Founder
[Your Name]
[Your School] · Class of [Year]
I started The Not Alone Project after I was diagnosed with OCD. For years, I thought the intrusive thoughts were just me — that something was fundamentally wrong with the way my brain worked. When I finally learned what OCD actually was, I was stunned by how common it is and how long most people go without knowing.
The average person with OCD waits 13 years between their first symptoms and getting the right diagnosis. That’s 13 years of wondering what’s wrong with you. 13 years where the right information could have changed everything. That’s what this project is about — closing that gap.
I’m not a doctor. I’m a student who read the research, lived the experience, and decided to build something that I wish had existed when I needed it. If even one person finds this site and thinks “wait — that’s what I have?” — then it was worth it.
What I’m learning
On talking about OCD out loud
The thing about OCD is that it thrives in silence. The thoughts feel so specific, so bizarre, so uniquely yours that you’re convinced nobody else has ever had them. And then you mention it to one person and they say “wait, you too?” — and the whole illusion breaks. That’s what awareness does. It breaks the illusion of being the only one.
Updated January 2024
What we believe
OCD is a medical condition, not a personality quirk. The stereotypes cause real harm.
Awareness is the first step to treatment. You can't get help for something you can't name.
Young people deserve accurate information about their own brains — not watered-down platitudes.
ERP therapy works. Access to it should not depend on how much money your family has.
The 13-year diagnosis gap is unacceptable. We're working to close it.
What we do
We provide a free, anonymous OCD screener based on validated research tools. We collect and share stories from people living with OCD. We curate the best treatment resources, therapist directories, and educational materials available. And we help students start awareness chapters at their schools to reach people before the 13-year clock runs out.
What we don’t do
We are not healthcare providers. We do not diagnose, treat, or counsel. Our screener is not a clinical instrument — it is a screening tool designed to help you decide whether to seek professional evaluation. We are an awareness and education project, not a substitute for medical care. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988.
The Not Alone Project was founded by a high school student. It is volunteer-run and community-supported. We take privacy seriously and collect only anonymous, aggregated data from our screener. We do not sell data, display ads, or accept pharmaceutical sponsorship.