My Journey with OCD, with guest Matt Bahnick

Along the Gravel Road Podcast

In this episode, Matt Bahnick gives us an inside look into his journey with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Matt Bahnick founded the Positive Vibe Movement in 2015 with a dream to end the stigma surrounding mental health. For Matt and his family, the struggles of mental health have been part of every day life for as long as they can remember. Matt was diagnosed with OCD at 8 years old, while it had taken over 20 years for his brother to be properly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Matt was able to find escape playing baseball but his brother wasn’t as fortunate. Matt delves into his and his brother’s experience in and out of mental hospitals, and the faults they witnessed in the mental health system first hand.

“All human beings are wired differently, what works for you might not work for me. Mental health has been misunderstood for so long. We want to be the voice of change. To educate, inform, and eventually end the stigma. No matter what you’re going through, just know you’re not alone. We’ll always have your back. This is so much more than clothing, it’s a Movement.” -Matt Bahnick on the story of the Positive Vibe Movement

As a partner to the You Aren’t Alone Project, 5% of all profits are donated in support of ending the stigma.

Visit the Positive Vibe Movement

Resources

Understanding OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress.

Many people with OCD know or suspect their obsessions are not true, but they still have a hard time keeping their focus off the obsessions or stopping the compulsive actions. A diagnosis of OCD requires the presence of obsession and/or compulsions that are time-consuming (more than one hour a day), cause major distress, and impair work, social or other important function. About 1.2 percent of Americans have OCD and among adults slightly more women than man are affected. OCD often begins in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood; the average age symptoms appear is 19 years old.

In this show, Matt credits Ali, OCD Recovery Coach, for saving his life at a moment when he was on the verge of losing all hope. Learn more about Ali Greymond, OCD Recovery Coach and get some free resources.

Follow along at instagram.com/youarentaloneproject or learn more at youarentaloneproject.com.