Hannah Lovitt is a high school student at the Emery/Weiner School. She has struggled with anxiety since she was a young girl. She was diagnosed with OCD at twelve, although symptoms began showing up during elementary school. She has also struggled with trichotillomania since she was thirteen. When her therapist diagnosed her with OCD, she was very reluctant to start Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. She very often refused to do exposures and allowed OCD to take over. Attending the OCD Conference in 2014 was a pivotal point in her OCD journey because she met other children and teenagers who managed their OCD. After the conference, she felt encouraged and inspired and began to voluntarily do exposures. Four years later, she can control her OCD. She still has her obsessions and worries, but when they come up, she knows how to deal with them. Hannah’s experience have inspired her to become a mental health advocate. She is extremely open about her mental health struggles and has found that her openness gives others the ability to confide in her.
For OCD resources, please visit the PeaceofMind.com
