I want to apply to a couple big company jobs. Do y’all think it’s a good idea to put ocd as a disability or put it as something that i worked to overcome to show I’m can overcome adversity or something like that?

That’s really great that you’re making progress towards recovery Dale. OCD is a disorder but that doesn’t mean by any means that you can’t get better from it. Brain chemistry does affect how we think and act but exposure therapy has the potential to rewire your brain. It doesn’t work for everyone though, and I would assume many people who are actually on disability for OCD haven’t had success with the current treatments there are like SSRI’s and ERP. OCD is in fact a disorder and can absolutely be a disability.

OCD is rated one of the top ten most disabling disorders in the world

@DaleJr, OCD can be considered a disability as can other mental health disorders :) The impact OCD can have on one’s life can be detrimental. OCD is a brain disorder; it is not as simple as just realizing OCD has little power over your life, as you say.

Harm, suicidal, existential, medical, and scrupulosity. The last one that's really hanging on is the existential one because it's the most unexplainable. But it's on it's way out. The anxiety has pretty much left almost completely

I understand where you’re coming from. It’s just that for someone like me who has suffered with OCD for long term (about 10 years), it seemed like you were downplaying the seriousness of OCD by saying it isn’t a disorder or a disability, so just something to keep in mind to be careful of what you say. I understand you weren’t intending to do that. You’re fortunate you were able to seek treatment soon after the start of your disorder but for others who weren’t able to do that, treatment can be much more difficult, especially when we don’t know what life without OCD is.

Mine started officially with HOCD when I was 19 in college but looking back I had other ocd tendencies my whole life.

OCD isn't a disability.

You're only limiting your potential by labeling OCD as a disorder. You need to do more recovery work so you can realize that OCD has very very little power to your life.

*disability

But it can be defeated. Again don't make things seem so hopeless that it lasts forever. It doesn't if you put in the work.

I understand that but it truly does have little power. I went from a Y-BOCS score of 37 and brought it down to 12 in 4 months. Put in the work and it will get better. You shouldn't let this define you or your potential.

To answer the question, whether or not you choose to disclose having a disability on a job application is up to you. Choosing to do so shouldn’t affect your application.

^agreed. I'm currently a firefighter now and it didn't affect me

What kind of ocd did u have dale

Did u go on any medication?

Nope! Manifested back I'm February of this year and my YBOCS was at a 37. Today my score was a 7. It's almost over with. I will not be dealing with this ever again soon

Wow that's awesome good for you. How old r u

Preciate it! I'm 22

Of course I can absolutely believe that! Ive read many stories of others with OCD that haven't had success in treatment and it breaks my heart but it is a smaller percentage. My only intention was to provide more motivation and for others to not directly attach OCD to who they really are. No harm intended

Yeah I suffered for 6 years

@js94 When did yours start? Mine started when I was young, around 12 or 13, and I didn’t know what I was experiencing at the time. I ended up self diagnosing myself online a few years later. I wish an adult in my life would’ve recognized what I was dealing with and I would’ve been able to start therapy sooner, that would’ve made a big difference in my life.