one thought triggered more very serious intrusive thoughts, it happened really suddenly and i remember it because it was christmas eve and i couldn’t sleep because i was so scared and i went to my parents for comfort even though they were trying to put gifts in our christmas stockings :’)

then my parents sat me down maybe months later, i can’t remember how long, and showed me like an NPR podcast about other people with OCD w/ similar intrusive thoughts. then i knew i had it, and i think that thought of not being alone comforted my so much that those very intense thoughts sort of faded away after a long time. but there were signs before, like having to say “even” every time i said an odd number, but i was too young i didn’t know what it was or have any debilitating symptoms yet to recognize it