Sharing OCD status at work/school

Hi thefishblub (LOVE that name), I've only disclosed that I have OCD at work on one occasion, and that's for the job I work at as a mental health advocate, which is admittedly a little different. But I have disclosed at university before, and I disclose pretty much freely in my everyday life, including in situations where people can and do have those reactions. That's what works best for me, but it always depends on you and your situation. I think that, as with disclosing any kind of mental illness/disability, it's important to consider it carefully (without getting too caught up in rumination!) There's a great DBT skill called Pros and Cons I love for this, there's a rundown of it here: https://dbtforlife.com/portfolio/dbt-group-notes-weighing-pros-and-cons/ Instead of just weighing pros and cons for, you also weigh pros and cons against. It can help you get a clearer picture and I'd definitely recommend it in this sort of situation. Disclosing comes with risks, there's no way around that. It can be hard to know how you will be received before you take the plunge. That's an uncertainty that could be worth doing exposures around! I'd also invite you to think about the specific goals you're trying to achieve in words you can take to your employer if you do decide to disclose. Are there specific accommodations you want to ask for? It sounds like you're hoping for some understanding with regards to the toll pushing so hard at work takes on you, and an easier time asking to do a bit less when that's what you need. These are reasonable requests, but unfortunately, not every workplace is reasonable. Only you can make the call whether you think your employer will respond in the way you need, and if the potential downside of some people treating you differently will be worth it. I looked up some guides on disclosing disability (you may or may not identify that way, but it's usually the legal term in these situations) to an employer under the ADA. I don't know if you're in the US, but hopefully they have some good tips for you anyway. I think it'd be a good idea for you to research your situation to be sure of your rights--just be mindful of research reassurance! I find setting a timer helps with not going down the rabbit hole too long. https://www.hercjobs.org/disclosing-disability-to-an-employer-why-to-when-to-how-to/#:~:text=The%20general%20rule%20under%20the,before%20they%20become%20too%20serious. https://askjan.org/topics/Disability-Disclosure.cfm https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/smarter-living/disclose-disability-work-employer-rights.html I realise I wrote you a FULL ESSAY here, but this is such a big and important topic. For me, disclosing is the right call--in my life, the benefits of being open outweight the stigma. I wish I could just tell you to go right ahead and tell them, that it would be the same for you. But at the end of the day, this is a very personal decision and what might be a good, safe and healthy choice for one person may not be the same for another. I hope at least that I've been able to give some tools to help you make that decision. Whatever you choose, best of luck!

Hi autisticompulsive, thank you so much for your answer!! I really appreciate these resources and plan to check them out more in detail (when I’m not compulsively looking at the NOCD app at 11:30 pm lol). Thanks for being so thoughtful in your answer. Best wishes to you!