By Ella Kim
My name is Ella Kim, and I am a junior in high school. My older brother was diagnosed with OCD when I was five years old. So, for as long as I can remember, OCD has been an unwelcome member of our family.
First, he asked questions repeatedly, asking for various reassurances, but we had no idea that it was a sign of OCD. This went on for months. Then, he began running to the kitchen faucet and “wetting” his hands with the drops of water left at the edge of the faucet. That’s when my mom realized that his unusual behaviors might be related to OCD.
He immediately began therapy, and his symptoms began to improve. However, throughout middle school and high school, they came back with a vengeance. It was difficult for him to maintain friendships, complete his homework, and function like a normal teenager. I watched my parents struggle as my brother cycled through different therapists and treatments.
Thankfully, my brother eventually received the support he needed and is now doing much better. Inspired by his journey, I started a research project investigating delays in OCD diagnosis and treatment. The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) became an invaluable resource—helping me connect with therapists, support groups, and, ultimately, families like mine.
I also authored a children’s book called How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD, which helps young children learn about OCD and exposure and response prevention therapy.
In 2023, I attended the IOCDF’s Annual OCD Conference in San Francisco to recruit more participants for my study and share How to Defeat Bully Brain.
The welcoming and supportive community gave our entire family a sense of not being alone in the battle against OCD.
Since then, I have written a second book focusing on the various types of OCD since there are so many different obsessions and compulsions that patients can experience. I am working on a third and planning to promote it at the upcoming conference this summer.
I’ll see you in Chicago!
About this Article:
This piece originally appeared as a part of IOCDF’s Spring Fundraising Campaign to fund pediatric programming. You can contribute and support families like Ella’s here: donate and make a difference today!
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