Afraid of Being Teased
Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008Question: I am pretty sure there is help out there for me but I am too afraid of being teased about being mentally ill to discuss it. Are there any easy first steps?
Answer: Many people initially feel uncomfortable about asking for help and talking to someone about the worries and thoughts that they are having. The good news is that when you enter into a therapeutic relationship, you will hopefully find yourself with a professional who relieves your anxiety about being teased and instead helps to normalize how common anxiety disorders and OCD really are. Perhaps after learning about the millions of others who suffer as you do, and being able to pick up book after book and read about others experiencing similar symptoms, you will not feel so alone and mentally ill—because OCD is an anxiety disorder that has biological, neurological origins and is not caused by anything by which one should feel ashamed.
The best step for you seems to be to get lots of psychoeducation (reading books and visiting web sites about OCD treatment), find a cognitive behavioral therapist who specializes in treating OCD, and then perhaps even join an OCD support group so that you can meet others and realize how many others have experiences just like yours. You know, there is strength in numbers and knowledge is POWER.
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