Hello. I have OCD. I am a law student, so the constant stress I am under doesn’t make it easier. Sometimes I think, is OCD all I am?

So what is OCD? If you google it, you will find this: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), and behaviors that drive them to do something over and over (compulsions). Often the person carries out the behaviors to get rid of the obsessive thoughts. It pretty much sums it up.

But how is living with OCD? Living with this mental illness is like having someone else in your brain who only keeps telling and reminding you the bad stuff and warns you that, if you won’t do some ritual (even if it’s nonsense, like tapping something twice), something very bad will happen. Unfortunately, for me at least, this “very bad thing” doesn’t threaten only me, but also my loved ones. And that’s the hardest and most horrible part. Like, imagine, all the time, if I will do something “not the right way” (for my OCD), I am crazy afraid that I’m hurting my loved ones.

OCD affects my every move. It affects my social and study life. As a law student, I need to work pretty much all day, but my compulsions make me loose so much time, it’s unbearable. It makes it so hard to take notes on lectures, I am twitching, rewriting words for no reason etc.

How should you act with someone with OCD? First of all, act normal, because we are normal. Second of all, please show us love and make a comfortable environment. If your kid or your loved one has OCD, just love them and show them that you care, don’t push them, don’t fight with them about it, cause, trust me, we want the most to get rid of this mental illness.

My fellow OCDers, I know how hard it is, I know how some days are much worse and others are a little bearable, but please, don’t give up, I believe that with our string will and determination, we can become free again. I believe in you and in me too, just keep fighting. And I want to tell you, whatever happens, it’s not your fault!

And no you are not all OCD, you are much more with amazing personality and ambitions. Your illness doesn’t define you. Your are much more.