VOICES FROM THE FRONT LINE
![Young african woman smiling at sunset Portrait of beautiful african american woman smiling and looking away at park during sunset. Outdoor portrait of a smiling black girl. Happy cheerful girl laughing at park with colored hair band.](https://asarinapharma.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/iStock-969233490-1-scaled-p9529pjtcle41z9gk7fcizhim2rp7x1zjrmt3ws8zs.jpg)
‘Helena’, 24, recalls her days at Upper Secondary School
“If I brushed against someone in the corridor, straightaway I’d feel dirty and scared. The minute I got home I’d throw away those clothes, jump in the shower and scrub. Sometimes until I was raw. It’s better now, but it’s still there. I know how to manage it, but I have to be vigilant.”
![Male professional smiling over white background Portrait of male professional wearing shirt. Mid adult businessman is smiling. He is over white background.](https://asarinapharma.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/iStock-685132225-scaled-p952f8tllgywfb808lk97l78jrhijr12z5xqukksco.jpg)
‘Mike’, 31, on his childhood and adolescence
“It was like my own mind was torturing me. From the moment I woke up, violent, graphic thoughts and images just kept popping up in my head. I was only 9 when it started. I didn’t dare tell a soul. I was terrified. Of myself. Of what I might do. I hid it all the time. People around me just thought ‘oh, he’s a bit of a perfectionist’. Eventually I was diagnosed at 26, after 17 years. When my therapist first said, “they’re just thoughts, they’re not really you” I wept. I can laugh at the compulsions now and just push them away. But I’m still figuring the best ways to manage it, OCD’s different for everyone.”
![Male professional smiling over white background Portrait of male professional wearing shirt. Mid adult businessman is smiling. He is over white background.](https://asarinapharma.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/iStock-685132225-scaled-p952f8tllgywfb808lk97l78jrhijr12z5xqukksco.jpg)
![Confident in glasses Confident in glasses girl, portrait](https://asarinapharma.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/iStock-913654426-kopia-scaled-p952igfqy3d63ck2hhjd8a0xm5nnuis2f26gvltd3c.jpg)
‘Åsa’, 26, on her ongoing therapeutic journey
“I was diagnosed with OCD at 21 when I was in hospital receiving treatment for an eating disorder. I was screened and diagnosed with OCD and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). I’d always just thought everyone was as terrified of germs as I was. I’ve tried a few clinical programs for OCD, none have been a total success, and different clinicians tend to focus on one disorder. I’m not a big fan of pharmaceutical treatments, but if there was one that worked for OCD I’d definitely try it.”