Dylan Brethour

The reality is that mental illness is often messy and disruptive — and sanitizing that reality isn’t helpful. I felt like a stranger in my own life.

When I was diagnosed with OCD several years ago, like most people, I assumed it was an anxiety disorder. It wasn’t until months later that I stumbled on articles debating the merits of defining OCD as an entirely separate category of mental illness.

People just don’t get OCD. OCD is a well-recognized mental illness which affects roughly 1-2% of the population. Yet, it remains badly misunderstood.

People can be courageous and hardworking and still not get better. Because that’s what it means to have an illness; it isn’t predictable or convenient.

While I would never have judged anyone else for having a mental illness, I couldn’t bring myself to ask for help. Consequences of stigma come from within.