Listen Now: Apple | Spotify
Today I am joined by OCD warrior Jenna Cannon as she shares what life is really like with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She developed this disease at a young age and it carried on with her throughout her life. Luckily, her story is one of an overcomer. Jenna now advocates for those struggling with their mental health and wants them to know that it’s okay to struggle but there is always hope.
Jenna Cannon is an OCD warrior. She developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at the age of 6, and has had many ups and downs with the disorder ever since. She is on a holistic journey to heal the generational patterns of trauma and suffering that contribute to her mental illness. Her goal is to help others see that it’s ok to have mental struggles and there’s always hope. She hopes that by sharing her journey, people will develop more compassion for those who are hurting and start supporting one another through this roller coaster we call life.
Today she shares with us so many stories of what it was like to struggle with this disorder throughout her life, but she also shares with us the joy of the life that she can live now. Her story of hope is truly one that everyone can be inspired by. It doesn't matter if you are on the field and you feel like giving up, or you are an athlete struggling with an eating disorder or any disorder at all. There is always a safe place for you. There are always resources available to you. If you are struggling, don’t let your brain or your compulsions get stuck. There is always hope for you.
3 key takeaways from this episode:
How an anxiety coach saved her life
I think that it’s safe to say that most of us have heard of a counselor or therapist, but dis you know that there are such things as an anxiety coach? Jenna shares with us today that her anxiety coach has dealt with and overcame OCD, which means that she can strongly relate to what Jenna is telling her. Jenna shares how that changed her life.
How to overcome compulsions
Jenna’s message is one of hope. It is also one of patience and time. It took Jenna years to overcome her compulsions. It will not happen overnight, but it can happen for you, if you keep trying and break those lies and patterns.
Breaking through fear
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can come in many different forms. For Jenna, she was afraid to get her hands dirty, for example. As time went on and she got more and more tired of fighting, she started introducing germs to her hands by touching her kitchen counter. It seems like a small step for us, but for Jenna, it was huge and led to her being able to overcome her fears.
Here are all the things mentioned in this episode:
What are you reading/listening to?
Follow Jenna: https://www.instagram.com/jennacannonimagines/
Follow the FAM: @femaleathletemission
