Living With OCD in Vietnam
Believe it or not, my "magical thinking" OCD became so severe that I left the United States in 2022 just to get away from my triggers.
Despite ERP and medication, I was spiraling again during a major relapse. My therapist told me, "You can move, but OCD will follow you." At the time, all I could think was, "At least I will not have to see my current triggers every day in American life."
Well, he was right.
It followed me.
Starting Over in Vietnam
After moving to Vietnam, I only had around 20 triggers at the time. Mostly words, themes, phrases, images, and music. Over the next few months, though, the list grew larger and larger.
Within two years, it had exploded into hundreds of triggers. I eventually reached a point where I could barely leave my house.
I tried seeking help locally, but quickly realized OCD still is not very well understood in Vietnam. There are psychiatrists here, but experienced ERP-focused care is much harder to find.
At first, I visited an international hospital and was referred to a psychiatrist, but my OCD convinced me that if I saw that specific doctor I would somehow be cursed. So instead, I went to another international hospital and saw a different psychiatrist there.
She prescribed Celexa and recommended that I search online for ERP resources because there were very few ERP professionals available locally.
Medication Options in Vietnam
One thing I learned quickly is that medication options can feel more limited here compared to the United States.
The psychiatrist prescribed Celexa, but it did not help me personally, so I stopped taking it. That does not mean it will not help someone else. Everyone responds differently to SSRIs and other OCD medications.
The medication that helped me most in my life was actually clomipramine, which is not an SSRI at all.
In Vietnam, some medications can be harder to access depending on the hospital and pharmacy system. International hospitals may sometimes help import certain medications through special approval processes, but overall the system is still more limited than what I was used to in the United States.
Finding Help Again
In 2026, I decided to return to FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Years earlier, a psychiatrist there had written medical documentation regarding my OCD disability, which later helped support my SSDI approval in the United States.
I decided to see her again.
This time she prescribed Prozac along with Risperdal, and honestly, things started changing fast.
I am still struggling every day, but this is probably the best I have felt since 2021.
I am not cured. Not even close.
But I can function again.
Life With OCD in Vietnam
The point of these articles is not really to give medical advice. I just want to share my experience honestly because I know how desperate people with severe OCD can become when searching online for answers.
Even after improving, I still do not really want to return to the United States. Vietnam has become home to me in many ways.
Mental health resources here may be more limited in some areas, especially ERP therapy, but psychiatric care can still be helpful and often far more affordable than in America.
Medication costs here are also much lower, and many people can access treatment without expensive insurance plans.
If your OCD has financially destroyed your life like mine almost did, affordability matters.
Looking Ahead
I will also be trying TMRS therapy at FV Hospital soon. I plan to write future updates about how it goes and what the experience is actually like.
Every day is still a fight for me. I still have rituals, fears, avoidance, and setbacks.
But compared to where I was a few months ago, I am doing much better.
Final Thoughts
If you found this article relatable, feel free to leave a comment or share your own experience.
Some names and words still trigger my OCD pretty badly, so comments are currently anonymous only.