Hi! 👋🏼 my name is Samantha! I am 33 years old and live in New Jersey. I am currently engaged and getting married on October 13th of this year! I love makeup, graphic design, and art! I have a bachelors degree in graphic design and a makeup artistry certification. I am a thinker and love being creative when it comes to expressing myself via artwork, makeup, designing, and everything in between! Glitz and glam are two of my friends as I am a major girly girl. Family and friends mean everything to me. I also adore animals and would own Noah's Ark if I could. I have two cats who are my fur babies and I love them very much.
I am here today to talk a little bit about my struggle with OCD. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 13 years old. I have been on many different medications and have seen many different therapists and psychiatrists throughout my life. I haven’t always had the best experiences with therapy and psychiatry. The same goes for medications. Not every medication and therapist/psychiatrist has been for me. The journey to find the right help can be tough. With that being said, it is a journey worth taking and fighting for because when you find the right treatment, your life will be a lot more centered.
I still have OCD as it never goes away but remember when I said earlier when you find the right treatment for you, it most definitely will help? Please take into consideration that this advice is from someone who has tried more than 10 medications and seen over 10 different therapists and psychiatrists over my lifetime. I am in a much better place now. The medication and therapy over the years have taught me how to cope with my mental disorder of OCD. Sometimes OCD can pop into my relationships and cause me to have more inner anxiety and worried thoughts. It’s what I struggle with most today but I have learned how to cope and work through many difficult situations throughout my journey. I am in a much better place today than I was when I was younger. Treatment, when taken seriously and you're committed, can teach you a lot. Confidence and accepting who you are is key in life. After I learned that everything else fell into place.
For someone with OCD, support is so important. I want to talk about the 4 people who have not only been my biggest supporters but also have inspired me immensely. My mother, father, sister, and fiancé. My father passed away when I was 25. His passing was the most heartbreaking, challenging, and painful time in my life. But unfortunately, the harsh reality is even though your world stopped the rest of the world is still going. I had to find a way to get through it. My father inspires me because he was one of the most genuine human beings I have ever met and I have become just like him. I miss him more than anything. My mother inspires me because she is the strongest woman I know. She is very wise. She and I have a lot in common and she has helped me in so many ways. Both of my parents have helped me a lot. My sister inspires me as she is a wonderful mother to my adorable, handsome little nephew. She is always there for me and is one of the most loyal people I know. My fiancé is the most intelligent person I know. He is also very caring and has a wonderful sense of humor. He inspires me in many ways to be a better person each day.
OCD isn’t easy. Mental illness isn’t easy but we have to talk about it, we have to end the stigma. We have to ultimately make the best of it and live our life to the fullest. A quote I try to live by, especially on the hard days is “Live each day like it's your last.” Losing your father or a loved one that's close to you is an experience I would never wish upon anyone. So live each day like it's your last. Cherish your family and loved ones. Spend as much time with them as you can! Eat that piece of cake. Order the side of french fries. Take that plane ride. Go on that date. Go out to dinner with your mom. Buy that skirt that makes you feel great! Live each day the way you would want to live it because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Xoxo,
Samantha
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