Being tidy and neat does not indicate the presence of OCD. There are companies called “OCD Cleaning” and “OCD Organizing” that trivialize the significant distress that OCD causes.
Some quick facts about OCD (from the International OCD Foundation)
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There are about 1 in 100 adults — or between 2 to 3 million adults in the United States — currently have OCD.
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OCD can occur any time, but often between the ages 8 and 12 or between the late teen years and early adulthood, and sometimes it happens post-partum (after a person has given birth).
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Research has shown that most people have unwanted “intrusive thoughts” from time to time, but in the context of OCD, these intrusive thoughts come frequently and trigger extreme anxiety that gets in the way of day-to-day functioning.
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So many people have OCD but it never gets treated…in part because REAL OCD can show up in the form of compulsive thoughts that are so uncomfortable (sometimes taboo) that people are afraid to talk about them.
More on the diagnosis is here.
If you think you have OCD or are concerned about a family member or friend, there is help available.