May 29, 2017
Continuing the conversations on the stigmas against mental illness, Steph chats with Leah Adair about her struggle against OCD and the stigmas surrounding it. Leah shares her journey to being diagnosed with OCD and coming to understanding what OCD looks like for different people, far from the widespread misconception that it is just about compulsive hand washing.
Discussion questions:
1) What stops you from sharing your story? (We’re not talking necessarily about telling the world on Facebook, it could be just with a friend.)
2) How can you create space for people to share their stories with you this week?
3) What have you learned about OCD during this podcast that you didn’t know before? What stigmas have been debunked for you?
Resources:
Embracing my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Leah Adair:
http://thesaltcollective.org/embracing-my-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/
My OCD does NOT stop me from being a teacher, wife, sister & friend by Leah Adair:
http://thesaltcollective.org/my-ocd-does-not-stop-me-from-being-a-teacher-wife-sister-friend/
Websites with more information:
https://jackieleasommers.com/ocd/
http://www.overcomingocd.net/chrissieface-of-o/
Twin Cities OCD support:
International OCD foundation:
debunking the myths of OCD youtube :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhlRgwdDc-E
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Thank you to Leah for sharing her story regarding this misunderstood and misrepresented disorder. She is helping to educate a lot of people!My son had OCD so severe he could not even eat, and thankfully exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, the first line psychological treatment for OCD, literally saved his life.Today he is a young man living life to the fullest. I recount my family's story in my critically acclaimed book, Overcoming OCD: A Journey to Recovery (Rowman & Littlefield, January 2015) and discuss all aspects of the disorder on my blog at www.ocdtalk.wordpress.com. There truly is hope for all those who suffer from this insidious disorder and I wish Leah all the best!.