Freedom From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (WUSA) -- For most of Shannon Shy's tenure as a Lieutenant with the United States Marine Corps, he found ways to hide his obsessive rituals and irrational thoughts.

Shy says hiding was the only option. "I was fearful that I was going to get kicked out of the Marine Corps and lose my family," explains Shy.

His rituals started with him checking the coffee pot twenty to thirty times before leaving the house.

Shannon's wife Debbie soon realized hiding was only providing temporary relief.

Debbie Shy says the excessive questions started to impact their everyday interaction. "Did you check the stove?  Did you check the iron? Go make sure this is unplugged, that is unplugged, just things like that and it got to the point that it would just take too long to go anywhere," she says.

Shy knew something was wrong during this time he says, "I was scared, I was confused, I thought I was going crazy."

Then Shannon's compulsions grew more frightening.

Debbie recalls a difficult time in their lives was when, "He came home and he had gone into the playroom with the kids briefly.  Then he turned around and came into the bedroom and laid in the bed just curled up in a ball.  He told me he was having these terrible thoughts about the kids and about me."

Finally through the urging of his wife, and a close family friend, Shannon decided it was time to seek help.

Doctors diagnosed Shy with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or what is commonly refereed to as "OCD."

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can produce extreme delusions and anxiety. Yet with the help of medication and combined behavioral therapy, Shannon started to regain his mental freedom.

Shannon also has written a book, to help others called, It'll Be Okay.

In It'll Be Okay Shannon shares a deeper look into what it took for him to move forward and get help. Plus, he provides, what he calls, "behavioral strategies" for coping with OCD.

Shannon hopes others will learn from his journey about not letting OCD take away what's important in life.

Debbie says,"I knew it wasn't him. I knew it wasn't his personality. So you've got to remember who the person is, who I fell in love with, I knew that wasn't him."

Today Shannon is no longer on medication and still has his loving family.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness hotline for help: 1-800-950-6264.