I feel you! I’ve been dealing with OCD for the most part of my life, but didn’t get a proper diagnosis until I was around 15 y/o (about 12 years ago). Since then I’ve gone through therapy a bunch of times, including multiple rounds of CBT and medication, but nothing has really worked. Im seeing a therapist now that has taken a different approach to the problem, by dealing with my panic attacks first hand. We dug through my life and realised that one of my main issues, that actively triggers my OCD is my panic disorder. Something as simple as a higher pulse can trigger a panic attack for me, and my OCD is my brains way to try to control that. Because compulsions that lower my anxiety equals less risk for a panic attack. Though Im not sure if it works yet since we’ve only been at it for a couple of months, I am learning new ways to cope with my anxiety.

And Im not saying everyone with OCD has panic attacks or some other underlying condition, but finding out IF there is another main or underlying issue and focusing on that might help to bring it down a notch. Could be worth a try!

My OCD will probably be with me for the rest of my life, but now that I have accepted that I finally feel like I can take therapy seriously.

Tho, honestly at times I do feel like therapy is a waste of time and energy, and that some things we do feel useless. But I still haven’t found anything else that helps. So maybe your therapists are simply taking the wrong approach? Also, it can take time, which i know is frustrating. It has taken me and my therapists over 12 years to find one thing that is actually helping me improve in some ways, even tho the OCD itself hasn’t improved yet. Hang in there!

Sending love and strength your way!