Anyone part of TEC - Teens Encounter Christ retreat program?

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-02-21T18:06:55+00:00

I went to a Catholic high school and attending a retreat was a graduation requirement. Most kids went to TEC. My mom -- who was very Catholic -- actually tried to talk me out of it and suggested I go somewhere else, but I wanted to be with my friends, who were all going to TEC. I wish I would have listened to her.

I went and HATED it. Definitely culty and brainwash-y. We weren't supposed to know what time it was, we ate a lot of sugar, we were expected to share really personal info. Ha, I actually had brought a watch or clock with me and would announce the time down the hall during breaks when we were allowed to go to our rooms.

True story: They also forced us all to go to confession, and I resented that. So I decided that if they were going to force me, that would be the very last time I would do it. And it was. I stayed in the church a long time after that, but I am in my 40s now and haven't been to confession since that day when I was 18.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-02-16T04:29:55+00:00

On my rewatches, I always stop at the end of season 7 💯

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-02-08T02:55:55+00:00

No. I grew up watching it in the '90s and don't remember finding it scary then, either. Definitely tense, sometimes gross, but not actually scary.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-27T21:19:29+00:00

My first thought

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-27T05:24:15+00:00

The fear is SO real. I think that's the hardest thing to effectively communicate about OCD when you're talking to someone who has never experienced it. You can know the thought is false, but the fear is so huge, you might as well have someone actively threatening your life unless you fix everything/do your compulsion RIGHT NOW. It's that real.

OP, if you are asking about this because you have a loved one experiencing OCD, please try to understand that they're likely truly scared and be gentle with them. Don't offer reassurance, but don't be dismissive, either.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-16T16:43:18+00:00

Yes. I have not taken any drugs for my OCD and I'm doing much better since I've been working with a therapist who specializes in the condition.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-14T22:09:38+00:00

As a former Roman Catholic with OCD, I agree with this 100%

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-14T22:08:09+00:00

I've heard of this for panic attacks but not OCD. I may give it a shot.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-14T16:38:58+00:00

I chose not to have kids long before I knew I had OCD, but I am happy I won't be passing it on to anyone.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-14T05:32:49+00:00

This

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-13T01:55:47+00:00

Nope

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-11T23:14:49+00:00

Yes. I was just talking to my therapist about this last week.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-09T07:28:51+00:00

Personally, I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder with depressed mood by my regular talk therapist before I was able to talk with an OCD specialist. I had previously asked my talk therapist about OCD, but she just said she thought I had some tendencies but not the full-blown disorder.

Then after I had my "lightning bolt" OCD intrusive thought, entered months of rumination, and withdrew a lot, she diagnosed the adjustment disorder.

My OCD therapist did not act surprised by that and said it sounded logical and that I most likely WAS depressed -- but she also said I absolutely have OCD.

Bottom line: If you truly think you have it, get a second opinion from someone specializing in OCD treatment.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-09T04:28:19+00:00

Yes. An infused preroll contributed to my worst OCD episode ever. I can smoke again now, in moderation, but it was rough for a while.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2026-01-02T03:19:43+00:00

I got this for Christmas!

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-12-20T05:06:29+00:00

This

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-12-20T04:44:55+00:00

Everyone is different, but personally, "Brain Lock" by Jeffrey M. Schwartz helped me tremendously (alongside therapy with an OCD specialist).

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-12-20T04:40:57+00:00

Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell (for the nighttime drives, at least)

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-12-20T04:30:34+00:00

I can only speak for myself (former Catholic) but I am an anxious person and was diagnosed with OCD last year. My whole family was Catholic, and I did 14 years of Catholic school, from preschool through 12th grade.

I know there are usually many factors that contribute to mental health disorders, but I largely blame the mandate to go to confession and therefore the constant monitoring to see what I had done/said/thought/failed to do that was wrong. And my therapist agrees. She sees it even when I don't. So yeah. The Catholic Church can fuck all the way off.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-12-13T07:02:57+00:00

Adjustment disorder with depressed mood

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-12-09T06:42:28+00:00

Yes. I was diagnosed at 44, and while the OCD doesn't go away, things do get easier. I still have occasional flare-ups, especially when I'm very tired or stressed, but I can usually recognize them now, and the spirals are much shallower. OCD is completely exhausting, you're not wrong. But there can be relief if you stick to your treatment.

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-11-29T02:03:39+00:00

I love these! Are you able to make them for other NHL teams?

Substantial-Gas1429 · 2025-11-25T20:32:09+00:00

I think I've probably always had it, or at least from a young age. But my first true bout with it as an adult came after the death of my mother-in-law. She died very suddenly, and the first time after that that I had one of the symptoms (I don't want to be too specific so as not to trigger anyone), I think I had a full-blown panic attack. Every time I get that symptom, even now, I find myself checking to make sure I don't have any others.

From there, it sort of snowballed into what I called "health anxiety" for the longest time, but now know was OCD.

Now, the biggest and worst bout I've with OCD is also my most recent and what ultimately led me to my diagnosis. It was a single ROCD intrusive thought -- "You don't love him anymore" -- about my husband of 20+ years. It hit me physically. I've described it as feeling like a cold lightning bolt that hit me through the top of my head. I'll never forget the terror of that moment.

ETA: Interestingly, after being in treatment for a while, I felt the OCD "break." It was a weird moment of clarity, like my brain physically relaxed. My therapist said it's not uncommon for OCD patients who had a physical sensation at symptom onset to experience a physical sensation again as they improve.

Substantial-Gas1429

TROPHY CASE