To my OCD,

Some call you a Disorder.
Obsessive,
Compulsive,
Irrational,
but I know you better than they.

I too found you disturbing,
until I found a way
to understand who you are
and your goals for me.

In a world I can’t control,
you try to pave a way.

Checking.
Thinking.
Doing.
Going.
You try to distract me from my pain,
from the trauma that’s stored in me.

Every single day,
you are fighting for me.
You try to pave a way.

Your methods might be unorthodox,
a little confusing,
sometimes stressful too.
Those things are true,
and yet, this I also know of you…

Spinning thoughts—a racing mind.
You run as fast as you can.
In this brutal world,
you try to protect me.
You’re doing what you can.

Don’t give up.
Don’t you quit.
Keep going, you say to me.

I hear you loud and clear,
my friend, my warrior, my OCD.

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Danielle Render Turmaud, PhD, NCC (she/her/hers) is an agented kidlit author, a trauma therapist, a Psychology Today expert blog author, an international presenter and speaker (on topics surrounding trauma and mental health), a published author in academia, and an experienced university instructor. Danielle is also the host of writing community resources, such as the You, Me, and the Writing Journey podcast and the #YouDeservepIt writer pitch event, which are aimed at empowering authors in their journey. 

Twitter: @Drenderturmaud

Bluesky: @drenderturmaud.bsky.social

Instagram: @Drenderturmaud

Website: danielleturmaud9.wixsite.com