how do I tell my family I have ocd?? . I'm 20, I see them pretty much everyday and it puts a strain on my relationships with them because they have no clue what's going on with me. My mom (amazing mom but... ) can come across cold it's just her personality, she's had a hard life from many external factors and so she doesn't really understand mental illness and how someone can be 'unhappy' when they have a comfortable life. I come from a family of very very strong women and if I told them I feel like they'd just think it was an excuse/attention seeking. They're supportive people but not very understanding in mental health. I already feel very different to my family just based on my personality/values/view of life - this could potentially make me even more of a distance from them no??? how do I even tell someone I have ocd do I just say it???? pls and insight any1 can give soooooooo appreciated thank you

Play this for them. https://youtu.be/HeYjDbRmAsM

Hi there! I don’t have very good advice to this part; I’m struggling just like you. I just wanted to let you know you aren’t alone. My parents don’t really “bEliEvE mEnTaL iLlNeSs iS a ThInG”. It’s hard when I go to therapy and they ask me when I’m going to get better. I don’t know. You’re not alone.

What about printing some articles about it for them to read so they would understand it better? Maybe it could help them see that you’re not just a weirdo if you show them that it’s not just you suffering and that OCD isn’t what many people assume it is?

I told all the people that I’m close to and it makes you feel better when you realize even if they don’t understand. My mom never experience mental health either. Wen I told her everything she googled it. And she helped me.

What a great question. I completely get it, it's really hard. I would ask why you feel the need to tell someone to have OCD. If it is because you want to have some kind of specific support, then make sure you let them know what it is, otherwise probably they won't know how to help you or how to approach it. My das got upset because ai mentioned some of my intrusive thoughts out loud; so, as other people have mentioned, be ready that some people might not know how to support you. If the only support you know you need is hugs, then let them know.

Awesome video

thank you so much each and every one of you, that video is sooooo helpful and true. I don't even know why I want to tell them in all honesty, I feel like I owe it to them? Besides medical professionals, I'm the only person who knows I have ocd - which feels wierd. I guess I'll talk when I'm ready and when/if it's right for me. Thank you again everyone I value this community so much !!!!!!

There are books out there for OCD that are targeted at family members. Maybe buy one and just let them realize it's real and there are more people out there struggling.

"What can family and friends do to help? This chapter is addressed to anyone who has a relative, close friend, or partner with OCD. (We use the term ‘relative’ in this chapter as shorthand for all the possibilities.) Having OCD can play havoc with relationships and place an enormous burden on those who live with or love a person with OCD. This strain can lead to frequent conflicts and, occasionally, there can be violence on both sides. If you have OCD and are also reading this chapter, then the last thing we want to do is to cause you to feel yet more guilt, shame, or fear; but this is yet another example of how OCD can pretend to be keeping you or people you care about safe from harm, when the reality is far from it. Relationship stress and conflict are a consequence of this debilitating illness, and not the result of something defective in the person with the illness. In this chapter we give examples of the sorts of conflicts that commonly occur and their consequences. We also raise some difficult ethical issues for which there are no easy answers. The chapter is rounded off with some general guidelines and solutions to the problems you may encounter."

Chapter 9 in here, was $5 for Kindle – "The Complete Guide to Overcoming OCD: (ebook bundle) (Overcoming Books)" by David Veale, Rob Willson.

http://beyondocd.org/information-for-friends-and-family