My Journey with OCD.

Hi, I’m Daniella. OCD has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember… even though for around 28 years, I didn’t know it.

For years, I thought I was just a chronic over-thinker. I felt things deeply, questioned everything, and constantly worried about doing the wrong thing. But I had no idea that what I was really dealing with was Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Not the “neat and tidy” stereotype, but the kind that quietly and painfully chips away at your ability to live.

Then one day, almost overnight, OCD latched on severely and chronically. My life turned upside down. It completely hijacked my mind; I was stuck in my head 24/7, unable to function in everyday life. I couldn’t eat, sleep, focus, relax or work. My brain was spinning with constant intrusive thoughts and i was engaging in mental compulsions, with no idea how to make it stop.

Some of the themes I’ve struggled with most intensely have been False Memory OCD, Real Event OCD, Suicide OCD, Relationship OCD, Morality OCD, Harm OCD… and more. I think i’ve probably experienced every OCD theme going at some point in my life.

Recovery didn’t come in one big moment; it came in hundreds of tiny, terrifying decisions to face the fear without trying to fix it over a number of years. Through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), OCD Coaching, Acceptance and determination, I began to recover. After around 3 years in recovery, i started my own OCD page, Navigating OCD. Through this, I realised how many people were going through the same thing I had. Feeling alone, misunderstood, or completely broken.

Today, I’m an OCD coach and advocate. I run webinars, share daily support on Instagram, and work 1:1 with people navigating the hardest parts of OCD. Recovery isn’t perfect, but it’s possible. And it’s 100% worth it.

Thanks for being here.
Daniella