Last week we decided to try something new. We decided that we needed to show our authentic selves if we were going to get any attention at all for Presently. Here’s what happened:
I know when Lindsay is checking the stove. It’s usually right after we turn off the Roku and get ready for bed. I can usually tell if I don’t hear water running from the bathroom or if I don’t hear her puttering around her room. It's usually dead silent.
Most of the time I’ll just call out “Lindsay… step away from the stove.” But this time I tried something different.
I grabbed my phone when I realized where she was and started recording. I know this sounds a bit cruel like I’m exploiting my sister for TikTok views. But the reality is, we are always open to sharing our OCD stories—embarrassing or not— because we know that's the only way people will truly understand what OCD is really like (and of course, I got her permission before posting it).
This 14-second video shows Lindsay walking away from the stove with her eyes still on the knobs, only to be pulled back to look again. She realizes I’m recording her and we exchange giggles.
700,000 views, 30,000 likes, 173 comments, and 528 “favorites” later, we learned a few things about the current understanding of OCD and its treatment.
1. A lot of people have OCD.
2. A lot of people don’t know they have OCD.
3. A lot of people are struggling.
4. A lot of people don't know what is "helpful" for OCD.
5. A lot of people appreciate us recording this raw moment.
6. Not enough people are sharing these experiences.
One of the most important takeaways from this for us is the realization that not enough people are posting things like this. Most people use the phrase “I’m so OCD” to show their cleanliness or organization chops.
But there is so much more to OCD than just that. And when this happens, people out there struggling with textbook OCD symptoms have no idea that it is, in fact, OCD. And they don’t receive the help they need.
For those who are sharing this type of stuff, THANK YOU. For those of you who have the ability to share this type of stuff, YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH.
Watch the video here.
0 comments