Can you say you have OCD without being diagnosed?

Many people experience some of the signs of OCD without meeting the criteria to be diagnosed. It is not uncommon to sometimes obsess over disturbing things or to engage in ritualized actions as a way to cope.

Can I say I have OCD?

OCD is one of dozens of English words and acronyms that have become what’s known as ableist language. Sometimes the words are OK to use, as in describing a medical condition. More often they’re not OK to use, as in using OCD as a joking way to refer to something other than that medical condition.

Do you have to disclose OCD?

If you have OCD, you don’t have to disclose your condition to anyone, even family members. It’s your experience, your life. But if you have people in your life you trust and know to love and support you, letting them in, even just partially in, can have a positive ripple effect on everyone involved.

Is OCD a protected disability?

OCD definitely falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act. So when it comes to jobs, patients who have OCD are protected in the sense that they cannot be discriminated against for having that diagnosis — during the hiring process or afterward.

How do you disclose OCD?

According to one attorney, who contributed her thoughts to the International OCD Foundation, the most professional way to disclose OCD at work is through a request for accommodations. You’re best off directing your request in writing to your immediate supervisor, a manager or your company’s human resource department.

Can OCD make you question reality?

Existential OCD involves intrusive, repetitive thinking about questions which cannot possibly be answered, and which may be philosophical or frightening in nature, or both. The questions usually revolve around the meaning, purpose, or reality of life, or the existence of the universe or even one’s own existence.