Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
As a local advocacy group for obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD Awareness SCV aims to bring awareness, foster supportive community, and expedite access to treatment. To do so, on Oct. 18 the group hosted its annual OCD Walk at Fair Oaks Park open to the entire community and for those curious to learn about the mental health disorder and show support to people with OCD. Approximately 150 people — children, families and friends — attended the event and listened to success stories, connected with resources and had a chance to participate in an assortment of interactive activities to get a better understanding about how people with OCD may experience normal everyday things. The walk itself was also in support of the International OCD Foundation’s “One Million Steps for OCD” campaign. Event co-chairs Kjersti Helberg and Annie Barker were filled with gratitude to see the community support for them and others living with OCD. The mental health disorder can take control of a person’s life through simple things such as everyday tasks and how they live their day to day, but with the help of community, education, and with the mindset of recovery, “OCD does not dictate any part of my life anymore,” Barker said, which she only hopes others overcome and see that it’s possible. “You can feel that it’s never going to be possible, but it is. No matter how low you are, it’s hard sometimes like you’ll never be OK, but you will,” added Helberg. People living with OCD can also affect loved ones such as children and marital partners, and for Barker, when her OCD was at an all-time high, she “couldn’t be fully present for them” she said. One way it affected her was through her cooking. She checked every expiration date; she rinsed every dish that was already clean and ready for use and wouldn’t allow anyone to eat the food she made because she was afraid she would poison them. OCD is “so misunderstood … so to be in a place where everyone gets it or wants to get it, or is here just to show compassion is my favorite thing about this day,” Barker said.
