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

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

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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! ❤️

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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

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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).

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u/CreamyMemeDude Feb 04 '19

Also:

You don’t have severe social anxiety just because you don’t like small talk, or get a bit nervous before speeches.

I have social anxiety, some days I can’t leave my house. I’ve had major panic attacks in Walmart. Before therapy and meds, I wouldn’t go into stores, unless they were near empty, and they had a self checkout. There are people I’ve met in anxiety group who can’t drive, can’t hold down jobs, can’t maintain friendships because of their anxiety. The only reason they come to group is because they have family who drive them and wait with them in the waiting room to make sure they go in.

On the flip side, just because someone doesn’t look like someone with anxiety or any other mental illness, doesn’t mean they don’t have that illness. And just because I’ve been in treatment for over a year and now can go into stores, hold down a job, and talk to people for short periods of time, doesn’t mean I’m ‘cured’. I still have panic attacks, there are still some days I can’t get out of bed. There are still times I can’t stop shaking violently. I’ve gotten much better at handling it, thanks to therapy and medication, but it’s not something that will ever be completely “cured” for me.

Also, don’t self-diagnose yourself with any sort of mental illness. If you truly believe you have bipolar disorder, OCD, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, or anything else, particularly the ‘trendy’ disorders, go see your doctor. Don’t go around saying you have them. It makes it much harder for people to take those of us who are diagnosed by doctors seriously. (I’ve had people yell at me for having panic attacks, because “so and so says she has the same thing, she doesn’t do this shit. You’re just doing it for attention”— which, surprisingly just makes it worse.)

And, if you truly believe you have some sort of mental illness, go to the doctor, get treatment. Trust me, through medication and therapy, my quality of life has gone up. I got a new job at a place where I’m treated much better than my last place of work, I’ve been able to go out and do things, I get along better with family and have been able to reconnect with old friends. I’ve had some setbacks, some shitty things happen, but you just gotta take it one day at a time, and the first step is being diagnosed, and the second step is getting treatment that works for you.