I was diagnosed with OCD 18 years ago as a teenage. Spent my whole life fighting OCD. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

I hate the fact that OCD has become a trendy thing when it's nearly ruined my young life.

Ocd is no joke, it's a nighmare , it's death,it has crippled me but i'm fighting back Don't react to the thoughts , you can slay it !

Living with OCD is an EVERY DAY BATTLE.

Ocd is like having demons following you everywhere always

OCD feels like I’m being forced to share my house with someone I don’t like and who doesn’t like me.

I'm glad this is here. I despise my OCD. It is like constantly fighting your own mind and people do not understand how tiring that is.

Living with OCD has brought me to some of my darkest moments, and excruciating is definitely the word I would use to describe it

Ocd is not about cleaning … it’s about fear and uncertainty that you cannot control

To anyone and everyone reading this right now, I wanna let you know that your OCD isn't gonna last. Believe me, it may be hard, but every moment, you are getting closer to that one day when you'll conquer your mind, free your soul, and that day is gonna be one of the greatest days you've ever lived through. Life will have meaning. I care about you, I love you, and there's nothing else that matters 🥰💖

Starve the monster is a great advice. I suffered from OCD from 18 to 27 years old, with ups and down, of course - we know it is not a constant state but more one that comes and go, more or less intensely depending on the period -. I am now 33 and have not had any OCD related thoughts for a few years. The scars are healing and I can tell you, if you are reading this and going through it: it is possible to get out of it. Starve the monster, be gentle to yourself and be on your side. You are a sensitive person, so altruistic that you get worried by even having bad thoughts. Learn to be a bit more selfish, and fight for your own happiness. You truly deserve it!

It is so annoying to see people use OCD so easily. OCD has ruined my life and it just hurts to see people use that word so easily.

wow, I almost cry, only those who have monster, know the true suffering and mental prison

this ocd destroyed my most valuable and enjoyable age .

I feel so relaxed reading these comments. Its like im not alone. People are fighting it with me.

OCD has me questioning ever moment and second of my life with intrusive thoughts that constantly have me on fight or flight

Your daughter is lucky to have a mom like you. As an OCD sufferer I can tell you that it's most unfortunate to have no one in my family who is capable of being there for me during an episode. They are too wrapped up in their own lives and problems and they've made it clear that my issues are a burden on them.

As a OCD patient, tears coming out of my eyes as we are such caring souls and our main concern is to repeat things in order to not harm or secure the safety of others.

I've been suffering from ocd for 5 years, with ups and downs. It feels like every day is a stuggle. It keeps me from doing everyday stuff like taking a shower, brushing my teeth, even making the breakfast and eating. Everything I do is filled with unwanted thoughts and it causes me to do compulsive actions over and over again. Everyone says I'm lazy, but they don't understand that I waste all my energy fighting the thoughts and I don't have motivation to study and do other things. I'm trying hard and I hope all of you find the strength within yourselves to kill the monster!❤

OCD for me is just PAIN. I don't know how to explain it but yeah just pain

I say yes to starving my monster, but then the “what if this time something bad happens when I don’t check the house/room 35 times before leaving?” You’re 100% correct about feeding the monster and making it stronger. Each day for the past few months I’ve been feeding it & it requires a new ritual, a longer ritual, a more ridiculous intrusive thought pops into my mind and a new fear added to my list. Starving the monster is literally the only way. Now I just need to start

I suffered OCD from 6 years old to 16, when I finally killed the monster and it never came back. I never told anyone, and the trauma of feeling so scared and alone scarred me so much. I just want everyone to know that you are not alone and that I know someday you will be able to kill it.

This woman was so articulate explaining the story of her Daughters problems with OCD. Really helped me with mine. Thank you!

My OCD has taken over and caused me the worst torture of my life. I am not who I want to be.

It feels like every time I tell somebody I have OCD, they always go "me too!" and go on about how bothered they are if their house isn't clean. They never talk about sitting in bed, unshowered, in tears, unable to eat or breathe, writing a letter to their internship supervisor from 7 years ago about a perceived wrongdoing that their OCD is now blowing wildly out of proportion.

i have kind of something like ocd....obssessive thoughts that need to be calmed down by reasoning all the time and its a drug ...a mental drug when you finally calm down your mind by reasoning you get a huge sense of relief kinda like an opium high....and the very next second the monster comes back and demands that you calm him down again.....one practical advice....the monster loves caffeine!

As the survivor of a brother who lost his battle to the monster it makes me so angry when people make it a joke. The jokes make harder to accurately identify uncommon presentations from the outside. Every joke feels like knives

OCD is not just a chemical imbalance. It can be caused from many things, including trauma.

I would do anything in the universe to take away my son's OCD! It is just awful.

I just wanted to take some time to share my experience. I had a severe “pure o” ocd episode that lasted a year. Then, I was ocd free for one year ❤️ ☀️ and words cannot express how happy I was to be free of mental torment. It felt like I was freed from prison. I was a normal, happy person again. Then, one year later, unfortunately OCD came back in a whole different theme. I’m currently struggling with it. I think OCD it’s making its last attempt at me. It’s making me recount all the mistakes I’ve made in my life and punishing me for it pretty severely for it. This is what is called “real event ocd”. I plan to fight this monster the same way I fought and beat the other monster. Stay in the fight everyone. You are not alone in this. 💕

My beautiful 29 year old son has sufferd for over a decade with severe OCD, Insomnia, and depression💔my heart breaks for our children.

Excellent!!! I'm going to start starving my OCD Monster today! Thank you!

You brought reality into the room.

OCD intrusive thoughts are so bad. I have struggled with it for so looking. It feels like I'll never win. 😓 this definitely gives me hope.

Guys I recovered from Ocd, just be courageous it is very important, and never do compulsions ur brain tells to do don't listen to it, take deep breath and do other work, never ever think of it again, if ur compulsion reason is high then think and do compulsion of not doing compulsion it helps to some extent, but don't ever try to do compulsions if u dont do compulsions u can recover easily, have courage and sit in sunshine for 15-30 mins(for serotonin) and read books, I read bhagavatgita it helped me a lot do read it ,u will get some courage(u can find it online ) in that god says to fight and gives u courage to fight and says many more things about mind, keep ur self busy don't think too much and do the work more and also exercise and don't respond to your thoughts

I hate when people say they are like I am so OCD today, like as a person with OCD that's so annoying. I hate OCD. OCD is not clean your damn room or your bathroom

Make a difficult decision between living for a short time in an extreme and excruciating amount of discomfort and anxiety or living a lifetime with the monster roaring. These words will forever stick in my mind. So so powerful. Thank you ❤️

I suffer with ocd in the form of health anxiety. It crippled me for years and in turn my husband and family. The time I lost obsessing over my health. The worry, the ruminating thoughts, the body checking and the reassurance seeking was endless. I fed the monster kept it alive and strong. I am now a lot better due to starving the monster. It does rear its head and it has been trying to come back recently, and it takes a massive amount of self discipline to crush it all over again. It's a battle, but I am winning.

I've been suffering since I was 15, now 28 and still fighting..I have pure ocd which is also causing me anxiety and depression.ive always felt alone, but it seems like so many people suffer with it. Insallah I will keep fighting and I hope you do so too.

Your voice is so calming and satisfying....its like a meditation

Living with ocd is a mental, physical , emotional battle .. it’s not some trend....

I am at work right now and watch this video in between during a break because I needed it so badly. I've been battling the monster of OCD since about age 21 and I'm now 43 and the mother of six beautiful children and the wife of a lovely husband. OCD tries to dominate my entire life and this video gave me hope! My ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ and he is the ultimate healer and will heal all of our minds and souls in heaven with him if we believe in him as our Savior and Lord and repent of all of our sins you forgive those who sin against us. Thank you so much for this video

I don’t think very many people truly understand how excruciating and painful OCD is. It has ruined so many days and led to so many tearful nights. I wish I had the support that Breland’s parents gave her.

This is what I did when I was young. I starved the monster and it became weak. I still have it sometimes but it's something I can just starve easily unlike before, I would spend hours checking on something just because my brain tells me I didn't do what I had to do . This can be healed trust me. Hardwork and perseverance and you will be cured.

I have struggled with OCD since my 14. And even before seeing this video I always visualised it as some sort of monster and indeed I have found out that you have to try and ignore the compulsions and realize that the intrusive thoughts are not thoughts you want, it are just random images, when you however show fear towards it, the mind believes it to be important and latches on to it.

To all the people who are having aggressive OCD like me , don't worry , we can all get through !

This was a beautifully done TEDx. Thank you for sharing this story.

It’s heartbreaking and it’s ruining my life, this touched my heart because I understand.

Thank you so much for this monster analogy . Very helpful x

in order to fight my ocd I just think about the face my heart can stop any second without any prior warning and that makes me so calm.

It is like you spoke to me, I’ve struggled and still do daily. Thank you for this video.

it drives me crazy when people say "I have got it too!!! :)" - like they win jackpot; they have no idea how suffering OCD is

Am grateful for this. People don't realise how disabling and also strange and random OCD actually is and that it can be many different things that are often deeply embarrassing. My OCD has in the past made me do things that are so bizarre I feel deeply upset about and ashamed of them

This fine lady is spot on. I suffer from OCD and know it can be an ongoing battle. But her suggestions of not feeding the monster is exactly what we must do; as painful as it can be.

This talk had me in tears the whole time. OCD is so insanely painful and can tear families apart. Thank you for this presentation

thank you so much you spoke from the bottom of my heart. i've been suffering for 7 years now and still .. your words are so sweet i could feel their warmth ... i have just gone through that anxiety i rushed into the net for some support speech i swear your words have compensated the harm .. thank you for caring this much .. it really means a lot 🌻

Excellent. As a sufferer I found this very helpful!

I am literally in tears I so needed this prayers for Breland.

I almost cried. ❤️ Thank you very much! You and your daughter are a Gift! ❤️❤️

I haven't been diagnosed yet but I swear that's what it is. No one understands. I feel so sick and disgusted with myself. My anxiety is through the roof everyday. I can't even focus on work. I can't focus on good things or positive things. My parents don't understand they don't think I need help but they don't know what's going on in my head. I wish that someone could cast a spell and it just be gone forever. My heart goes to everyone going through this. Stay strong and remember you are not alone ❤

I didn't get diagnosed until this year (I'm 29). Lovely to see that this girl grew up in a supporting family and was diagnosed early on in life

this starving the monster concept was so incredibly helpful! thank u for this beautiful talk and for raising awareness on the true monster ocd is xxxxx

This is making me cry. Every single sentence.

Amazin!! Keep up the good work. Your experience gives so many families hope that YES! We can fight the monster. May God bless you!!

For those of us who are suffering with OCD, there is Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous and it really really really helps. G-Dspeed

My 12 year old is showing signs and it is HEARTbreaking. I am right there with you Tauscha. xoxo

Thank you sharing your story. My daughter has been going through this for several years and this gives us hope.🙏🏼

I suffer from severe OCD and hypochondria. It was so debilitating to the point where I couldn’t even function! It’s a mental illness and it’s no joke! I am still learning to cope. I can relate to her daughter and the intrusive thoughts she encountered. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel! Never give up!

This is very inspiring and empowering. As a person living with OCD these strategies seem like they would work very well! Thank you, I appreciate the support, and the way you talk about not being ashamed of having this condition.

This really helped me the mind can take you to the moon and back good luck to everyone who has OCD we can do it 🙏🏻

Brought me to tears. Suffered this far too long myself. Thanks for sharing

Very insightful and inspiring. My son and our family battle OCD. God bless you and your family.

As a person with OCD, I totally understand how she was suffering. OCD awareness and providing free resources that will provide OCD sufferers with coping tools is absolutely important. This woman is doing a great service.

Thank you a lot! I somehow considered my thoughts as kind of monster before my wife found it was an OCD. And you totally clarify my ideas about feeding this "something" with an energy on "its" demand. Guesses and parts of the puzzle are gathered. Thank you Tauscha Johansen!

Beautifully articulated. This is the reality of OCD. Thank you for this video.

Thank you, Tauscha! Well said. God bless.

I am a 54-year-old man. I have been suffering with OCD since I was a child. This presentation is excellent, and helps others to discover what I have had to discover on my own treating this situation. I like how you have separated "the monster" from the person. Because it is 100% true, that this monster is not the person. It invades my thoughts, interferes with my actions, it's everything you have described and I felt heartbroken for your daughter. In realizing that the monster is something separate from me, I have recognized it and learned to dismiss it: as you noted, starve the monster. It is always there, always, but if I acknowledge it and realize that it is misleading or misguiding my thoughts, I can beat it. My OCD has been crippling at times, where I have a thought about something bad happening to a family member if I do not perform a task in a proper manner, or if while I'm performing the task properly I have the monster give me a negative thought about my family or pretty much anything in life going bad or wrong. I can only emphasize separating the monster from our real selves. The monster is not who I am, and I can starve it best when my stress levels are low or when my medications are working properly, lol. Even doctors have a very difficult time understanding this disorder. When I feel well, I can dismiss the monster easily. When I am stressed and under a lot of pressure or anxiety, the monster sees an opportunity to feed. I do not know anything much about OCD in the social media venues that you mentioned. But I would like to know more about the group you discussed and the website you discussed so that I can read more about our disease or disorder, and help me understand that I am not alone. Thank you very much for what you have done.

This brought me to tears, as someone with pretty bad ocd(at least for now depending on my stress) it’s horrible. And what’s worse is so many people don’t understand or just judge. It’s terrifying to see uneducated people online tell those with ocd and or have intrusive thoughts that they are thinking those thoughts because they are accurate or because they’re bad people. Telling someone that who’s dealing with ocd is one of the worst things you could do. I hope people try to understand and empathize with people with ocd more in the future.

Thank you, Tauscha Johanson, for helping me realize that I am not alone, and that OCD is a monster we can beat!

Thank you sooo much. This gives me faith that someday somehow I will be able to starve and slay the monster which has been destroying me for the past 16 years

I always knew something was off about my thought process, and it was just recently that I got the OCD diagnosis after finally seeking a therapist because I felt my life spiral... and in a weird way it game me a sense of control and understanding... and not just a crazy person

I think by far one of the greatest take aways from this is how dedicated, compassionate and open she seems to have been with her child with this disorder. It's incredible the amount of benefit, or detriment a parents actions and words can have on a child, and especially a child with mental illness. It is truly unfortunate that mental illness has been tabooed, and it is even worst that there is such a lack of access to education for a lot of parents in regards to mental illness. I have severe OCD and grew up in a household that did not understand this disorder, and the consequences of that reverberated into every aspect of my life for years. My OCD was crippling and I suffered silently until I was 25 years old and was able to finally fight my way to access and education. Had I been shown just a hint of kindness and compassion, or had more access to help and information, things would've been so different. It's important to remember that OCD causes massive amounts of doubt and guilt, so reassurance, empathy and compassion are especially crucial in a person with OCD's life. Keep this in mind when interacting with a person with OCD, whether that be a stranger or a person near and dear to your heart.

Her voice is so relaxing I can listen to her talk about something I hate but she just makes it sound like “you’re ok”

Wow, this video actually helped me. A lot. Thanks!

I'm happy to have found this video. I, being a OCD sufferer from when I was a child, am happy to acknowledge that there is a mother so involved in learning about OCD and trying to help her daughter. It feels like a prison because it is a prison. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the right approach. Don't be ashamed, it's a disorder. Intrusive thoughts are just thoughts. Actually very bad ones but they don't define any of you. I send an hug to all of those who, just like me, are tortured everyday. Have faith in yourselves

I have OCD and I cried while watching this. I realised at 22 that I have been suffering from this. I don't take regular therapy and haven't been diagnosed but my therapists keep on saying I have "obsessive thoughts" and "compulsive behaviors". I have had suicidal phases because of my intrusive thoughts. I have started meditation daily which has helped me considerably. Hope I can get rid of it someday.

this video left me in tears. thank you for your amazing speech

Thank you, Tauscha, for this. Looking at it as a monster will really help me.

What a heartening and encouraging video - such courage and integrity, and clearly an inspirational family.

Thank you so much for talking about this so strongly. It makes me so irritated when people say "Everyone is a bit ocd" like its nothing. I hope people understand ocd a little better after watching this.

Thank you for sharing this because it helps a lot

You're daughter is so Lucky to have such a great mom , it's difficult for non OCD people to understand the pain of sufferers

The part at 7:00 brought tears to my eyes, fighting back the monster almost feels impossible, but we're left with the choice of either giving in to the compulsions and suffering, or starving the monster and living a happy life

A powerful voice of true relevance. I think true healing begins when you can let go of all the negative elements associated with it and appreciate the certain positive elements e.g. being a caring person. This is speaking from the perspective of somebody with OCD! Got to keep going, keep improving and keep growing.

I go through the same exact thing as her daughter does all the time and other things too. Thank you for sharing. I know it can be overcome. Starve the monster.

I suffered from OCD since I was 6 and my family would always make jokes because they saw me counting they thought It was a habit of mine or pretending my parents would get mad at me every time because I didn’t stop they didn’t know I couldn’t😣and I really thought I was the only one in the world like that I started hiding it and my anxiety got worst when I was in high school. I had never heard the word OCD. Until I saw some one on UKposts explaining exactly the same rituals and feeling I always had that gave me hope. I started practicing meditation and praying this has helped me a lot. I pray for those who suffer from OCD can overcome and defeat that monster you are not alone🙏🏻

Listening to this brought a couple of tears to my eyes because I go through the same thing with my own OCD.

Absolutely brilliant video very well composed insightful and helpful

The analogy really helps to visualise the process. I think people who don't have just figure its easy to not do it when in fact it a painful process.

Thank you so much, Tauscha. Understanding that OCD is never a choice is the reassurance that it has nothing to do with who we truly are. That’s a reassurance that I am forever grateful for. 😇