A Mini-Guide on How to Start Writing a Character with OCD
Hello! I've seen a few people ask how to write a character with OCD, where to start, and want to encorporate OCD but not know a lot about it, so I wanted to write this mini-guide!
Know Your Reason
Knowing why you want to write a character with OCD will not only motivate you to learn (which you need to do), but maybe even uncover some accidental wrong intentioned motivation!
Are you writing your character for OCD representation because it's underrepresented? Because you think it fits your character? Because you find it interesting? That's amazing! OCD needs more reprensentation!
If you just want to give your character OCD just to give them OCD, that's also amazing! I love casual encorporation!
However, if you're writing a character with OCD because you want to give your character an "easy" disorder that's more of a "personality trait", that's going down a bad route.
OCD is one of the most debilitating disabilities, not just mental disorders, but in total, globally. It is not easy, nor a personality trait. It's important you include this in your character and understand it'll carry weight for your character and their story. It'll be a struggle they have; not something small.
Please consider that your story will represent something serious and how you write it adds to people's perception of it. Don't assume you know; start learning from people with OCD.
If you realized you were accidently dismissing OCD, don't have knowledge in it, or had a misunderstanding, don't worry! There's plenty of room for growth and now that you know where you went wrong, you can start working on actual rep!
Don't beat yourself up; just learn!
Understand What OCD Is
This is the most important step! Understand and learn what OCD is!
OCD is a cycle of:
Obsessions/intrusive thoughts
Anxiety
Compulsion
Temporary relief
Repeat
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, images, or "urges" that are unwanted and make the person uncomfortable. They are ego-dystonic, meaning hey don't correlate with that person's beliefs or morals.
Compulsions can be physical or mental that are intentionally done in response to obsessions to recieve temporary relief from the anxiety that comes from the obsessesions.
There is a large range of compulsions but they're all done with the intent of giving relief. However, they are not good. Compulsions become repetitive, time consuming, harmful, irrational, disabling, and they only stop the anxiety momentarily before a person needs to do them again.
I heavily suggest learning about a wide range of OCD. Do not just learn about the most common ones, like contamination OCD, as you most likely won't get a full grasp of it.
Also, a lot of people that don't have contamination OCD stereotype and have misinformation about OCD; learning about other subtypes will help you unlearn your own biases and get you better, well-rounded knowledge.
Do NOT learn about OCD from people without OCD-- unless they're professionals. 66% of the population cannot properly define what OCD actaully is.
If you wouldn't ask a person without panic disorder, BPD, schizophernia, or depression on how to write that disorder, then don't ask people without OCD.
Learn from people WITH OCD. Learn from blogs, YouTube, websites or apps (I highly suggest NOCD), etc. Learn from a wide range of people with a bunch of different subtypes, not just what your character has.
Please listen to the people with OCD; we will be the most reliable.
Be Aware of Stereotypes and Misinformation
This is a general rule of thumb when writing about any group of people, but avoid stereotypes! They're very easy to write by accident because of bias and misinformation.
Be aware that making your character a clean or neat freak that isn't backed up by intrusive thoughts and obsessions is a stereotype.
Having your character have "some" or be "a little OCD" is a stereotype.
OCD people are neurotic is a stereotype.
Contamination OCD being the only form of OCD is misinformation and a stereotype.
Intrusive thoughts being repressed desires or a reflection on that person is misinformation.
OCD psychosis is misinformation; OCD does not cause psychosis, but it can be a factor for a pre-existing psychotic disorder.
As you learn about OCD, you'll stray further away from stereotypes! This page has an inbox and it's completely okay to ask if something is a stereotype or not; you will not be judged!
Identify Your Character's Subtype
This is very important and will help you a lot in writing your character.
OCD has subtypes, as in the content or themes of a person's obsessions and intrusive thoughts.
The subtype a person has typically goes against something important to them, as OCD is a ego-dystonic disorder.
For example, if a person is scared of hurting others, grew up with violent people, and/or works to help domestic abuse survivors, it'd make sense if they had harm OCD.
Harm OCD (HOCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts about hurting oneself or others, causing distress, and doing compulsions to relief that anxiety.
Subtypes are often tied to what we fear the most, so we try our best to control our thoughts and lives.
Learning about multiple subtypes will help you grasp a better understanding of OCD, see your options, and help you with any past percieved stereotypes you had.
Keep in mind that subtypes can switch and a person can, and often does, have multiple subtypes.
Give your character whatever theme you want! Every and any theme is valid.
I will say though, if representation is your goal, shoot for a more underrepresented or stigamtized form of OCD.
Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
A bit funny, but this is actually a saying in OCD treatment, but that's besides the point.
You are going to be writing about a condition that has intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts are uncomfortable and disturbing; they're upsetting for the person who has them. They will be uncomfortable to write.
Some people get intrusive thoughts about being poisoned and allergic to something, others get intrusive thoughts about assaulting others and saying slurs.
Something important to note is that intrusive thoughts aren't a reflection of a person at all. Intrusive thoughts go completely against that person's morals and being. The person getting them is uncomfortable and upset with them, but their brain keeps sending intrusive thoughts.
It's like when a person holds a baby and gets an intrusive thought of dropping the baby; they do not want to actaully drop the baby nor would they ever act on that thought because they'd hate to hurt the baby.
Everyone gets intrusive thoughts-- people with OCD just get them more and get more anxious about them, plus they engage in compulsions. It's more about control and doubt.
Some intrusive thoughts are weird, gross, or extremely unethical.
Writing unethical intrusive thoughts is NOT the same as writing an unethical character or being unethical. In fact, people with OCD tend to be the most ethical and least likely to do something wrong compared to the general population.
Thoughts do not equal actions. Esepcially if they're unwanted thoughts.
Writing a disorder isn't about writing the easiest parts; it's about writing all of it.
Learn What Makes OCD Worse VS Better
OCD is not treated the same way a lot of other disorders are treated; you need to know what enables OCD vs what actually helps because accidently enabling it is very easy.
With OCD, writing a character who tries to neutralize, get excessive reassurance, be logical, or completely avoid all OCD triggers is actually enabling OCD.
A person doing a compulsion and writing them engaging in compulsions is enabling. Don't worry if you've done this by accident! It's super tricky and even us people with OCD really struggle with not enabling ourselves.
For OCD treatment, typically it may include ERP thearpy, CBT, medication, and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Rather than a person arguing or putting meaning on their intrusive thoughts, it's vital that they instead sit with the discomfort of their instrusive thoughts and try not to "fix" them.
Getting an intrusive thought like, "What if I lose control of my hand and stab someone?" and thinking, "No. I wouldn't do that. I hate hurting people." Is actaully not good; that's neutralizing which is a compulsion.
Instead, thinking, "Maybe. Maybe not. It's a thought. I don't need to know." Is the healthier method of thinking. Putting real life value on thoughts, which are concepts, is enabling. Not attaching meaning to thoughts is what makes tolerating and recovering from OCD possible.
I'd say when finding research with OCD recovery/treatment, look for people either recovered or OCD licensed professionals only. It's really easy to find places online where people with OCD accidently enable each other. Plus, having a disorder doesn't mean you know how to treat it.
Resources
I highly HIGHLY recommend the website and platform NOCD. They are dedicated specifically OCD, have great recovery tips, provide an amazing support group, and write fantastic articles.
Anything written by them is reputable.
As for YouTube, the channel "OCD and Anxiety" makes great content.
Do not get information from Tik Tok. Tik Tok has a lot of misinformation, has quick videos that don't help you grasp a full concept, and overall is quick and bad information a lot of the time.
End Notes
Thank you all for reading! Please submit any questions to my inbox for my to answer; I'd love to help answer your questions.
My blog is about writing characters wtih OCD, mental health, and other topics relating to those subjects. Follow for more!
