Hello from the Pacific NW

[caminante]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to the podcast, but am SO glad I found it. It's been a relief to listen to the podcasts and realize that there are others out there who have had similar struggles, which can be so hard to remember when most people we encounter put on their "everything's fine" face when interacting with others.

I'm female, in my mid-30s, in a long-term relationship, and just starting to find my way into a possible career (employment has been a rough road ever since graduating from college). I was diagnosed with depression and OCD after a pretty horrible episode with both while I was in high school where I was so distressed and terrified by my OCD thoughts that I ended up not wanting to eat (no appetite), curled up in a fetal position for I'm not even sure how many days (weeks?), not consoled by much of anything, and in the end deciding not to return to my high school and to do independent study for my senior year. After finally seeing a psychiatrist and getting diagnosed with OCD things started to turn around—the diagnosis in and of itself was a huge relief.

I struggle less with OCD right now (thanks mostly to medication I think), but depression and anxiety (about many things, but social anxiety is the biggie right now I think) are still part of my daily life. I have seen various counselors/therapists over the year, spending money on them I didn't really have in search of some relief. I finally found one I'm seeing now that has been amazingly helpful. About to start couples counseling with my boyfriend of 9 years, and a little terrified about it.

Glad to be here on the forum.

K

[oak]

Hey K!

Thanks for posting.

I've also struggled with employment, un- and especially under-employment.

You are not alone.