I have battled with ocd (and more recently depression) for most of my life and have kept my struggle to myself for the most part. In all these years, outside of an ocd therapy group, I have only told my current partner and one friend who also has mental illness struggles. Sometimes it feels like a dirty secret, especially when family wonder why I've been unemployed so long. Sometimes I fear I would be looked down upon or seen as attention seeking by others. How have you coped with this? Are you open about it? Did it help?

I'm open about my OCD, but it's not the first thing I tell people about myself, certainly not employers.

I’m currently in my late teens and since I was young (I’d say around 7) I began experiencing OCD symptoms that I can vividly remember. Since then I would have moments in my life where it was all consuming me and others where it wasn’t. Anyway I reached a breaking point end of last year before my exams and that’s when I first started seeing the school therapist. I too was the same. I felt embarrassed of it and being in highschool I didn’t want my friends to notice my compulsions. However after a while I felt comfortable enough to share it with close friends and boyfriend. My family, close friends and boyfriend know and I prefer to keep it that way. I just don’t want people to notice especially in the highschool environment. Everybody I have told has been very supportive and approached it in a way ‘she’ll talk to us if she needs us, we won’t ask about it a lot’ which has been great. I recommend telling those who you trust and spend the most time with. For me this was my best friends, boyfriend and family. It’s a very hard concept for people to understand I have learnt, so even if they don’t get it, it’s nice to know there are people who care you’re doing alright. Hope this helps!!!! ?

Sorry for reposting and deleting so many times thats a fun compulsion to have ✌?

I know what you mean about it feeling like a dirty secret. It feels like an absolute burden:(

I understand what you mean about this topic. I try to keep it to myself as well when I'm @ work. It is painful and embarrasing but I try to manage it. I'll break into anxious sweats @ work sometimes.