Are you guys open about your OCD and talk to others about it or do you keep it to yourself? Has talking about it helped in any way?

I’ve become a lot more open about my ocd in the last year. It has changed my life. I use social media as a platform and talk about it openly with close friends and family. It helps me not feel so ashamed and helps me love myself more. But also I know it helps others who are fighting the battle silently like I did for a decade and a half. I’m 22 now and What I would give to tell my younger self that she isn’t alone

Started to talk about it a bit with people I trust, but not the full scope. I am much more open about health OCD, not as much with the pure O and suicidal o themes.

I’m with Jen22 on this one. You should probably avoid telling random schmoes at work, and/or people who make jokes at your expense. But friends, family and decent acquaintances can be good to talk to about it. When I talk to people about it, I first tell them that I have OCD. Then I’ll tell them that I suffer mostly from Harm OCD. Then I tell them that the thoughts are violent and terrifying, and that they’re thoughts that I find abhorrent. If they’re actually interested, I’ll explain that I sometimes have thoughts about ripping, breaking, stabbing, etc. but I don’t go into big specifics if you know what I mean ?

I have only told two of my very closest friends that I have ocd but I don’t talk about my thoughts or anything like that - don’t really tell anyone else about mine except for my mum and she helps to talk me through some of the things that are most irrational if you know what I mean - definately helps

ehh i’ve opened up about my ocd deeply to three people mostly but only really about the subjects of health ocd or like some compulsions i have. i really just told them how much distress it causes me. i’ve touched on my hocd with one friend in the slightest but didn’t even say i had it i just brought it up to try see if she would understand, but i’m still not super open about themes other than health ocd.

I dont usually talk to them about it because they normally help me with my compulsions without knowing unless they are experts on ocd