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Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Welcome SANE Community 😊

On the 13th of April, we welcome ARCVic (The Anxiety Recovery Centre in Victoria) as our special guests, talking about living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Behind the Mask

'Wearing a mask' is something that many of here can relate to. Often for people with mental health concerns, there comes a time when wearing a mask and projecting to the rest of the world that we are okay becomes a part of our lives.

ARCVic described that for many people living with OCD, it can feel like living double lives; the life in public and the life behind the mask.

For Topic Tuesday in April, we are going behind the mask to explore living with OCD, what works for you, and where to seek support. We are joined by ARCVic's Peer Support Group Co-ordinator sharing his experience of OCD and his recovery journey.

You are welcome to bring questions, share your experiences and contribute your thoughts.



Please join us here on Tuesday the 13th of April 2021 from 7:00pm-8:30pm AEST to follow this conversation.

Want to receive a reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

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I'm new here - what is this?

The event runs from 7:00pm-8:30pm AEST and is a live, facilitated Q&A style discussion with a special guest who is a subject matter expert. Each fortnight we focus on a different topic with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator, and joined by a Peer Support Worker. This discussion is open to both our lived experience and Friends Family and Carer's Forums.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

How do I get involved?

Our text-based event takes place right here! As it is text-based, no software is needed. During the session, to keep up with the latest posts hit the 'refresh' button on your browser for the newest comments (posts don't automatically load). The refresh button looks like this:

Keep an eye out for page numbers at the top & bottom of the page, and jump to the highest page number for the most recent post. We recommend using a desktop computer or laptop for the event for overall ease of use .

Throughout the session, the facilitator will post questions for the guest to answer, and you can provide your answer too. To contribute to the event, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong, and everyone is welcome to get involved!

If you can't make it to the live event, but are still interested in the topic, you can always read back through this discussion at a later time.

What time does this event start in my timezone?

  • AEST - 7:00pm
  • ACST - 6:30pm
  • WST - 5:00pm

If you have any questions about how to use the Forums, check out our Forum Community Guidelines and FAQs.

Topic Tuesday discussions can cover some heavy topics. If you are feeling distress during this live discussion, there are support options available to you. You can start a new discussion on the forums and talk to other members, contact the SANE Help Centre on 1800 18 7263, or find crisis support options here.

103 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

We are really looking forward to learning more about you Anu! @ARCVic 🙂

Question 2: You mentioned personal lived experience, would you be comfortable to share a bit more about your journey?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Question 2: You mentioned personal lived experience, would you be comfortable to share a bit more about your journey?

For as long as I remember I have been a very anxious person – even as a kid. But I distinctly remember it starting to significantly impact my day-to-day functioning back when I was in year 4 (2000). It was the same year that my family migrated to Australia from India.

Whilst I was always anxious, after years of therapy I have come to realise that my anxiety and OCD was the result of childhood trauma which happened back in India when I was in primary school - at school. But my anxiety was still dormant until year 4 when it showed itself as generalised anxiety.

In year 4 it was still manageable – my parents weren’t aware but when I look back I could sense that it was starting to come to the surface.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

I’m here @NatureLover

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

When I started High School was the start of my OCD. My intrusive thoughts, obsessions and compulsions were all centred around needing to be the best student and my biggest fear was to not get in trouble with teachers and authority figures. I did everything in my control to ensure that I NEVER got into trouble. I was a very good student and for this reason my anxiety went unnoticed because people on the outside (including my parents) thought I was just a really good student. Little did they know that my anxiety and OCD was bubbling away underneath behind the mask.

Even though I would complete all allocated homework everynight. My mind would constantly tell me that I haven’t. Eventhough I would ensure I had all the correct uniform layed out for the next day – my mind would tell me that I hadn’t. Even though, at the end of each school day I had placed all the right books in my bag for the homework – my mind would constantly tell me that I hadn’t.

This lead me to constantly check, check and re-check my locker, diary, computer and uniform numerous times a day and night. To the point where I would miss my bus because I would constantly check my locker to ensure that I had the right books for the homework that night.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Hi @Eve7! Great to have you here 😊

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

At university, as I grew older and became more aware about what I was going through my OCD evolved into Panic Disorder. The OCD however would still be there simmering away in the background.

At the moment my anxiety is very much managed by multiple things. I have learned to not feed into my thoughts – which by the way took a lot of hard work and self-reflection.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Really lovely to see you, @Eve7

I am sorry to read about your childhood trauma, Anu. 😞 I also have that.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Why was this different to most people..?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST


@ARCVic wrote:

Question 2: You mentioned personal lived experience, would you be comfortable to share a bit more about your journey?

For as long as I remember I have been a very anxious person – even as a kid. But I distinctly remember it starting to significantly impact my day-to-day functioning back when I was in year 4 (2000). It was the same year that my family migrated to Australia from India.

Whilst I was always anxious, after years of therapy I have come to realise that my anxiety and OCD was the result of childhood trauma which happened back in India when I was in primary school - at school. But my anxiety was still dormant until year 4 when it showed itself as generalised anxiety.

In year 4 it was still manageable – my parents weren’t aware but when I look back I could sense that it was starting to come to the surface.


Isn't it interesting looking back to see how long we have experienced anxiety, even before having words to put to it, and before a diagnosis. It sounds like this is something that started at a really young age. Similar to you, I can remember my first experience of generalised anxiety at the age of 5 💙

It sounds like you have done a lot of work to understand where things orignated form. I am so sorry to hear the trauma you have been through

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // OCD: Behind The Mask // Tues 13th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST


@ARCVic wrote:

I have learned to not feed into my thoughts


I would be interested to hear how you do that, Anu @ARCVic

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