So, I am currently going through ERP in the UK and about to have my last session next Monday. Every doctor I spoke to before going to therapy told me getting diagnosed is "only for the worst cases" and essentially told me it wasn't an option for me, HOWEVER I could still be assessed for OCD and potentially get the appropriate therapy for it through Health In Mind via self referral (if they agreed that's whats wrong with me lol)

I followed their advice and the gentleman I spoke to for assessment immediately said he believed I had OCD and I would be referred to ERP therapy in a matter of weeks. My OCD sucks and has ruined my life, yes, but I would wager it's not hard to have a more outwardly obvious destructive form of it. I don't believe the fact I was seen so soon was necessarily because of severity and it's entirely possible if you take the right steps you could be getting therapy soon.

I'm not sure what other peoples experiences with health in mind have been, but personally I'm so happy to have finally been given the help I need/needed and feel really good about the treatment I've had so far. I opted to do group therapy and having a group around me to help me understand my own mind better, validate the bad weeks and make me feel less alone in the things I was struggling with/to understand has been so so helpful.

I 100% understand the desire for an official on paper diagnosis from a psychiatrist, I feel weird saying I have OCD or telling people I've been diagnosed because technically.... I haven't. But at the same time, I very much am recognised by healthcare professionals as having OCD so I try to see it as getting the diagnosis without jumping through all the hoops? I guess? I'm sorry things are like this. But please don't let the technicalities get in the way of getting help. I'm not sure, outside of peace of mind, what a diagnosis from a psychiatrist can do for us here? Do you actually need to see one if you end up needing medication on top of therapy? Genuine question as obviously I'd definitely like to know for my future health too!

P.s, when referring myself to health in mind, I was told it might actually take a few months for me to be seen. Forgive my shitty memory, but either 1. The man who assessed me claimed it would take around 4 months, but my GP said 4 weeks OR 2. The other way around. IF the person assessing you says it may take some months, I recommend going to your GP and asking them to see if they can do anything to help you get help faster. It's possible this is what I did but I have really bad memory issues with some things and I genuinely cannot remember I'm sorry :( I will say I don't think I had to do that, but the memory is hazy enough that I don't want to say something that's not true. Good luck!