choose a specific mental health diagnosis to research. 

get the citation for an article or the website and report it in your post

find a reference to the disorder in the textbook and have that citation ready as well

Then, create a discussion post for your peers to read about 

what it means, in general, to have a mental health diagnosis 

what you have learned about the specific mental health diagnosis you have researched (You can include a personal anecdote, but don't mention any person by name or reveal anything about someone else without their permission.)

POST

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder involves unreasonable fears and thoughts that lead to compulsive behaviors. People with OCD have recurring and unwanted thoughts and feelings. These feelings make an individual partake in activities over and over again. The pattern these activities are placed in is usually unique to one individual with OCD. The behaviors are oftentimes manifested by washing already clean hands multiple times, cleaning something that is already clean, and checking an already locked door. These behaviors are more than the behaviors of a germaphobe or "neat freak." People who have OCD spend at least an hour out of their day partaking in these activities.  "People with OCD attempt to stop, or at least ignore, their obsessions by engaging in a replacement thought or activity."(pg.573) These activities affect an individual's social life. According to the Mayo clinic "You may try to ignore or stop your obsessions, but that only increases your distress and anxiety." People may have obsessive or compulsive behaviors that don't meet the requirements of a disorder. "Behaviors must be significantly distressing or disabling in order to be considered symptoms."(pg. 574) The individuals who have OCD are overtaken by these intrusive thoughts. According to the American Psychiatric Association obsessions are classified as "recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that cause distressing emotions such as anxiety or disgust" and compulsions are "repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession." Some typical obsessions are fearing that everything is being contaminated, intrusive sexual feelings and thoughts, and fear of losing something important. Some of the most common compulsions are checking locks and appliances, repeatedly counting to a certain number, and placing objects into a certain order.         OCD is a fairly common diagnosis. More than 200,000 individuals in the US are diagnosed per year. OCD is a chronic condition, however, there are a few different treats for people. Treatment depends on the severity of an individual OCD.  Some individuals are able to manage their OCD with self-care. People with OCD can be placed on medication and go through cognitive therapy to help relive some of the behaviors and thoughts caused by OCD. FOr people with very severe OCD, there are surgical options. The surgery involves deep brain stimulation. For many being diagnosed with OCD can be a relief. If someone had been struggling with symptoms for a while getting a diagnosis can be like a weight lifted off their shoulders. In our generation, there is less and less stigma on mental health however it still exists. In October of 2021, I was diagnosed with a chronic heart condition. Getting the diagnosis shook my world. I was diagnosed with Anxiety shortly after. I realized how much stigma there still is involving mental health. I personally have never known anyone who takes advantage of a diagnosis, but I have known people who fake a diagnosis for attention. Our culture has come a long way but there is still room to grow.