I watched part of the TV show, The Doctors, yesterday and someone posted a question as to whether someone with OCD should be able to adopt children. The person has a friend with "severe OCD" who really wants a child. But I'm not posing this question.

The Doctors (I think it was two doctors, one psychologist and Jillian Michaels, from The Biggest Loser, and who is now a regular on this show) said OCD is not a mental illness; rather, it's a disorder. I agree, it's a disorder, and a disability, but I don't know what to think now. Am I mentally ill? Most people around me think so. I also have panic disorder, but that's a disorder so I guess it's not a mental illness? Don't get me wrong: I don't want to be mentally ill, but I'm confused as to how to explain my disorders to other people, especially those who judge mental illness unfairly.