Editor’s Note: It’s Day Two of International OCD Awareness Week, and we want to continue our discuss about the significance of opening up to friends, family members, and even coworkers about OCD. This week is all about spreading education and awareness about OCD outside of the OCD community, as a way of increasing understanding, and hopefully bringing an end to stigma around mental health issues. Read Alison’s post, and then join the conversation in the comments section below. And learn how else you can get involved in OCD Awareness Week at iocdf.org/ocdweek.
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A few weeks ago on Twitter, someone asked her followers with OCD whether their coworkers knew about their diagnosis and circumstances and, if so, how they reacted to the information.
I said that, yes, most of my coworkers know, and it was especially helpful that my boss knew the day I was going through withdrawal symptoms because I hadn’t been keeping up with my medication. I also noted that since I’ve written a book about OCD it’s kind of hard to hide.
Health issues are a tricky topic—who really wants to hear the dramatic tale of your ingrown toenail? And it’s not easy to tell someone you barely know that you’re going through chemotherapy. This uncomfortable, hush-hush atmosphere seems to be doubly encouraged when it comes to mental health issues. And the thing about mental disorders is that they’re often chronic and can be a pretty big part of a person’s life, and therefore something hard to continually sweep under the rug.
When I was in the throes of terrible obsessions, before I actually knew I had OCD, going to work was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Getting out of bed felt like an impossible chore, and on top of that I had to put on a relatively happy face and get through each day, being productive and trying to excel at my job. As a proofreader, this felt particularly difficult because the job requires so much concentration and attention to the tiniest details. When it comes to errors in a publication, the buck stops with the proofreader. So I had to be on when I really wanted to shut myself off—from the world, from my own head, from everything.
One day I was having such a hard time getting through the day without crying that I considered going to my boss and telling her, “I need to leave. I need to check into a psychiatric hospital.” I wanted to rest for weeks, or months. But since I knew I couldn’t say those words without crying—and that somehow seemed worse than going on as I was—I didn’t.
I couldn’t let her see me as weak. I had to pretend to be strong, but I was betraying myself. As much as I tried to hide my pain, others caught on. One coworker told me it seemed that I’d lost my spirit, and I ended up confiding a little in another who had seen the changes in my demeanor. I still have the little pinata she gave me one day to keep me company in my office; it’s a nice reminder of how far I’ve come, and to keep on keepin’ on.
Over the years I’ve become more open about my experience with OCD. From time to time I’ve taken a mental health day, and a couple times I’ve even referred to it as such when I’ve called in sick. Supervisors have been understanding, but sometimes I wonder what they really think. We’ve all heard the “rules” for taking a sick day: Are you contagious? Have you thrown up or had diarrhea? If not, go to work. These obvious physical symptoms are considered the only legitimate reasons to miss work.
And, of course, it is important to carry through our normal day-to-day activities. It’s good for our mental health to get out of bed, to get to work, to be productive, to not wallow. But we’re human beings, just like everyone else, and sometimes we need to rest, see our doctor, or replenish in other ways.
Nowadays I’m pretty transparent about my OCD so I can spread awareness and not hide in shame. I am not OCD, OCD is not me, but it has been a big part of my life—and I want to continue building awareness as long as people will listen. I want everyone to know a person can have a mental disorder and still lead a normal life. That having a disorder doesn’t mean people should shy away from you, or tiptoe around you. I can handle a robust workload. What I can’t handle is disrespect or rude comments.
But at times I feel too timid to say anything—when someone says in jest, “Don’t be so OCD about it!” I know they’re not doing it to be cruel. I just hope that once they know someone who actually has OCD they’ll think twice. My presence can serve as a little reminder, a pebble in their shoe (but hopefully not as annoying). When people know someone with a mental illness, or even just knowing something about mental illness in general, it can help reduce stigma in the workplace. Maybe you’re not yet ready to share your own experiences, so in the meantime I’ll wave my little “I have OCD, and that’s OK!” flag for all of us.
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Readers: Are you open about your OCD at work? Join the discussion below.
I have chronic intrusive thoughts, especially around people and while socially interacting. That’s when they creep up, telling me reasons why I cannot talk to them. This has effected my ability to achieve success at any of the many jobs I have had. Recently, I just got a new one that I like, granted it is only part time. It is very physical which limits having to interact all that much. This works for me. I have not told anyone about the OCD yet. Overreacting at my past jobs has forced me to explain about the OCD. I am praying this will not happen at this job. So far so good. My emotions seem under control. I have steer away from high amounts of sugar. Not easy!
Good luck, Tracy! I hope this job goes well for you. Maybe in time you will feel comfortable telling certain people about it.
Hey, Tracy and Alison! Thank you both for writing this stuff! I just barely got diagnosed with OCD, so I still have no idea what is going on, but the way you two described OCD and work is exactly how I have felt at work—Tracy, especially when you talked about social interactions at work. Social interactions have always felt like torture to me when I am trying to work. I always do better with more physical jobs. The only times I’ve even hinted at the fact that I have OCD to coworkers or a boss have been when I start shaking or something because it gets too intense, or I miss work, or I show up with bruises and scars. Anyway, just thought I’d say thanks for showing a newbie that other people feel that way at work!
Great article! It is very hopeful. Thanks!
Thank you!
[…] This week’s blog for the International OCD Foundation focuses on what it means to have OCD and hold down a job, even when that feels like a truly impossible task. Let me know what you think. I always love hearing about other people’s experiences. […]
Great article, thank you for writing it.
I have recently written about how to talk to people about your OCD, and I will be publishing a post on Friday on how to talk to your parents, specifically. Following this, your partner and friends.
It’s important that you know how to talk to people about your OCD, as it’s not easy doing so.
Thanks again!
Thanks! I look forward to your posts–those are great topics. When I called my mom to tell her I had OCD, I made sure she was sitting down and prefaced it with, “Everything’s okay.” I think after all that setup she was relieved by my news. The hardest thing for my friends and family has just been that they didn’t realize what was going on so they could help me. So in that way it’s hard for them to hear I have OCD–they hate the idea of me being in pain. But I am doing great now!
I’m glad to hear you’re doing great Alison.
It seems that one of the biggest negative factors when it comes to talking to someone about OCD (family and friends) is their lack of understanding of the disorder. Once that is covered, it makes it significantly easier.
Wow, fresh air! it is so comforting to know that I’m not the only one that feels this way. It’s impossible to explain to everyone around me. Their attitude is a common one;`Well you look so normal, or you seem to be handling things so well.’ I think OCD means handling a complicated set of deceptions. Deceptions to mask how crippling each moment can be. The Interruption, the paralysis, the attention to absolutely everything else. I just found this while applying for a job. I recently lost a job not due specifically to any fault of mine.. . . yet. I can’t stop me replaying the scenes over and over again. What I shouldn’t have done what I should have. All the while realizing nothing was my fault, but in my head, over and over again. Thank you for writing this. We are not alone. I was just considering what type of job I should be looking for. Again, narrowing myself always not realizing what I could apply myself to I just had the revelation that maybe my skills and demeanor would tend towards proofreading. Imagine my humble and pleasant surprise.
Glad to see there’s hope. I was diagnosed OCD 20 years ago and manage two retail locations. My ability to destroy myself with constant obsessive thoughts about business has made what should be one of the better times of my life the worst. I work in an industry affected by retail interruptors (online shops) and I find myself constantly assessing whether or not the failures and shortcomings are my fault (with OCD they almost always are.) ‘It’s not personal, it’s just business’ is a phrase lost on my mind at the very least, and though it’s meant loyalty to a firm for many years, the lack of understand has made it a challenging experience, especially when abborant thoughts mean I feel I can’t do anything else any better.
I have had OCD fr 35 yrs now,had bouts of therapy and meds. it never goes ,,i cope with it and get along but at moment cannot work. i have another phsychotherapy assessment coming up to see if theres any more support i can have. Sometimes i just dont know what to say about it all. i feel ok some days ,some days not.Some days my mind seems to be in order and i can do things without intrusive thoughts,sometimes not.its good im not alone. Im 55 now,,live alone,find relationships hard and worry about constant stigma. ive had a recent family member say “youve had 30 yrs to get over that”. Its made me feel awful,we dont speak now and they also said”you remind me of mother when she had her problems”. Can it get any worse. I dont need this. Its such a minefield of things,,OCD. im hoping to work,if i can look for work myself as our benefit system and job seeking system are stressful and make me feel ill going through so dont help. i stay ever hopeful and fight this,im not going to let it get me down and will get through.
As an attorney, I find myself in a very difficult spot and believe that if I disclosed that I suffer from OCD I would likely be fired. It takes a lot of courage to disclose this to an employer and I commend all who have done so. Best of luck to all
I have a fear of saying a racial slur– which makes going to work terrifying. Since working at home during Covid– I’ve been relieved of this– but I don’t know to continue ERP about it…?? I am also a former mental health therapist. If anyone has any thoughts– I would appreciate it.
Hi Michele—Thank you for sharing. Have you heard of HealthUnlocked? It’s a free, anonymous online forum where the OCD community gives each other advice and support. You can create an account now at healthunlocked.com/my-ocd!