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**“Let me tell you about myself and my experience with OCD and painful avoidance, and I want you all to share yours as well in return. So… about three years ago, my OCD became very mild, and after about a week it completely disappeared. I forgot about it and went back to my life. Then, three years later, it returned. I still remember the day it started—I had a thought, rejected it, and then the OCD hit me hard. After months, I discovered treatment, but at first I followed Jeffrey’s approach, and my condition got much worse. I was extremely terrified. I tried to get help, but I couldn’t find a good doctor at the time. I had exams and the pain was unbelievable. I would study a little, then panic, then cry, then study again. I told my mother, and she said it was just in my head and I could overcome it. She took me to a doctor, but it didn’t help back then. As the exams got closer, everything became harder. I was avoiding everything socially, I left my friend group, and I became completely alone. I used to sit by myself most of the time—studying, crying, stressing. I only felt better when I stopped studying, but then I couldn’t focus anymore because the OCD kept getting stronger. I wanted to quit school, but my mother forced me to continue. Then I found Dr. Emad Alzoubi, and I learned about exposure and response prevention. I started applying it, and things began to get better. I remember I couldn’t even leave the house before, I was terrified. But now… I’m going through a relapse again, and this time it’s really difficult. I developed social anxiety. I started fearing every little action because I’ve been criticized so much in my life. People always wanted to control me. I was never myself. I never had the chance to express who I really was. I became a fake version of myself. Even now at work, I get criticized by another girl who works with me. I started fearing simple things. I’m stressed, and the idea of working extra hours with her makes me anxious. I’m not playing the victim, and maybe no one even meant to hurt me, but today I feel lonely. I’m tired of being someone I’m not. I’m tired of feeling like a fake version of myself.”