Our Struggle Is Not Your Cliché

“If the palms of the hands told the future, as some believed, then her present was written for all to see, painful, burning obsession, not content to be contained inside her mind, but making its presence known for the world to see, slashing its way across her skin.” Recently, other members of the OCD communityContinue reading “Our Struggle Is Not Your Cliché”

The Teenager With OCD: A Forgotten Victim of the Pandemic

“Don’t say it,” I whisper under my breath as Dr. Fauci imparts his sage wisdom to a captive audience. We know the drill: wear your mask, keep your distance, take your temperature, and… “Handwashing,” he advises. “Damn it,” I mutter, looking around the room to make sure my oldest daughter isn’t paying attention. I don’tContinue reading “The Teenager With OCD: A Forgotten Victim of the Pandemic”

Vulnerability Be Thy Name

I sit at the kitchen table in another OCD discussion with my daughter. She’s in tears. I know what to say. I’ve been through this before. I have it figured out… except, I don’t. I feel myself hesitate to share how I was feeling while I was out running today: the vulnerability that felt soContinue reading “Vulnerability Be Thy Name”

Smiling Buddha

My teenage daughter and I come from a long line of nervous smilers, appalled smilers, and many other smile-related coping mechanisms. My Charismatic Christian grandmother even tried to pray a demon of mockery out of my sister due to her nervous giggling. Of course, that’s a whole other post, perhaps titled, “Nonsense Be Thy Name,”Continue reading “Smiling Buddha”