I was formally diagnosed with clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) during the pandemic, though it hadn’t come out of nowhere. For years, I’d had a lingering sense that something wasn’t quite right, that OCD might be part of my experience, but it wasn’t until that period, when everything intensified, that it became undeniable + finally put into words.

I’ve experienced panic attacks both in private + in public + both are terrifying because they can come without warning + it’s hard for those around you to know how to help. Thankfully, I haven’t had a panic attack in quite a while. Through one-on-one therapy + practicing coping techniques, I’ve learned how to manage them. I’ve “done the work,” + I’m proud of myself. My first panic attack as a young adult happened during a period of depression. I remember rocking back + forth