My guest this week is Ryan Ridgeway. Ryan is an MMA fighter and Mental Health First Aid Trainer who lives with OCD.
OCD can be stereotyped and glamorised as someone who likes things super clean and tidy. This can be the case for a ‘good day’ but I learn from Ryan that OCD can be far more complex and frightening than most of us can imagine. With compulsive actions and rituals becoming something that had to be completed or serious harm would come to those that he loved, OCD is really far more than lining up our plates and having tidy shelves.
Ryan shares with me some of his darkest moments, compulsive thoughts and having multiple blood tests in a year due to fear of contracting HIV and living with auditory intrusions. We also discover how he came to live with the name Daisy Sparkles for over 5 years....
Thank you, Ryan, for taking your time to share your story and educate me and our listeners on the reality of what living with OCD has been like for you. All my love Emma Belle x
Links to find Emma and Vulnerability Rocks Podcast: https://www.vulnerabilityrocks.com/
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(00:44) Ryan talks us briefly through his life and what it’s been like living with OCD.
(04:45) “Oh, I’m so OCD” is a throwaway comment used by many…but is that OK? (7:16) “Turn the light on and off otherwise your parents will die”…. (10:27) Ryan was able to hide his OCD at first, but not for long.
(12:32) The lack of support and understanding can make dealing with mental illness so much harder.
(13:24) Ryan discusses when he became obsessed at the thought of contracting HIV.
(16:05) Mental illness isn’t just hard for the person dealing with it.
(17:11) Ryan’s obsessive behaviour around sit ups and the injury it caused.
(19:28) When saying to someone “don’t worry,” it doesn’t tend to work, does it?
(23:32) Ryan talks us through when he got diagnosed, to hitting rock bottom and building his “tough exterior”.
(30:16) When things finally started to get easier.
(32:14) Being the expert of yourself.
(37:36) History of mental illness in his family, including his father.
(41:29) Ryan talks about the brilliant men’s mental health movement - HUMEN
(46:46) Ryan’s final fight is coming up soon….hopefully, depending on COVID.
(47:27) The Daisy Sparkles fiasco….!!
