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I was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder at the age of 23. I went on to work for many years, marry, divorce, and have three children. And in my 30s I added anxiety and schizoaffective disorder to my mental health repertoire.

Thus began my journey to explore GAD more deeply... Along the way, I found the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. I read shared stories, explored resources, and joined a forum full of people like me; a safe space. This community became a beacon of light and a much-needed outlet.

This story isn’t just about the struggles, it’s about the next stage of my self-improvement process. It’s about an enlightening understanding that I now realize might be the key to OCD recovery, not just for myself, but for others as well. This being the realization that authentic friendship and genuine community, in complement with therapy and medication, is what truly drives OCD recovery.

I battled social anxiety disorder for over 20 years before finally overcoming it. Over that time, I learned a lot of valuable lessons. These are some of the things that I wish someone could’ve told me when I was first going through the struggle.