd, and that terrified me. I had kept my ocd a secret for so many years. I wasn’t sure what kind of reaction I would get and wasn’t sure if anyone would even want to read my story.

But I worried for nothing. Soon after I published my first post I received an email from a total stranger. She wanted to tell me how much my story had helped her. Her email was the first of many more to come. I also was getting comments on my blog. Each filled with positive feedback encouraging me to continue writing, and stories of their own experiences.

Thank you to everyone for being so kind and for reading my blog. You all are awesome!!

Have a fantastic weekend,

Christina

Hello/Weekly Smile

Hello and good morning to everyone. I woke up to the sound of rain, a wonderful surprise. On the rare chance we actually get rain here it always seems to happen during the midnight hours, when I am sound asleep and can’t enjoy it.

My week was actually pretty good. My ocd thoughts were very hard to deal with but I am trying hard not to give into them. It’s extremely frustrating but one day at a time they say.

I did manage to get some appointments taken care of and I went to the gym a couple of times. So that is a good thing.

Sunday the family gathered at my parents house for my nephews birthday.  Its always nice when we get together.

So what made me smile? Besides family, this week I am smiling because I lost 5 pounds. 5 pounds isn’t much but that now brings my total to 20 pounds lost.

The good news is I am taking my time. I am not stressing on loosing weight and not starving myself to lose it quickly. I set a goal of 2-3 pounds a week and that is very easy for me. So yay me! I still have a ways to go but like I said earlier, one day at a time.

Hope your Monday is filled with tons of smiles, laughter, and love.

Head on over to Trent’s Page for more on the weekly smile and to read what others are smiling about.

Christina