About Me

TRIGGER WARNING: I go into some mild detail about my OCD-related intrusive thoughts.

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Hi! My name is Summer Contreras-Lemmon, or simply, Summer Lemmon. I live in wonderful, sunny San Diego, California - where I was born - but I have spent most of my life in Arizona. I grew up in Scottsdale (near Phoenix) and for college, I attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Public Health. I am currently working towards a second Bachelor's in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. I received my peer support certifications from both the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA, pronouned "Cal-MESA") and RI International. I love Pokémon! I collect the Pokémon Trading Card Game and play both the Pokémon TCG and video games competitively. Fun fact: I met my husband through Pokémon! 

I also happen to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder. I have lived with OCD for most, if not all, of my life, but like many who live with the disorder, I wasn't diagnosed until a significant time after my symptoms first appeared. As early as age 6, I started second- and triple-guessing myself on standardized tests, so much that I didn't test into the gifted program even though my teachers recognized me as gifted. In 3rd grade, I stopped completing my drawings and spent an excessive amount of time trying to make them "perfect". OCD clearly reared its ugly head early in my life.

However, it wasn't until 8th grade I realized something was truly different about my brain. When I was 13, I started having my first intrusive thoughts around religion, sexuality, and harm. Though I wasn't religious at the time, I became terrified of thoughts blaspheming God. I also started having nonsensical thoughts involving sex with people I wasn't remotely attracted to. Finally, I started having thoughts about harming myself, even though I had no desire to do so. It was a very distressing experience, especially for a 13-year-old.

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Not wanting to be labeled "crazy" or be misunderstood by others, even my parents, I kept silent about these distressing thoughts throughout high school. They tormented me night and day, but somehow, I managed high school. Or at least, I managed until I couldn't take the thoughts anymore. The summer before my senior year of high school, the thoughts struck me with full force and I spiraled into a pool of anxiety and depression. 

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Unfortunately, I didn't start to seek the help I needed until age 22 - shortly after my mother's death and into my last semester of college. But through my experience of undiagnosed OCD and depression (later diagnosed as bipolar) in high school, I came to Christ. It was a dramatic change for a hard skeptic like me. But God has been faithful, and He has shown me the eternal value of living life with Him at the center. (Don't worry, I won't bring my faith into my peer support sessions unless you want me to.)​

Now, to close my short story. Today, after several intensive treatment programs and therapy sessions, I am in recovery. I am still limited in some ways by my diagnoses, but I am not fully symptomatic the way I used to be. I would love to share what I have learned in my recovery, if you would like to invite me into yours. Or, I could simply be a listening ear for you as you share your struggles. 

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You can read a fuller version of my recovery story in this blog post. I hope you will allow me to come alongside you and encourage you wherever you are in your journey!