hi! I was hoping I could get some advice on ocd... I have it, but I always feel like I'm pretending. Is that a thing people do? Pretend they have ocd for attention? I think about this all the time and its very upsetting but then I'm told that that in itself is proof of ocd. I also get really jealous/angry if somebody tells me they have a mental illness (especially if i have the same one) and i dont know why and so i avoid people all the time. idk if u can help but i really wanted to rant sorry

It’s normal for people with OCD to obsessively doubt that they have it, but of course that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what’s happening with any particular person. People do claim to have OCD for attention, although from what I’ve seen it’s a less common choice than some other illnesses. However if you’ve been diagnosed with it, I’d say it’s pretty gosh darn likely that you have it. After all, they’re a mental health professional for a reason, right? ;) They can be wrong, of course, but it’s silly to assume they are with no evidence, because generally they know better than laypeople.

There’s also the fact that what you’re doing right now is seeking reassurance for your doubts, something that is pretty classic compulsive behavior, as well as punishing yourself for your perceived sins by avoidance.

As for your jealousy, I’m wondering if maybe what you’re actually jealous of is not the illness itself, but the certainty they have about it. If you’re not secure enough with your diagnosis to talk about it, hearing others be able to do it with no problems can be hard. There’s also the possibility that it makes you feel like it must not be as big a deal for them, and then fear that maybe you’re just an intrinsically weak person who is using the illness as a crutch, which of course is a non-sequitur. Just spitballing.

If you do indeed have OCD, becoming secure in your diagnosis should be one of your top priorities, because if you’re not, you’re going to subconsciously want to get worse (to prove to yourself that you have it), instead of better. And getting better is the end goal!

Best of luck in any case!