Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: For almost twenty years, I had no idea I had obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) because I thought people who had it were scared of germs and washed their hands a lot, or maybe they checked to see if the stove was off over and over again. Even when…
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Remapping Recovery: A Study from Made of Millions
Earlier this year, Made of Millions—a nonprofit dedicated to helping the millions of people around the world who have a mental illness—published “Remapping Recovery: How Gen Z’s Quest for Better Care Is Pioneering New Paths Forward in Mental Health.” Why this study, and why now? Aaron Harvey, co-founder of Made of Millions, said, “When we…
Read MoreSelf-Harm and OCD: Tim Blue
Tim Blue and I met the way I’ve met so many of my incredible “OCD friends”—at the national conference the International OCD Foundation puts on every summer. (Seriously, you should go!) He’s such a nice guy, and we have a lot in common, which is always refreshing. In fact, that’s kind of the idea behind…
Read MoreWhat Is Reassurance, and What Exactly Is Wrong With It?
Reassurance. It has such a nice ring to it. And in many ways it is nice. If you feel lonely, your best friend might reassure you that she’ll always be there for you. If you think you’re doing poorly in a class, your teacher might reassure you that you’re doing well and that trying your hardest matters,…
Read MoreDealing with Misconceptions on the Internet
I can be really outspoken on divisive issues. I often find myself way too caught up in the comments section of some article about a politician or sparring with someone on Facebook over sexual inequality (and my husband always says, “Why do you do this to yourself? You’re never going to change this person’s mind.”).…
Read MoreReducing Stigma and Standing up for the Truth–Even When It’s Hard
I recently wrote a piece for B Stigma-Free, a great new initiative that aims to–you guessed it–reduce stigma. Oftentimes I feel like I’m preaching to the choir when I write about how important mental health awareness is, and it’s in my day-to-day interactions with acquaintances and co-workers when I feel less confident in spreading the…
Read MoreHow Can School Counselors Help Students with OCD?
May is Mental Health Month! Today on the Free Spirit Publishing blog I break down some common misconceptions about OCD and talk about why it’s so important for school counselors to understand what’s behind intrusive thoughts, which can often be very disturbing. If a student is struggling with sexual or violent obsessions, he may be too…
Read MoreOCD, Depression, and Suicide: There Is Hope
It’s hard to believe OCD once had such a powerful hold on me I thought suicide might be the only way out. I’m so glad I got help when I did. Check out my latest blog post for the International OCD Foundation.
Read MoreStomping Out Stigma at School
There’s no age limit when it comes to people making hurtful jokes about OCD or saying things like, “I’m so OCD!” But the preteen and teen years are a great time to educate and try to nip these remarks in the bud. Get some tips on how.
Read MoreOCD in the Workplace
As I mentioned earlier this week, it’s OCD Awareness Week! On Monday I participated in a chat about “coming out” with OCD, and last night I read excerpts from my book. Yikes! I’ve done a lot of sharing in just a few days. Not even my husband knew some of the things I’ve shared this…
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