Life with OCD can be considerably more difficult to navigate if you feel like you are alone and without support. This is why OCD Gamechangers place such an emphasis on the power of community; when you’re able to find a group of people who understand and connect with their own experience, it can become easier to accept. Communities look different for everyone, meaning that you can find community anywhere and everywhere. OCD Gamechangers presents many opportunities to connect with the OCD community and those who are passionate about advocating for greater awareness about OCD. In fact, OCD Gamechangers holds annual events in Denver, Colorado! Due to COVID-19, this year’s event will take place online on May 29th with events from 1pm to 8pm EST. This event is one fantastic way to connect with a broad community of OCD support, that’s for sure!
In some places like major cities, there may be easy access to local OCD support groups. These can often be found through a Google search or by looking on Facebook for local groups related to OCD. Some support groups may be provided by or through organizations/ institutions that provide other mental health resources. For example, in Toronto, Canada the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) facilitates a drop-in OCD peer support group. You can also check out iocdf.org, International OCD Foundation’s website, as they have a comprehensive list of many registered OCD support groups available! Peer support in the form of these organized support groups is extremely beneficial to managing and thriving with OCD, however, they may not be easily accessible or available to those who live outside city centres, have mobility issues, aren’t comfortable speaking in a small group, etc. Of course, there are many other opportunities to gain community support that may be more appropriate or comfortable than in-person support groups.
Being that we are in the age of technology, the internet also presents a host of fabulous resources for building your own OCD community. Following like-minded accounts on social media, joining online support groups, keeping up with OCD themed blogs and even chatting (safely) with others who are also dealing with OCD can help remind you that you are not alone and that there are many others on the same journey! Not only can the internet provide an opportunity to meet others who are in similar situations, it can ease any social anxiety by removing the face-to-face component. This can help many people seek help and support when they wouldn’t otherwise!
Beyond branching out in your local community or browsing the internet for support resources, creating a network of support within your inner circle– your family and close friends– can make a huge difference in times you are struggling with OCD. For many people with OCD, their families and friends can’t understand what they’re going through and therefore don’t know what they can do to be helpful. It’s not that they don’t want to be supportive, but that they might not know how to do so. Luckily, you can help them learn to help you by providing them with resources to educate themselves on OCD. This may mean sharing videos or articles that you feel are meaningful representations of your symptoms and experiences, or just sitting down to have a conversation about what you need. Maintaining an open dialogue about OCD helps facilitate an ongoing network of support and creates a baseline for your community of support. While not everybody is in a position to have their family be their initial support system for dealing with OCD, there is always an opportunity to find friends, mentors and others who will provide you with the same care and sense of community!
No matter what you’re going through, there are always people out there who understand what you are going through and have gone through something similar, if not the same thing. These people can often provide the best support because they are able to empathize whereas others might only be able to sympathize. If you go looking for an OCD support community, you will find one! In fact, you’re already taking steps in the right direction by visiting OCD Gamechangers– we’re dedicated to providing a vast community of support and kindness, so you can always find your way back here if you’re in a pinch!
