u/RoyalPlanetWhale

Ever since I developed this OCD, I’ve had sleep issues. Whenever I try to fall asleep, I get random, racing thoughts in my head that I can't stop—voices having nonsensical conversations. On top of that, I can barely visualize anything anymore. Of course, this has all been going on for quite a while now. Have any of you experienced this? Or is it unrelated to the OCD? Cheers.

Hey everyone, a bit about me: Male, 26, 6'2" (188 cm), 120 kg. I tore my ACL and partially tore my meniscus during sparring in December '24. I had surgery in April '25—where they harvested a hamstring tendon—and unfortunately needed another knee surgery in September '25 because a cyclops lesion had formed. I’ve been in physio since May '25 with the goal of returning to contact sports (Muay Thai), specifically aiming for hard sparring and competition. It’s been a tough, rocky road—especially mentally—but I’ve reached the end of Phase 3, so I’m right on the verge of the "return-to-sport" phase of rehab. My physio said I have about three sessions left before he clears me for full Muay Thai training (obviously not going from zero to a hundred, but progressing steadily and consciously). He also said that, in my current state, he’d already let me do boxing and BJJ (though I’d ​​take it easy with BJJ, of course). Since I’m currently looking for a new gym, I tried out boxing; it was pretty cardio-heavy, which put a fair amount of strain on my knee—otherwise it was okay, but kind of boring. Now I actually want to try a Muay Thai class to see how it feels. My physio advised against it for now, suggesting I finish the last few appointments to run some jump tests first. On my own, I’ve already practiced a few combos and kicks. Naturally, I’m a bit out of shape, and my knee feels slightly stiff after too much exertion, but I assume that’s normal... So, my question is: what would you do in my position? And has anyone here returned to full-contact combat sports after a severe ACL injury and surgery? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers.

😢😢😢😿😿

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Hi everyone, I’d be interested to know if any of you hold down a regular job? I haven’t worked for over a year now due to a physical injury and am currently—fortunately—living on benefits. Before that, I worked at a gym and always took on various low-end jobs; I couldn't stick with them for long because of the OCD and kept quitting so I could recover mentally. What’s it like for you guys, and how do you picture the future? I mean, there probably isn't a cure for this, right? Do you have a driver's license and drive? I’d be curious to know...

Best regards,

An 8-year long survivor

We all know what it’s like to be normal—to fit in, more or less. Since the onset of this disorder, most of us have learned to appreciate life even more—especially the past, those small moments when everything was still normal and we weren't yet ruled by the tics and the fear in our heads. We all long for a normal life; ever since I was young, I’ve had dreams and goals I wanted to realize. Now, however, the most ordinary things—like holding down a job or building a career—feel as difficult as passing a doctoral exam or winning a world championship; or rather, they feel nearly impossible. I believe we are here for something else—something like a soul plan, a greater mission for ourselves. It is about setting boundaries where we previously lacked the courage to do so, and becoming a different kind of person—sincere and upright. We have a disorder that no one sees, no one notices, and no one wants to acknowledge—except us. Our souls have a plan, and we are meant to evolve.

Staring OCD Army

We need to reach a point where we don't care what people think when we stare at them, and we have to stop trying to control our eyes. Even if we end up getting confronted over it, we must learn to set boundaries—no matter how questionable they might seem, or even if the person involved is our own grandmother. We can't help it; how were we supposed to know that our past life choices would lead to this disorder? It is an involuntary tic, and we shouldn't beat ourselves up over it, nor should we let others tear us down for it.

Have it for 8 years 😢

What can we do