Woman ‘trapped’ in her own mind for two decades finally has her life back thanks to Oldham therapy service

An Oldham woman who lived with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for over 20 years has praised a local NHS therapy service for helping her take back control of her life.

Liz, 41, felt overwhelmed by intense fears of her home not being safe, electrical appliances catching on fire, or harm coming to her pets.

After her mental health deteriorated in November 2023, Liz went to her GP and agreed to self-refer to NHS Oldham Talking Therapies, run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Speaking about her battle against obsessive compulsive disorder, Liz said: “It affected every aspect of my life and I felt trapped in my own mind.

"I’d spend hours checking locks and taking photos of plug sockets being unplugged.

"I’d regularly wake up to check the locks again, and then barricade my bedroom door to feel safe.

“I’d take annual leave from work to go home and check everything was still secure.

"No matter how many times I checked the doors, I felt someone would break in.

“I set specific times to leave so my neighbours wouldn’t watch me doing checks.

"My close friends would make plans, but I couldn’t face leaving the house unsafe.

“I’d unsuccessfully tried medication in the past, but it never solved the root of the problem.

"I knew I had to give something else a try.”

She met with Abida Akther, high-intensity cognitive behavioural therapist from NHS Oldham Talking Therapies.

During their weekly sessions Liz learnt coping skills and helpful tools to better manage her thoughts and behaviour.

Abida explained: “There are often misconceptions about obsessive compulsive disorder, such as just wanting to keep things clean, neat, and tidy.

"But it often presents itself in a very dark and powerful way.

"It’s a debilitating condition that significantly interferes with daily life.

“Liz and I worked together to help her gradually feel more exposed to her fears.

"She learned anxiety and distress could naturally decrease, without the need to engage in compulsive behaviours.

"And she challenged the false beliefs driving her obsessive-compulsive disorder and gained confidence in controlling it.”

After five months, Liz was delighted with her improvement.

She said: “Abida brought me such a long way in a short time.

"From my first session I felt validated and understood.

"She taught me how to change my mindset and take back control.

“It’s easy to have preconceptions about therapy and think it won’t work.

"But it’s always worth giving it a try and there’s no shame in asking for help.

“I’ll always have obsessive compulsive disorder, but it no longer controls me.

"And thanks to Abida, I can now accept it as part of who I am and live my life in a healthy and manageable way. I’m forever grateful.”

How to get support

NHS Oldham Talking Therapies is for people aged 16+ who are registered with a GP in Oldham.

The team offers lots of different types of support for those experiencing low mood, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, sleep difficulties and more.

People can easily self-refer at: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/oldhamtalk, or they can ask their GP or another professional to make the referral on their behalf.

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