Sometimes I receive unexpected gifts when I am in a place of being open
to receive them. I had such an experience on my way to the International
Obsessive Compulsive Foundation's annual conference in Chicago. I
decided to face my fears and do a little exposure therapy by getting on
the L which is the public transport train from O'Hare airport to
downtown Chicago. I wasn't sure which train to take but I saw a young
man running for the one that's doors were closing so I took a leap of
faith, ran after him, and hopped on just as the doors closed. I looked
at him and told him I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I was
facing my fears. He asked where I was going and we quickly realized we
were going to the same conference but for very different reasons. It was
a 45 minute ride to downtown. He shared his struggles with severe OCD
and how he had not gotten good treatment until he went to Roger's
Hospital which specializes in treating OCD. Even there, he found staff
who were not understanding to his peers when they were incapacitated by
their severe anxiety and unrelenting symptoms. I shared my unwavering
commitment and passion for helping those with OCD and yet how I am
humbled by this disorder every day. We laughed at the absurdity of the
symptoms and the tricks OCD plays. He shared several of his fears
including his fear of having schizophrenia. I looked up and saw a huge
advertisement on the wall of the train scrolling, "SCHIZOPHRENIA" . We
again laughed at how there are opportunities to do ERP everywhere and
sometimes it feels like the universe creates these experience for people
with OCD just to give them some practice. I felt his
warmth, wisdom, and genuineness throughout our travel. We never stopped
talking and actually missed our stop! We laughed and just got off on the
next stop, embracing our anxiety and owning our uncertainty. I am so
grateful for having met this young man who reminded me of how
challenging OCD can be for people who live with it every day as well as
the hope that therapists, researchers, and psychiatrists offer in
meeting this challenge head on and offering the latest advancements in
treatment for such a debilitating illness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information about OCD and its treatment go to www.iocdf.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment