One Face Of OCD

Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale-Cegelski.

Whether or not you know someone who has a mental illness, there is one thing to realize about these individuals. They live their lives through the symptoms of their illness, often with the help of medications. Frequently, when you meet them, you would never know that they have a mental illness, because there is no physical sign. Yet, some individuals with mental illness live distinguished lives, somehow rising above their challenges.

One such individual is Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale-Cegelski. Ph.D., LMSW. She has been spotlighted in the 2014 June newsletter, Peace Of Mind Quarterly, an online publication of the PEACE OF MIND FOUNDATION.



At age thirteen, Elizabeth was first diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). At the time, her intrusive thoughts and rituals were so intense that her physicians thought she was untreatable. But her parents were persistent and didn't settle for this prognosis. They took her to the MENNINGER PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC, which was located in Topeka, Kansas back then.

She was admitted to the inpatient unit and that's where she learned techniques to help reduce her OCD symptoms. The program utilized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), along with exposure and response prevention (ERP), and those were the techniques that helped Elizabeth control her OCD symptoms. These techniques have allowed her to live her life to the fullest.

Then Elizabeth began sharing her story with others who had OCD and other types of mental illnesses. Because of her experiences, she founded the Peace of Mind Foundation, which provides education and awareness of OCD, along with support and treatment resources for those affected by OCD. She believes that everyone should have access to research-backed and effective treatments.

In her role as a professional and leader at the foundation, she worked with experts and established the OCD Challenge, a free self-help program for those who have and live with OCD. Since its start, the program has helped more than 1000 individuals.

The OCD Challenge, which helps so many through self-help.

All of this doesn't mean that Elizabeth is symptom-free. The techniques that she has learned help her to reduce the symptoms. That means an ability to live her life. At one time, treatment experts didn't think she could complete high school, but she went far beyond that, earning her Ph.D. in social work. She even got married in 2013. She's truly an example that there is hope, that even though she has OCD symptoms, she can live an outstanding life. She may have to take the time to utilize techniques to reduce her symptoms, but that doesn't get in her way. She truly lives her life fully and believes, " "that no one should have to suffer in silence, there is help; there is hope."

The OCD Challenge information table, spreading the word.

Thanks for information from this newsletter on Peace Of Mind Foundation blog: http://www.peaceofmind.com/summer-2014-peace-of-mind-quarterly/; and the above links.

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