Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an often misunderstood mental health condition, affecting about 1 in 40 adults and about 1 in 100 kids and teens. Unfortunately, many people suffer for years before receiving the proper diagnosis, often due to the misconceptions surrounding the disorder. In fact, when my parents first sought help for me, I was nearly misdiagnosed with schizophrenia at age 6.

“There is a public misconception that OCD is just a minor personality quirk or preference and that everyone is ‘a little bit OCD,’” the International OCD Foundation reports. “In reality, OCD is a serious and often debilitating mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.”

Understanding OCD

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