I Didn’t Know I Had OCD
I didn't know I had OCD -- But getting diagnosed made my life so much better.
In 2024, my therapist asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks: "Have you ever thought that you might have OCD?"
I had, but I totally misunderstood what OCD is and how it was impacting me.
Like many people, I assumed OCD meant things like:
→ Loving clean counters
→ Being super organized
→ Wanting things to be "just right"
I was shocked to learn how misunderstood it actually is -- Even by people who have it.
According to the Mayo Clinic: "OCD is a pattern of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions), which interfere with daily life."
We usually see OCD portrayed as:
→ Repeated hand-washing
→ Checking the stove
→ Counting steps
And while those can be examples of compulsions, compulsions aren't always physical.
For me, they're mental. And they take up a lot of space.
Obsessive thoughts, rumination, checking, reassurance-seeking -- All happening my head, invisible to everyone around me.
They felt normal to me because they were constant.
I learned to be highly functional in spite of the constant noise in my head, but coping came at a cost. I was:
→ Anxious
→ Mentally drained
→ Exhausted by "what if's"
→ Always imagining the worst case scenario
→ Replaying things in my head
→ Worrying about what might go wrong
I just wanted to turn my brain off.
So when I got diagnosed, I felt relief. I finally had language for what I'd been experiencing. And I could finally start understanding and unlearning the cycle.
OCD is still a part of my life.
But now I meet it with:
→ Awareness
→ Compassion
→ Acceptance
→ A little more peace than before
Coaching doesn't diagnose or treat -- That's therapy's role.
But if you're working with a therapist and you want support aligning your actions with your values, setting goals, getting unstuck, and moving forward, coaching can help (even while managing OCD, anxiety, or depression).
If you could benefit from working with a coach with lived experience with OCD and anxiety, send me a DM or book free discovery call to see how coaching can support you
🤍 Sonja
Hello, I'm Sonja!
I'm a board certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC), a financial social work coach, a learning and development professional, and a behavior change expert with 14 years of experience helping people change their lives through the power of coaching.
I’m really into helping people figure out their values so they can live intentional and unapologetic lives that they don’t need to escape from.
I've got a thing for simplifying the complex, helping clients find clarity in the chaos and purpose in the process, and turning overwhelm into clear, manageable action steps.
When I'm not working, you can find me hiking in the mountains, snapping photos of everyday moments, reading next to an open window with a mug of tea, listening to a podcast while walking my dog, advocating for environmental policy changes that protect people and the planet, experiencing gratitude for the simple things in life, or searching for the best pastries (If you have bakery/pastry recommendations for anywhere in the world, I want to hear them)!
Ready to build an authentic, intentional, and unapologetic life that you don't need to escape from? Join my email list!
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