OCD

How do I use my own privilege? Do I eliminate obstacles for others or do I take the easier route of deferring to the status quo?

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.

From a young age, I showed signs of OCD, which were exacerbated by my parents separating when I was seven. I was caught in the middle.

Please stop gaslighting me. Stop telling me that my mental illness isn’t real.

The facade of control I’d spent so much energy maintaining was ripped from me. I am doing my best, and that’s good enough for me.

For a long time, I kept a mental list of things that I’d do once I was “better.” I yearned for a sound mind and a thin body — two things I was not born with but figured I could somehow earn. Once I had those two things, I could do anything I wanted.

Because crazy is not a thing anyone wants, a lot of folks don’t seek diagnosis — which means a lot of folks go untreated.

We need to stop trying to be perfect. I know better than most that it is much, much easier said than done.