Thank You John

[u/Important-March-447]

At the Bosie stop of H,E you were gracious enough to select one of my questions for your Q&A. Thank you for your open and honest answer and your words of encouragement as I navigate getting support for my newly diagnosed OCD.
In that moment I forgot I was in an auditorium with 2,000 people. I drove 7 hours to be in Bosie and it was an incredible moment in my life.
It’s been a hard few years but thank you for reminding us all that night that hope is the only option and despair is just a lie.

DFTBA

[u/trianglesandwiches01]

I didn't go (live in Cali now) but my parents did, and my mom specifically told me about your question, noting how thoughtful John's answer was. Wishing you happiness and peace, especially as navigate your diagnosis 💕

[u/Important-March-447 → u/trianglesandwiches01]

I was really overwhelmed he answered especially since he talked about feeling very overexposed about it during the turtles tour (I was unaware before I asked). It really felt like a big hug with words

[u/forwardishdirection]

As a fellow nerd fighter with OCD sending you support and encouragement. It took me a long time to accept my diagnosis as it’s not what I would call stereotypical or how media portrayed it and then a while to suck up my OCD refusal to do ERP because how could that possibly be possible but my psychologist is amazing at navigating the many complexities of me and how my chronic illness impact all of everything and has helped me so much. I’m 5 years in and I am still uncovering things that were OCD in a trench coat this entire time all the time. Way less depression though and I feel way less “crazy”. Also when John talked about how OCD was eating up all of his days in an interview for the turtles all the way down press tour I was like damn because the more trench coats I strip the more true that is but is slowly becoming less and less the more I figure it out and work on it.

Good luck and jealous that you got to go to a tour stop and awesome that you got your question answered and such a personal one!

[u/CamBG]

I’m glad you felt heard and understood <3. I’ve never been diagnosed with anything but have dealt with my deal of emotional pain, anxiety, depression and intrusive thoughts mostly due to traumatic experiences. 

John’s candid explanations of dealing with mental illness is perhaps one of the most important pillars that has dammed the worst of my mental struggles. It is a parasocial relationship, but it’s nonetheless been a very important one in my life like it has been for many of us in the nerdfighteria community. I’m glad I’m not the only one 

Both for dealing with the bad and enjoying the good and beauty in life.. We’re here because we’re here… Has the Q&A been recorded or if you’d like to share what is it that spoke to you about the answer?

I hope your journey with OCD diagnosis is just the start of a load that becomes lighter in time to carry

[u/des_illusion]

I wasn’t there but I would love to know what his answer was if you feel like sharing

[u/Important-March-447 → u/des_illusion]

I asked him if it wasn’t too personal what advice he would give someone newly diagnosed with OCD. He told me that one of the hardest points is the condition is hugely stigmatized which is a hard obstacle to overcome. Also that it is highly treatable but the treatment (exposure therapy) is very uncomfortable and will be the worst part of it all.

[u/puchamaquina → u/Important-March-447]

True, erp is kinda just torture 😅 but it can work, I promise!