“I’m so organized! I’m so OCD.”
You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it. You’ve probably said it. I’ve said it, too. Except I’m not exaggerating, because I have a mild and clinically diagnosed case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It’s never been life-threatening, nor has it caused me any sort of extremely disruptive pain (though it can for some patients), but it does mean that my brain works just a little bit differently than the neurotypical eighteen-year-old. And almost nothing drives me crazier than the phrase, “I’m so OCD.”
Let’s clear a few misconceptions up first. The Mayo Clinic explains that OCD is a mental illness composed of intrusive thoughts that lead to unwanted obsessions and manifest as compulsive and repetitive actions. The compulsions, or actions, are what ease the obsessions. But the intrusive thoughts eventually return, and the cycle continues. Studies have demonstrated that OCD is inherited and is often comorbid with other psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and eating disorders.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, neurodivergent conditions cause peoples’ brains to work differently than the typical brain. Though OCD is characterized as a mental illness, it can also qualify as a neurodivergence, because people with OCD process information differently than the neurotypical person. Other neurodivergent conditions include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, and ADHD.
The good news is that OCD is highly treatable. A combination of talk therapy (typically cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure and response prevention) and medication (often antidepressants) have proven highly effective. Though having OCD should be nothing to be ashamed of, patients often experience shame and embarrassment as a result of highly unpleasant and uncontrollable intrusive thoughts.
What comes to mind when you think about someone with OCD? Possibly a freakishly neat person, an extreme perfectionist, or someone who’s very clean. And like all myths, there are some truths to each of these. People with OCD can have obsessions about order, a loss of control, or germs.
The reason for this misunderstanding likely stems from the popular culture and media’s portrayal of the illness. TV characters with OCD are often, as Firstpost notes, “reduced… to quirks and punchlines.” Consider Monica Geller, one of the stars of the TV show Friends, whose compulsive tidiness is tirelessly mocked by other characters. Whether or not the directors intended for her to have a diagnosable disorder, her blatantly abnormal behaviors are not received seriously. This is unfortunately just one of many examples of television characters with clear obsessive-compulsive tendencies who are written in for comic relief: fans have noticed that Claire Dunphy in “Modern Family,” Emma Pillsbury in “Glee,” and Sheldon in “The Big Bang Theory” show similar patterns.
Somehow, among the mayhem of popular culture icons with quirky obsessions, ritualistic routines, and germophobia, the use of OCD as an adjective emerged, most commonly in the phrase, “I’m so OCD,” which is often used to self-describe neat, germophobic, or organized tendencies. Someone who likes to have their bookshelves in color order or refuses to share a fork with you might coin the phrase as an explanation for their quirk. And while this might seem harmless, the larger implications of these phrases are grave.
Misidentifying commonplace characteristics with clinical OCD delegitimizes its seriousness. A disturbing number of patients with OCD are at risk of taking their own lives. Research shows that nearly 36% percent of patients with OCD report chronic suicidal thoughts, and nearly 11% have attempted suicide. Throwing around “OCD” as an adjective doesn’t directly contribute to the suicidal dangers of the illness, but it does downplay its severe risks.
On hypercompetitive campuses like Harvard, abuse of terms like OCD can have more serious consequences. TeenVogue explains that schools with high achieving students are correlated with higher rates of anxiety and depression, making it that much more pressing to respect those who have it. Considering that OCD patients are known to experience shame and embarrassment, lighthearted comments about obsessive tendencies can’t help. Therefore on a high-achieving campus like Harvard’s, it is more important than ever that the significance and seriousness of the illness not be reduced to an adjective.
If you are seriously struggling with obsessions or compulsions, I encourage you to reach out to a clinician or mental health resource. Though obsessive-compulsive cycles may feel impossible to break, with the proper support, symptom improvement can be well within reach.
Dr. Natasha Sanchos’ TED talk, “Debunking the myths of OCD,” breaks down misconceptions about OCD and explains the daily struggles of those who suffer from it. “Knowing your own brain is lying to you while not being able to resist its commands can be agonizing,” she says. “But with knowledge and understanding comes the power to seek help.” Using “OCD” as an adjective should be permanently eradicated from common vocabulary, as it dismisses the severity and implications of clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Having OCD isn’t a choice, a quirk, or a personality trait—nor should it be treated as such—but we can find strength in seeking support and communally destigmatizing prevalent mental health issues.
Emmie Palfrey ’27 (epalfrey@college.harvard.edu) still loves “Friends,” “Glee,” and “Modern Family.”