This article explores the role of social and virtual spaces in the social recovery from mental illness, focusing on blogs and online forums for individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The study specifically examines gender differences in the metaphors used by men and women to describe their experiences with OCD. Empirical data shows that women typically frame their experiences as a journey, while men are more likely to describe them as a battle. These differing metaphors have potential implications for the social recovery process.