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Rachel’s OCD Recovery Story: Finding Hope Through Mental Health Treatment

Rachel’s struggle with severe OCD affected nearly every aspect of her life, from everyday routines to attending college. Hear Rachel and her family share their experience finding treatment, rebuilding confidence, and moving forward with renewed hope.

In This Video:

00:00 Living With Severe OCD
00:25 How OCD Affected Rachel’s Daily Life
01:01 Finding The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center
01:22 Beginning Treatment and Overcoming Fear
01:37 Compassionate Care and Family Support
02:07 Building Confidence Through Recovery
02:21 Returning to School, Work, and Independence

About This Video

Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can make even simple daily activities feel overwhelming. For Rachel, increasingly severe symptoms disrupted her education, independence, and family life. After trying multiple outpatient treatment options without meaningful improvement, Rachel and her family turned to The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center in search of a different approach to care.

In this video, Rachel and her mother reflect on their experience navigating OCD treatment, the importance of compassionate and individualized support, and the progress Rachel made throughout her recovery journey. From rebuilding confidence to returning to school and work, their story offers a personal perspective on the challenges of living with OCD and the difference that finding the right treatment environment can make.

Explore the Key Insights

Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD can significantly impact daily routines, relationships, and independence. Learn more about the symptoms of OCD, how the condition affects everyday life, and when professional treatment may be necessary.

Personalized Mental Health Treatment

Rachel’s experience highlights the importance of finding treatment that addresses each person’s unique challenges. Discover how The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center provides individualized care and support throughout the recovery process.

Life After Mental Health Treatment

Recovery is about more than managing symptoms. Hear how Rachel rebuilt her confidence, returned to school and work, and developed greater independence with the support of her treatment team.

Perspectives & Insights

“I always felt like the staff believed in me and believed that I could do more than I thought I could.”

— Rachel, Former Patient

Video Transcript

Video Transcript: Rachel’s OCD Recovery Story

[00:00] My OCD was really bad at the time. I was taking really long showers, anywhere from like 6 to 12 hours. I felt like I had to do it a certain way.

[00:11] At that point, we had truly hit rock bottom as a family. She was the sickest she’d ever been. We were the most scared we’d ever been. We were just willing to try anything.

[00:25] Rachel was diagnosed with OCD. Her OCD got really bad while she was in college. She was trying to write papers, and she would write and rewrite. She would read and reread. She ended up having to drop out of college.

[00:31] My mom knows me very well, and she was the one who kind of said, “I think you need to get help.” And I agreed with her.

[00:42] None of the outpatient programs that we tried, or any of the therapy, seemed to really help.

[00:48] It really got worse. We did end up finding a program in Florida, The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center. We knew that they were a mental health center, but we didn’t really know if they could actually help with OCD.

[01:01] Ben Brafman got on with us on a Saturday morning and stayed on a video call with us for an hour and a half. He said something to me that I will never forget.

[01:17] “We are going to do everything in our power to make this the last treatment program your daughter will ever have to go to.”

[01:22] I was very scared the first day, and I remember talking to Dena, my counselor, and saying that I wanted to call my mom. And my mom was saying, “You just have to try to do this, Rachel. It’s what’s going to be best for you.”

[01:37] And I remember things getting better as I stayed there longer.

[01:39] The staff was really good to her. You could tell they were super patient and really understood the steps Rachel needed to take to get better, and we hadn’t experienced anything like that before.

[01:47] Dena was a god to me.

[01:53] I think she really got Rachel, and she also understood us as parents. We had entrusted our child to her, and she didn’t take that trust lightly.

[01:59] As a mom, I appreciated that, you know, more than I can say.

[02:07] I always felt like the staff believed in me and believed that I could do more than I thought I could.

[02:13] After a few months, I really felt confident to come home. And since I’ve been back, I’ve been doing a lot better.

[02:21] I was able to start going to school and start working. I feel like I’m doing more independently now.

[02:26] For a while there, we never really even pictured that this was going to happen.

[02:32] And Ben was right. We haven’t been to another treatment center since. The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center saved Rachel’s life, and we’re so much better as a family.

Find Hope and Support for OCD Recovery

Like Rachel, you or someone you love may be struggling to find the right treatment for OCD. At The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, our team is here to listen, answer your questions, and help you explore your treatment options.