Ep23 - Managing OCD With God

To kick off the year we’re chatting with Amelie, a university student in Sydney, Australia. Amelie’s mental health journey started during high school, with what she thought was anxiety. She experienced what she refers to as “existential dread”, and her mind was always busy with questions about her identity, who God is, and what it all means.

At first, Amelie and her family chalked her anxiety up to the usual stresses of teenagehood and highschool exams, but when it only intensified after high school, she sought professional help. It was then that Amelie was diagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Although she didn’t come from a Christian family, Amelie found God through being invited to attend a local youth group with her friends, and she leaned heavily on her faith as a source of comfort and truth as she came to terms with her new diagnosis.

Amelie now says that she’s living an answered prayer — even though her OCD hasn’t gone away. Her story is a great reminder for us all that God answering our prayers doesn’t always mean we’ll receive full healing or stop facing struggles; sometimes, His healing is about helping us learn to trust in Him more deeply, and to seek Him through our challenges.

Through her faith in God, regular visits to her psychologist and by going on medication, Amelie has been able to learn more about the way her mind works and how she can better manage her OCD. She’s able to say that God is good and just and holy, even amidst her struggles.

Amelie has also shared part of her story in a blog post for us, called With Trauma Came OCD, but Then Came Jesus.

If anything Amelie shares brings up something difficult for you, we’d really encourage you to reach out to someone — whether that’s a friend, family member, pastor, counsellor, or your doctor. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand, you can click here to see a list of organisations that can help.