Tattooed_Fairy

Thank you so much. For the first time in a long time… I feel like I AM WINNING!

Good morning everyone! Some may remember me on the online support groups talking about my anxiety around motorway driving. It has been my biggest stress for the past 3 years as I hate that travel has been taken away from me but OCD and intrusive thoughts. Especially when I drive a campervan and love adventure. Guess what? I DID IT!! I had been driving up to my local motorway roundabout for months but never been able to actually get on. Well… now I have. 4 times now I have gone one junction and back. I am so proud of myself and so excited for the future. It’s like the black cloud is lifting. Still more work to do. Need to go further, and then try going the opposite way. I am determined though! I hope you are all doing well. Please know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Find your inner strength and never stop fighting. Remember to celebrate the wins, no matter how small. You are all amazing x

Hello I am Charlotte, 39, from Hampshire. I have just joined and this is my first post! I have had OCD, anxiety and panic attacks since childhood. During my late teens I became so bad I was pretty much housebound for 5 years. I managed to strengthen my mind and overcome it, living panic attack-free and only with mild OCD for about 10 years. In that time, sadly my parents and grandparents passed away, I was in an abusive marriage, and my youngest child was diagnosed with autism and global development delay. I had a mental breakdown. 3 years on and I am in an amazing place. I am happy and content with my life and feel very blessed. However… the OCD, anxiety and panic attacks have returned. I have tried a few medications but don’t like the side effects and I know I am strong enough to overcome the worst of these disorders. I have foreboding OCD with intrusive thoughts. I absolutely understand why my OCD has gone down this path… loosing my family and a child with no fear of danger! It has stopped me being able to drive on the motorway though as I am terrified of crashing and dying horribly. I can’t let my children open their bedroom windows in case they fall out and die. I have visions of slipping over, breaking bones, falling off bridges… I am done with living in a constant state of anxiety and fear. I am starting the process of taking back control of my mind