As a reminder, the International OCD Foundation’s annual conference (virtual for the first time ever) is fast approaching! The deadline to register is this upcoming Wednesday, July 29th at 9pm PST.
The first event of its kind, this virtual event has programming for everyone in the OCD community: individuals with lived experience, their family members and supporters, and the professionals who treat them. Running from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2nd, this virtual event will feature 70 talks, 36 discussion groups, and 160 presenters.
DEADLINE: Last day to register is Wednesday, July 29th at 12pm EST.
Author Erin Ramachandran opens up about loving and supporting her husband Keith, an individual suffering with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The book maps out ways marriages can thrive even if one of the spouses is diagnosed with a mental illness. The book blends resources and personal experience beautifully and is a must-have for a spouse married to someone with OCD. Keith and Erin are both members of OCD Southern California and have attended and volunteered at numerous OCD So Cal events. Below are details and a description of the book.
As Mental Health Month comes to a close, we want to remind you that everyone struggling with OCD and other mental health difficulties is stronger than you give yourself credit for! Just because the month is over doesn’t mean mental health awareness concludes—for those with OCD, it is year-round. Give yourself some self-compassion and remember to always choose #StrengthOverFear!
Feel free to use this image created by the International OCD Foundation to post on your personal social media, with the hashtag #StrengthOverFear, to spread OCD and mental health awareness!
Conference Attendees During Jeffrey Sparr of PeaceLove’s Keynote Presentation
Thank you to everyone who attended our 4th annual OCD conference on Saturday, March 30, 2019! We had 380 attendees, making this our largest attended conference. The conference could not have been this successful without the support from the OCD community, both in southern California and the attendees who came from outside our local area!
Conference attendees gave us nothing but positive feedback about our keynote presenter, Jeffrey Sparr, from PeaceLove. As seen in the picture below, Jeffrey shared his struggles with OCD and incorporated expressive arts, an activity that has helped him throughout his battle with the disorder. He even participated in expressive arts during the presentation by painting on stage! His presentation concluded with the audience members doing their own expressive arts activities!
Jeffrey Sparr of PeaceLove
During lunch, attendees were able to be part of regional support groups and meet other individuals with OCD and their loved one’s in their local areas. Following lunch, attendees were then able to attend two of the eight offered breakout sessions with presenters discussing OCD topics including treatment, stigma, personal stories, and more!
The event concluded with a clinician Q&A segment involving speakers from each of the break-out sessions. An opportunity drawing concluded our event, with attendees walking away with prizes that included hotel stays, wallets and purses, and gift cards.
We appreciate everyone who made the event successful. We hope to have everyone return for our next conference, including new attendees! It will be held in March of 2020. See you next year!
