Sherri, I'm glad you're here. I've been reading your other posts about OCD...in a way, some of the information in that thread scared me a bit, because I could see some of those things in me, like music playing non-stop in my mind. In fact, since becoming aware of OCD many years ago, I have often wondered if I could be borderline, but it's never been serious enough for me to feel it necessary to get it checked out.

Interestingly enough, I had that non-stop music in my head all of my life until my Dad died in 1999. I haven't had it since. I kind of miss it, which means it probably wasn't OCD, right?

Any of the other similarities are very mild and seem to be more connected to my depression and anxiety than anything. They don't come close to being the nightmare that OCD is for you, and in fact almost completely disappear when the anxiety is under control.

If it's any consolation, I do understand the stigma and frustration of people just brushing it aside as something you ought to be able to "snap out of it"...been there too, heard it all. It doesn't matter. What matters is that we know that what we suffer is very real, very debilitating and very much a bona fide illness, as worthy of compassion and dignity as any other. If others won't give it to us, it's up to us to give that compassion and dignity to ourselves, and to gently but surely educate others as best we can.

You're doing that for me with your insights into OCD, and hopefully I'm doing the some of the same with these insights into depression.