The IOCDF Communications Team is excited to share your story!  The IOCDF applies SEO and our editorial best practices when selecting, editing and formatting written articles and video submissions for the website's blog to increase searchability and help users find the information they need. Please follow these guidelines to refine your submission prior to publishing.

Stories from the Community

Stories can encourage, inspire, and inform. We offer storytellers the space to tell their personal stories of their journey of recovery, hope about OCD and related disorders – boldly, honestly, and creatively.

We welcome submissions from those living with OCD or a related disorder, their family/friends, researchers, and medical professionals. 

After reviewing the following guidelines, please email submissions to: stories@iocdf.org

Submissions need to be engaging and convey a clear message that the author wants to share for the benefit of the community. Examples are how to manage OCD symptoms, advice for supporting others with OCD, and overcoming stigma.

Please note, we may edit stories and titles for length, clarity, and our editorial guidelines. Authors will have final approval if significant changes are necessary and alter your original tone. We never want to misrepresent your voice or message.

Articles that include therapy, treatment or medical advice, may only be submitted by medical professionals.

Due to the high volume of submissions, if you have yet to receive an email indicating the publication date or request for edits, your submission is not currently the right fit. You are welcome to resubmit after that.

Submission Guidelines

Written submissions (GoogleDoc or Word doc.) should be 1500 plus words and in English. 

We welcome submissions of images that help convey your story as a description about what is going on in the article. Think of it as a Tweet! (source required, no copyrighted images accepted, all submissions at the discretion of the IOCDF)

Video Submissions need to be submitted in MP4 files.

Please reference Instructions for iPhone Videos Guidelines

For written submission, please indicate on the first page if you prefer to be anonymous OR include the following.

  • Name
  • Email Address
  • Social Handle
  • Brief biographical note (2-3 sentences)
  • Title

Authors must cite any facts, research and direct quotes.

The IOCDF adheres to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) guidelines when reviewing articles that include mental health and suicide. For complete details, refer to the AFSP  Safe Storytelling Guidelines Submission Tips

Consider your audience (lived experience, Parents/Loved Ones, Clinicians, Researchers) and write accordingly.

Consider the purpose of the article. Your goal in sharing your story should be to educate and help others by learning about your struggle and recovery, reduce stigma, or call for change. Pair painful and challenging descriptions with recovery, hope and inspiration.

One of the main challenges in overcoming OCD and finding treatment is the stigma of mental health and OCD specifically. Contribute to eliminating stigma when creating your article by sharing facts and experiences, being honest about treatment, writing in first-person, and including a call to action for your readers to help.

Additional Blog Post Tips:

  1. Use transition words.
    • Examples include: and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first
  2. Maintain active voice
  3. Don’t make blogs difficult to read, use this Resource to check readability
  4. Create sections of 300 words and separated by headlines.