We are excited to have officially launched a new extension of our website: peer support forums to provide a safe and accessible way for OCD sufferers to share their experiences and gather information.

We are fortunate to have two excellent peer moderators for our first forum: Unacceptable Intrusive Obsessions Forum. Within this forum, topics like sexual obsessions and harm obsessions are being discussed.

These online support groups give users the option to be completely anonymous by choosing a screen name, and are moderated to ensure all guidelines are being followed. The format is easy to navigate and allows you to subscribe to get email notifications for new posts to the forum, and for replies to particular posts you’re interested in.

As the forum grows, we hope to expand the number of topics and include forums with professionals. Our first Live Discussion Forum will be held in the Unacceptable Intrusive Obsessions Forum on May 13^th at 7 pm EST with Dr. Baer as the expert answering your questions. 

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the support groups, please select the ”I’d like to join a Forum” page from the “Peer Support Forums” menu at www.ocdandfamilies.org and let us know your email and which group you are interested in and we will send you complete directions for joining so you can get started ASAP.

We look forward to offering this new resource– welcome!

This post comes from our regular contributor, Melanie Lefebvre. 

What having OCD has taught me:

1) Keep learning. The saying “knowledge is power” may be cliché but its got some bang for its buck when it comes to OCD. My scrupulosity has acted as the judge of all behavior, but learning about my OCD has given me a different perspective of what’s happening. Feeling like a morally bad person still hurts but I’m no longer navigating the pain blindly – I’ve learned how to deal with these thoughts.

2) Save what you learn. Unless you have a didactic memory, consider keeping an “OCD file.” I have one on my phone – I can quickly turn to nuggets of wisdom when my OCD is throwing a party. I save quotes from books, words of encouragement from friends, and advice from professionals. I also stumble across gems outside of OCD literature. My favorite poem is The Guest House by Rumi, specifically this line: “The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.” I asked for a fake tattoo for Christmas with the text “invite them in” as a reminder to welcome OCD rather than resisting it. Maybe one day I’ll get it permanently inked.

3) Reach out (when you’re ready). Connecting with others who have OCD has helped take away some of its power. There was a time when being open to others about my OCD was unthinkable, but I slowly opened up. Go at your own pace and find an anonymous online message board when you’re ready. OCD can make us feel like we’re lone soldiers and reaching out can help you realize we’re all in this together.

4) There is empowerment in advocacy. As you become more comfortable with connecting to other people and managing your OCD, advocacy becomes a possibility. Of course it’s entirely optional, but for me advocacy has taken the pain of OCD in a direction I didn’t anticipate. It’s given me something to believe in and it’s been a way to channel my energy. I wish I didn’t have to be channeling the energy of what feels like a demon, I wish I didn’t have OCD, but I do and I’m taking a stand.