Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Whether it be from family, friends, or even someone like myself, I’d be happy to lend an ear. There are people out there that will listen, help, or comfort you in your time of need. This goes for all illnesses, not just OCD.
Feeling like you are alone when you have a mental illness is an awful feeling. When I first had my Harm OCD thoughts about my daughter, I felt like a monster. I forced myself to be away from people, I did not want to tell anyone about these weird thoughts. I was afraid, and I was suffering by myself.
Being alone in a time like that is a big mistake. Humans are social creatures that thrive on the care and attention of others. Before we had all of this technology and steamrolled our way to the top of the food chain, we had to hunt, and survive a hostile world together. We, as a species are designed to be a part of a unit, even when one part of the unit is having a crisis.
The realization for me set in that getting better was going to require me to open up and tell people. The first person I told was my wife, and she is a saint. There was no judgement, no horrified look on her face. She just said “we will get through this together”. Honestly, her and my parents are the reason why I got help in the first place.
You are never alone in this world. Maybe your inner circle is small, or maybe you and your relatives don’t get along quite well enough to open up to each other. The beauty of this connected world, though, is that you have people out there that are going through the same thing you are. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them whether you know them personally or not.
My fellow sufferers of mental illness, please don’t try to go at it alone. Seriously, I am here for you, that’s why I write this blog. Check out Reddit for other people with your condition, or even go on Twitter. Someone out there is going through or has gone through the exact thing you are. Don’t be ashamed of it, you are loved, and the world needs you in it.