Using the phrase ‘I’m OCD’ is offensive to people with the condition

It’s a mental illness, not an adjective

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Like most mental illnesses, you hear a lot of stereotypes about OCD.

People often have an extremely superficial idea of what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder actually entails. The term OCD is thrown around a lot. “Mum, you’re so OCD”, “Wow I’m so OCD when it comes to having a shower every day”.

Not only is this using OCD as an adjective or used to explain a trait someone may have – which again tends to happen with mental illness – but it’s trivialising it for what it is. This is especially frustrating for those who actually do suffer from OCD.

Washing your hands three times a day doesn’t mean you’re OCD

One common belief people have about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is that it’s just about keeping your hands clean, or just being clean in general.

Now I’m not saying that this isn’t a trait some OCD suffers have, but that is just one aspect of the illness. If you like to keep your hands clean, it does not mean you have OCD.

It’s common to wash your hands after you’ve touched something dirty – or maybe if you’ve been Eastslope bar, to do so three or more times – but that’s common hygiene, not a compulsion.

So you keep your room tidy and like your stuff in a particular order?

Still not OCD.

Another misconception is that all people who suffer from OCD is that they’re completely tidy people. No, if someone with OCD has a messy bedroom, it doesn’t mean they’re lying about their illness. Their compulsions and rituals just aren’t directed towards that.

The same way that if you can’t stand untidiness, then you shouldn’t go to diagnose yourself with OCD. Overhearing someone saying they’re “so OCD” because they like all their bottles of stuff to be facing one way is another thing that’s fucking annoying. That’s called being pedantic and picky, which many people are about many different things, and it’s normal. Not an illness.

Left the oven on? Maybe your hair straighteners?

It may be easy to say you’re OCD if you worry about leaving stuff on, maybe you are. But then again it’s most likely you just don’t fancy the thought of your home burning down along with all your valuables.

Unless you are compulsively and constantly checking those appliances, even going back out of your way to double check, then please don’t throw around those three words again.

gotta have a bottle of soap at the ready

Next time you call yourself or someone else “OCD” because they like to keep their hands clean, or they’re on it with tidying their room, don’t.

Even if they do have OCD, still don’t.

Also, don’t underestimate someone’s OCD because they don’t “seem” like they have it. Understand that the compulsions with the disorder are like an itch, they need to be scratched and it is incredibly annoying and anxiety provoking when it’s not.

Instead of using the word to describe your quirky habits, help end the stigma and myths around it. If you use the words “you are” or “I am” OCD, then that is where you’re going wrong. OCD is something you have, not something you are. Remember it’s a mental illness, not an adjective.