It’s Time to Stop Saying “I’m So OCD”
By: Emily Beck
Social Media is a very common platform for self expression. This can be wonderful, but can also create some complicated views and experiences. A trend in social media is talking about mental health. Influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram will often talk about their own mental health diagnoses, what got them there, and what behaviors and challenges they have faced.
I am all for reducing stigma in this way, and talking about therapy as something everyone can benefit from, as well as normalizing mental illness and invisible disabilities, can be a wonderful thing. Let’s talk about Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Autism, OCD, Bipolar disorder, and any other DSM V (The manual used for diagnosing mental illness) based illnesses. Talking about these illnesses is extremely important. However, what is also happening is that people are misusing these terms.
What Kind of Terms?
A common one is OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This is a very real and often debilitating illness, that can cause people to experience depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and a ton of disruption to their everyday lives. OCD can look a lot of ways, but the definition is when obsessive thoughts cause someone to have compulsive behaviors. The thoughts can vary widely from person to person, and compulsions can be completely invisible. An example might be if someone has a persistent anxiety thought that their family members could die at any time, a resulting compulsive behavior might be to check on their family via text multiple times a day or even an hour. This, understandably, can have a lot of negative impacts on someone’s life, their time, and their ability to maintain relationships, but the idea of not engaging in the checking behavior causes even more anxiety to the person
What OCD is NOT, is just a desire to keep your space clean and organized. Saying “I’m so OCD” when referencing how you fold your laundry is really disrespectful and can be dangerous. Someone with OCD is not suddenly better because they have made their bed or folded their towels. This is an illness that requires treatment from a professional.
Why Does this Matter?
OCD is not a trend, and talking about it like this can increase misunderstanding of the disorder. It minimizes the experience of someone suffering from the disorder, and may even make them less likely to seek help or talk about it. When we misuse diagnostic terms in casual ways, we are making light of the very real and debilitating illnesses that many people experience. While the intention may not be to cause harm, the impact is that people with these illnesses feel unheard and misunderstood, and may even be less likely to seek treatment, or know that treatment is available.
What Can We Say Instead?
Instead of using these medical terms, describe what you’re actually experiencing. Instead of saying “I’m so OCD” when organizing your desk, try “I really like things to be organized.” Instead of saying that someone is “So bipolar” when they exhibit multiple moods in the same day, try “That person is having a rough day”. Simple changes can have a huge impact.
Visibility is important, and people with mental health diagnoses deserve to talk about their experiences. By being more careful about how we speak, we can not only continue to provide these people with a safe space to talk about their illnesses, but we can also continue to reduce stigma and make the world a little easier place to be.
If you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self harm, please call 988 for the national suicide prevention lifeline, 911, or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, help is available! Give us a call today at 217-203-2008 to start promoting peace from within.
Resources:
https://www.nami.org/family-member-caregivers/omg-im-so-ocd/
https://www.groundworkcounseling.com/ocd/im-soo-ocd-the-common-misconception-of-ocd-orlando-ocd-treatment-therapy/
https://ncapda.org/stigma/