This article was only written from a perspective of someone who suffers from it, but not in any way a medical or expert of the subject. If you want to be more informed, do your research. The internet is full of places to go to, and there are hundreds of books to read from if you want a professional insight.

How many times have you been told you have OCD for performingĀ the simplest things, as simple as switching off the lights? You might take it as a joke, but for people who actually suffer from OCD, itā€™s not that funny.

Like many other mental illnesses, OCD, short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is usuallyĀ taken lightly and sometimes even used as a joke. Reality is, OCD is one of the worst things a person might have to struggle with. Itā€™s not just about excessive cleaning and organizing, and throwing tantrums when something is misplaced. Itā€™s a burden that you never overcome, but manage to live with.

What exactly is OCD?

OCD is a mental disorder where people repeatedly feel the need to check things, perform certain routines or getĀ certain repetitive thoughts. These thoughts could be extremely dark ones causing great fears for the sufferer and permanent feelings of uneasiness and anxiety.

OCD is usually associated with other disorders

Most sufferers have other disorders too, particularlyĀ anxiety and panic disorders as well asĀ eating disorders. For many, if things canā€™t be in a certain way, they start having anxiety attacks and the thought of it keeps eating their brains. Others could be obsessed with eating a certain food, or maintainingĀ a certain weight, which could lead to eating disorders including bulimia and anorexia. In some cases, certain fears and thoughts could lead to depression, or in very rare cases, insanity.

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What does it actually feel like?

It feels like youā€™re stuck in one thought. No matter how hard you try to get over it, it just keeps going throughĀ your head over and over and over, for days, weeks, years, or even a lifetime. Along with this redundancy, youā€™re stuck in a mental routine that you will never escape.

Your brain starts sending you fear impulses, which causes anxiety over the simplest most trivial things ā€“ like being embarrassed in public, or even obsessing over an uncontrollable fate, like dying alone for instance. Such fears might haunt theĀ sufferer to the point of depression, extreme panic attacks, or even insanity in some cases.

Tics and Rituals are extremely common

Tics are unwanted urges to repeatedly make sudden movements or sounds. They could either be quick and brief actions, or a series of complex actions.

There are plenty of misconceptions about OCD. Hereā€™s the truth about them:

Wanting things organized or done properly doesn’t make you an OCD case

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Lets be real; if something is so obviously misplaced in annoying way, then anyone, with OCD or not, mayĀ get angry about it. Doesn’t mean you have any OCDs. Wanting things clean and organized all the time is totally normal, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your freewill. If you’re doing it because you want to, not because you HAVE to, then you don’t have OCD and stop claimingĀ that you do!

Itā€™s not all about cleaning

The being obsessed with cleaning stigma is very common with OCD. Yes, many people are obsessed with cleaning and organizing, but not all. As a person who suffers from it, itā€™s really not all about it. Iā€™m a huge mess, and could barely find a place to walk in my room. I do, however, have everything placed in a certain area, and if itā€™s not there, I do get quite anxious. Which leads to the next point.

Weā€™re not all ā€œawkwardā€

OCD sufferers have been portrayed in the media as awkward, crazy, clean freaks; take ‘Monk’ for an example. While it might actually representĀ some of us, itā€™s usually exaggerated and portrayed in stereotypical way. It’s a good show, and highly appreciatedĀ for portraying OCD to pop culture, but it was very stereotypical and disappointing at some points.

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You might not even know that someone suffers from it

Not everyone with OCD would be throwing tantrums over misplaced objects, nor will they have common tics or rituals. Some people donā€™t even know they have OCD. It could all be happening mentally, and the sufferer doesnā€™t even discussĀ it with others ā€“ from random thoughts, to fears to insecurities.

Nothing is worse than being called ā€œcuteā€ or ā€œattention seekingā€ when our suffering is obvious

Many people with OCD try to hide it from others, but unfortunately at times it does show. Like the ones who fear contamination and start panicking when someone sneezes. Many laugh about it and call it ā€œcuteā€ while others think weā€™re only seekingĀ attention. Nothing is more insulting than taking this lightly. The fear is real for them, and trust us, if they had the option to not be bothered by this, they wouldnā€™t have been. No one would ask to live with such a burden just to seem cute or grab attention.

Not everyone needs medications

Itā€™s a common misconception that everyone with OCD has to take medication. Like all the previous points, thatā€™s not the case. There are levels of OCD, and while many do take medication to control the thoughts, others donā€™t and they learn to adapt with them on their own.

To wrap things up, OCD is not funny by any means. Youā€™re insulting many when you say ā€œI have OCD cause I like to wash my hands after I poopā€ and you most certainly arenā€™t ā€œliterally obsessed with the new Taylor Swift song.ā€ Get educated and read about mental disorders. You might know someone who secretly suffers from it, or even discover that you yourself do.