While mental health awareness has made great strides in recent years, misconceptions and stigma around OCD persist. People may say things like “I’m so OCD about that” to describe a preference or personality quirk, when really OCD can be debilitating to those with the condition. So how can you actually describe what having OCD feels like to people who just don’t get it? We asked members of the NOCD community to weigh in: "It's like having your worst enemy live inside your mind." "It's like living with a monster under your bed that you can see, but no one else does." "It's like watching a horror movie on repeat." "It's like your mind is being hijacked by disturbing thoughts or feelings that you just can't shake." How would you describe what it’s like to live with OCD? Reply with your description of how it feels to live with OCD.

I used to think, it’s like something/someone gave me a brain but forgot to include the instruction manuals.

I am constantly fighting with my mind. I try to keep my mind and hands busy to distract me, but it is like an itch I am desperately trying not to scratch.

It's actually just takes over your thoughts and feelings without you wanting it to. Making you doubt yourself and question yourself. Depending what theme of ocd you have. With mine im left pretty upset, guilty, scared but because now I know its ocd I do dwell on the intrusive feelings and thought but I leave it after a while and do move one.

Agreed. It's like the devil is in your head and he's so stealthy that you confuse him with your own thoughts. You don't know what's real and what isn't, and you feel like you can't trust yourself.

Not knowing what is true and what is not

It's like living in a prison at times. My thoughts are locked inside my head and can't escape.

OCD makes you uncertain about what you just did, and then have doubts about what you are going to do next.

It's like being a prisioner of yourself

Not being able to trust your own thoughts.

It's a monster that lives in your head that has complete control over your fear response, a monster that you must obey or else it will hit you with a frieght train of overwhelming fear and panic, forcing you to do what it says. You are it's slave.

It's an evil genius plotting against your interest.

A mental nightmare

It's like the Angel and Devil trope but the devil has killed the angel

When I am actually doing it, it feels quite normal. When others see me doing it I often can simply write it off as being unique quality of my personality. When confronted about it, I dig My heels in. But I do see a glimmer of hope when I can be honest with myself about needing help.

It's like having a parasite control your body

It’s a monster that takes over !!! Only affects us kind natured people. I have never done anyone any harm but my mind does me. Hate it !

A dark nightmare. When you are triggered the anxiety is debilitating

Everything has to be perfect. You doubt a lot

Its like an infinite game of "step on the crack, break your mothers back"

This is awful, my only refuge to scape of all this is God.

It's a bit like you're being controlled by something or someone else.

Your biggest fears and everything you stand against just eating at you constantly.

Currently I fear losing all the things I hold dear

I have concerns about what will next fill the emptyness

It’s thinking you are lying to yourself all the time.

HOw can you help yourself, when you don't trust therapist and think they all just want to drug you.

Does it make you think you have many different physical illnesses, ( black outs, seizures, brain damage, vision problems, )nd that no one believes you.

uncertainty is on going

M. Next crocker

Correction for previous message (ongoing)

OCD personified is like a bully standing in your way and saying you can't pass.

It feels like my brain is broken.