ocd-thegoodparts

[ocd-thegoodparts]

i am once again asking people i know to do actual research on OCD and what it is b/c i saw someone equating POCD to actual predatory shit recently and i think im going to break out of my enclosure . OCD is not about “subconscious desires” it’s about fear. fears, aversions and repulsions, both subconscious and conscious. OCD forces you to obsess over things that make you anxious, scared, uncomfortable, or disgusted. possibilities (about yourself, your future, your loved ones and their futures, etc) that would give you nightmares if you considered them for too long.  literally the second you start thinking OCD may be about “subconscious desires” you have lost. you made an immediate left turn when you were supposed to make a right and now you’re on a completely different road. this applies to all forms of OCD by the way, even the most “disgusting”, taboo or “disturbing”. whichever form of OCD you’re thinking may be an exception to this rule, is not an exception. b/c there is none

[ocd-thegoodparts]

Living With It

Another mass shooting means it's time for conservative politicians and influencers to signal "great concern" about America's "mental health crisis". But, no matter many times brows are furrowed and "it's not a gun issue, it's a mental health issue" is proclaimed, those concerns will be swept under the rug as soon as the media cycle moves on. Of course, nothing changes for the victims or their families. And, life gets a little worse for people dealing with mental health conditions as they are further stigmatized and shamed.  Unfortunately, this cycle is a short loop in the United States; as of March 30th, we've had 130 mass shootings. 

I have OCD and Major Depressive Disorder. Alone, each of these can be debilitating. Together they mean I must work daily to keep myself regulated and in a good headspace. While sporadic access to mental health treatment means I'm not sure how long I've lived with these disorders, I know I've had some symptoms since elementary school. Before getting regular treatment, the symptoms would sometimes feel non-existent, and sometimes they'd prevent me from getting out of bed for months (or worse). The signals from these disorders tell me that I'm worthless and unloved, that I'm in constant danger, that I'm faking all my good qualities, and that I'm secretly an evil person, to name a few.    

Every day I must remind myself that I am worthy of love, family, friends, kindness, and peace. Some days, it's easy. On other days, particularly when mental health disorders are being blamed for violence, it's hard. It's not just the stigma that radiates from loudmouths on Fox News that makes living with OCD hard - It’s also the silence from everyday people. 

It's legal to discriminate against people living with mental health disorders in housing, family planning, and employment. They are overrepresented in police shootings and the unhoused population. We are constantly dehumanized and blamed for many of society's ills. Yet, it's rare that people speak up or act on our behalf. There are no marches in defense of us, no cute photo filters or hashtags to show support. We don't get endorsement deals or corporate statements of approval. When celebrities reveal their struggles with mental health, they are lauded for succeeding despite their diagnosis instead of being celebrated and supported as a whole person.

The current message is clear - it's shameful to have OCD, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, ADHD, or any other mental health disorder.

We, the people living this, must start loudly proclaiming who we are, what we live with, and that we deserve to be celebrated just like anyone else. We can not continue to downplay our symptoms for the comfort of others, or nothing will change.