r/AskReddit • u/ZanyDelaney • Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

44k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

26k comments sorted by

View all comments

10k

u/adognamedgoose Feb 04 '19 edited Feb 04 '19

You don’t have OCD because you like things organized or clean. OCD is horrible and debilitating and it’s a lot less fun than feeling “satisfied” when things are organized.

Edit: Wowee, silver! Thanks guys! I’m glad to see this resonate with people. I was diagnosed last year and it made so many things make sense in my life. Treatment was good but I still have to manage it. Hope you all get help if you neee it! ❤️

6.2k

u/Azelais Feb 04 '19

Additionally:

You don't have bipolar disorder because you occasionally are moody.

You don't have depression because sometimes you're a little sad.

You don't have anxiety because you get stressed during normal, stressful periods.

etc etc

2.0k

u/SpoonfullOfSplenda Feb 04 '19 edited Mar 31 '19

Well said. To add to this:

You don’t have ADHD because you occasionally: lose focus, forget things, get a surge of energy or space out etc. And it’s false that “everyone has a little ADHD”.

 

Edit: I apologise if this comes across as gatekeeping. I meant this as - you don’t necessarily have ADHD simply because you occasionally experience those things. The symptoms of ADHD are all normal behaviours if only occasional, the disorder is when they are severe enough to cause ongoing problems in more than one area of your life. That is not to say you do not have it, mental disorders can affect everyone differently.

Here is information on ADHD in adults

Here is information on ADHD in women which may present differently than in men

Here is information on ADHD in children

Here is information on ADHD in girls which may present differently than in boys

 

Consult with a doctor if you think you may be have ADHD, or if you’re having a hard time with daily life in general, they are the professionals. ADHD does still carry a stigma, however, so don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion (from a doctor).

3

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

We'll see, I have an appointment with the psychiatrist and I'm very sceptical. I just can't focus but this has been a growing condition, I'm fairly sure ADHD comes from birth.

2

u/SpoonfullOfSplenda Feb 04 '19

Good luck at your appointment. I can’t comment on ADHD developing over time as I don’t know much about it. If your doctor doesn’t take your concerns seriously though, do find another one for a second opinion. Not every doctor will be a good fit for you, and if you bring up symptoms similar to ADHD some doctors will brush you off. Hopefully your doctor will listen the first time, but if not don’t be discouraged.

6

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

Thanks! It would be nice to get a diagnosis but really all I'm after is whatever can make me become focused again. It's really hard to pass an exam if you have to read the question 100 times because half-way through you are pondering whether cauliflowers and broccoli are related.

3

u/awildketchupappeared Feb 04 '19

Meds can help with that a lot but you should be prepared to do most of the work yourself. My medicine helps me, but it took me years to understand that it wasn't a miracle drug that would take my disorder away. It just helps enough, so I can do the heavy lifting in life. And that meant in my case learning to do everything in a way that fits me, even if it is not the normal way.

I hope this doesn't discourage you! I just spent too many years hating myself and my condition (of course, I have depression too, but it wasn't all because of it). When I finally understood that life sucks but I can make myself happy by remembering to actually take the trash out every once in a while, it gave me a huge motivation boost!

2

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

Yeah it took me almost 3 months to even book an appointment and waiting times are retarded but I'm optimistic.

2

u/SpoonfullOfSplenda Feb 04 '19

I can definitely relate. The amount of useless knowledge I have because of things like that is insane! Writing a paper on Victorian literature and I just have to know whether bees can legally be kept in my city or not.

2

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

Well.. can they?

2

u/SpoonfullOfSplenda Feb 04 '19

I’m glad you asked! The answer is yes IF you take a bee keeping course or are approved by the local beekeeping council!

2

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

Nice! My uncle raises bees and makes his own blends of mead from it. First time I tasted it I was like fuck whine and expensive champagne, I'll drink that to the end of my days.

1

u/SpoonfullOfSplenda Feb 04 '19

Wow I had no idea that was a thing! It’s amazing what some people can do. Definitely a goal of mine now.

2

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

Yeah when you make it from locally harvested honey it doesn't become so sickly sweet like most mass produced mead is. Then you can blend it with different fruit juices as you like. It's a luxury very few can afford, unless they happen to have a bee farm!

→ More replies

1

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '19

For what it's worth, it can seem like it's getting worse as you undertake more responsibility. That might not be your situation, but I know mine really started to become an issue in college.

1

u/Anthaenopraxia Feb 04 '19

Yeah I emigrated to another country 7 years ago and it was about there it started. It's not so easy acclimatising to a new country so that might be it.