In Part 1 of this OCD podcast, we dive into the personal journey of Justine De Jaegher who has faced the challenges of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from a young age. Justine shares her experiences from when OCD first manifested with overwhelming intrusive thoughts about harm coming to the people around her, how these thoughts escalated into compulsive checking behaviours, and how the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding OCD complicated her path to diagnosis and treatment. Throughout this candid conversation, Justine talks about the evolution of her OCD into themes like religious scrupulosity and perinatal OCD, the impact it had on her life, finding the right treatments, and the importance of advocacy and awareness in improving access to effective OCD treatment. This discussion not only sheds light on the realities of living with OCD but also offers hope and insight for those navigating similar struggles.