Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive, unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and irrational, excessive urges to do certain actions (compulsions). Although people with OCD may know that their thoughts and behavior don’t make sense, they are often unable to stop them. Symptoms typically begin during childhood, the teenage years or young adulthood, although males often develop them at a younger age than females. 1.2% of U.S. adults experience OCD each year.
(National Alliance on Mental Illness)
“Karis looked like a unique opportunity where there would be staff to support me, yet an independent space for me to learn how to live my life outside of my family’s home.”
Before Karis, I had as full of a life as I could, despite living with a serious and persistent mental illness. I had a good relationship with my family, did well in school, and played lots of sports. One of my most significant accomplishments was winning the state cup championship tournament in soccer when I was 14. I also played varsity soccer in high school. Before going to college, I took a gap semester in Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. Traveling with a group of friends and experiencing the culture of different countries was an incredible experience. I loved making new friends and developing meaningful relationships. In college, I continued my love for sports and started playing golf and even going to the gym.
However, my mental illness began to interfere with my day-to-day life. Living with OCD made it challenging to leave the house or move through the day appropriately. For example, I could get stuck making my bed repeatedly. I worked with a therapist doing outpatient work, but I had a tough time going to school and living everyday life. It became so severe, that I needed to seek inpatient treatment. I spent two months in an OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) treatment facility in Boston. Inpatient therapy was beneficial because everyone there had OCD, and all we did every day was work on our OCD symptoms. One successful treatment for OCD is exposure therapy. “Exposure and response therapy exposes a person to the cause of their anxiety. For example, a person with a fear of germs may be asked by a doctor or therapist to put their hand on something considered dirty, such as a doorknob. Afterwards, they will refrain from washing their hands. The length of time between touching the doorknob and washing hands becomes longer and longer. Ultimately, when the person realizes that not washing right away does not cause a deadly reaction, the compulsion to wash fades.” (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
After inpatient treatment, I was ready to live outside my parents’ home and continue managing my OCD. I was not yet prepared to live alone in an apartment, and that is when I decided to apply to Karis Community.
Karis focuses on mental health and supporting those with serious and persistent mental illness. My OCD had negatively impacted my life, and Karis allowed me to learn to manage my symptoms with a support system. Karis looked like a unique opportunity where there would be staff to support me, yet an independent space for me to learn how to live my life outside of my family’s home. Karis offered me a space to transition to more independence. I like the structure of community dinners, group meetings, and community activities like yoga and volleyball. Karis asks each Community Member to structure their day with a minimum of 20 hours of either work, volunteering. or attending school. I am currently continuing my education at The Community College of Denver. I have learned that I love graphic design and Spanish. I am also part of a club at the college called UMI men’s group. Before the pandemic, we got together at the campus for group activities. One of my favorite events was attending a Denver Nuggets basketball game.
I believe that my life has improved since I first arrived at Karis. I have learned so much from the Community and the things we do together. The check-ins have been extremely helpful because they have given me feedback and advice. I have been able to solve my problems and at the same time run ideas and thoughts by someone else. This way, I do not feel entirely alone and isolated when I am trying to solve problems. We have fun events together, making dough, cooking different cuisines, and watching movies and TV shows like the Mandalorian. Another good thing that has happened here at Karis is getting a support animal dog, Chloe. She has offered a lot of mental and emotional support. Karis has made a significant impact on my life and the lives of countless others. Karis gives people who live with mental illness opportunities they might not otherwise have.
Through Karis, I am learning how to move toward becoming an independent adult. I have learned from both the staff and the residents how to navigate life and create a more full and balanced life for myself. OCD can often interfere with living life to the fullest. Karis has helped me get my OCD symptoms under better control. Karis provides a structure that is important for people with OCD. Without structure, OCD takes over through repetition and ritualizing. If I have a deadline of preparing dinner for everyone at Karis, it gives me purpose, and as a person living with OCD, I can’t get stuck as much if I have things that I want to accomplish. Although living with roommates can at times be both easy and hard. Karis has allowed me to become more adaptable and resilient with a lot of real-life situations. These skills help me to grow and mature, essential for someone with a mental illness.
DM
Community Member
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