[AutumnForest]

I'm currently getting treated for OCD. But I don't know if I've been officially diagnosed, if there is even such a thing. I'm worried that if there is an a official diagnoses, and i get officially diagnosed, will effect my job life. Would/could I be turned down because of my OCD? Would a University not let me into a program because of it as well?

[reesecups]

Originally Posted by AutumnForest

I'm currently getting treated for OCD. But I don't know if I've been officially diagnosed, if there is even such a thing. I'm worried that if there is an a official diagnoses, and i get officially diagnosed, will effect my job life. Would/could I be turned down because of my OCD? Would a University not let me into a program because of it as well?

Honestly, unless you have a severe enough case that it would effect your job life/or studies, you probably wouldn't need to tell anyone if you so choose. If it's obvious you should be able to at least get some type of help if it effects your studies. Maybe talk to someone that can help fit you to employment that will be enhanced by this problem in some way.

[healingme4me]

Hasn't affected me, in any way.

[Odee]

A diagnosis will not go on any record other than what the doctor keeps in their office, and that record is protected by doctor-patient confidentiality (often even within the same building, I believe).

A diagnosis doesn't give you an illness, it labels one already there. A diagnosis will not affect your job life the way an illness can. Also, not only can not one legally turn you down for a job because of an illness, but they can't know unless you tell them.

I couldn't get life insurance.

[blackwhitered]

Originally Posted by AutumnForest

I'm currently getting treated for OCD. But I don't know if I've been officially diagnosed, if there is even such a thing. I'm worried that if there is an a official diagnoses, and i get officially diagnosed, will effect my job life. Would/could I be turned down because of my OCD? Would a University not let me into a program because of it as well?

My dream job was to be a member of the CIA. Now I can never have that because I've been hospitalized (although always voluntarily) and have been diagnosed with a chronic mental illness.

The same can apply if you want to be a police officer, be in the army, or really anywhere where you have to carry a weapon.

Also, my prognosis is not very good because I had early onset of my disorder and didn't get treated for several years. I also have severe symptoms (hallucinations in every sense but taste; constantly regenerating delusions; some negative symptoms, some disorganization)... So yeah there's a good chance that I will actually get much worse... The only good side is that I have a mood component, so my diagnosis (schizoaffective) has a better prognosis than just straight-up schizophrenia.

I'm pretty sure the prognosis for OCD is much better (though some cases of OCD, like with ingestors, can be pretty severe to the point that they need brain surgery-- no, it's nothing like lobotomies).

The benefits of having a diagnosis:

• being taken seriously by therapists/doctors
• ability to explain to others what problems you're having and why (though try not to lean on this-- an illness is not an excuse)
• ability to research your disorder and make decisions regarding treatment
• an idea of your prognosis
• ability to reach out to others going through the same thing
• recognizing negative thoughts or behaviors in yourself and addressing them

[reesecups]

Originally Posted by puzzle_bug1987

I couldn't get life insurance.

There are many reasons people can't get life insurance. Even well controlled physical ailments will still sometimes be rejected. Mental health: especially if you're now or have been suicidal is hard to get. Life insurance will normally only cover a suicide IF the policy has been in effect for at least 3 years, the person continued and was seeking help before suiciding. My room mate BIL committed suicide and those were the reasons given ad to why the insurance was paid out.

[Fuzzybear]