My OCD Isn't A Superpower
But it's not all bad either...
I'm tired of trauma being repackaged as a business advantage. My OCD doesn't make me more detail-oriented all the time… but it does make simple tasks exhausting. And yet, learning to manage it has taught me adaptation skills I use every day. The nuance matters. You don't need to glamorize your struggles to acknowledge how they've shaped your path.
Look, I'll just say it: every time someone casually drops "I'm so OCD about my documents" because they like organized folders, I want to scream.
I want to show them what happened to me last Tuesday - time lost in a checking spiral, unable to start actual work because I was frantically reviewing an email I sent last month to make sure I hadn't accidentally written something offensive (or spinning out when I try to close off my work day because “what if I don’t do it right and all my clients hate me the next day?”)
That's not attention to detail. That's not a quirky personality trait.
That's my brain on OCD, and it's exhausting.
Therapy has been transformative for me - I can't emphasize this enough. The OCD I live with today versus four years ago is completely different. The volume has been turned way down. The grip has loosened. But it's still there, still part of how I navigate the world and my business. Progress doesn't mean disappearance.
I'm Over the "Secret Weapon" Bullsh*t
I can't scroll through entrepreneur content without seeing mental health conditions rebranded as competitive advantages:
"My ADHD gives me creative superpowers!"
"My anxiety makes me more prepared than everyone else!"
"My OCD means I never miss details!"
Part of me gets it. When something makes your daily life harder, it's tempting to believe it gives you an edge somewhere else. A cosmic trade-off. A hidden purpose.
But honestly? It grates me. And yes, that’s a personal feeling that you don’t have to share.
For me, this framing turns our struggles into marketable assets. Like we need to justify our worth by extracting value from our pain. Like we can only talk about mental health if we wrap it in a success story.
I'm done with it.
What My OCD Actually Looks Like (The Unfiltered Version)
Here's my OCD in business, no “filter” applied:
I have rituals before important calls that make no logical sense but feel absolutely necessary
I get trapped in research black holes because "just a bit more information" feels like it will save me from the crushing uncertainty
Some days, the intrusive thoughts are so loud that sending a simple invoice feels like the most difficult thing I’ll do all year
If that sounds like a competitive advantage to you (it can be in some senses & if you’d like I’m happy to explore this in a future article), I have a something to tell you.
The Messy Reality I'm Living
Here's the complicated truth I've found: living with OCD has forced me to recognize adaptations that could help my business, but I'm still struggling to implement most of them.
The distinction feels important to me. These aren't skills I've mastered—they're approaches I'm desperately trying to learn. My brain is trying to survive and function despite the obstacles.
Some real-world examples of what I'm working toward:
I need backup systems for my backup systems
When I can't trust my brain, I need external support. I know my project management should be more robust, but I'm still figuring out what that looks like for me.
I'm trying to be honest about what I can't do
This is hard. Really hard. Being a people-pleaser with OCD is a special kind of hell. I take on everything, then spiral when I can't deliver perfectly. I know I need to say "I don't take rush jobs because they trigger episodes that affect my work quality." But the words get stuck in my throat.
My business needs flexibility I haven't built yet
Bad brain days happen whether I've planned for them or not (to all of us). I'm still learning how to design my business model with buffer time, simplified offerings, and permission to adjust when needed.
I've developed a weird kind of empathy
Maybe the one silver lining so far: knowing firsthand the gap between "just do it" and actually doing it has changed how I collaborate. I'm more patient with others because I know what it's like when your brain works against you.
These aren't superpowers. They're adaptations.
Can We Please Talk About This Differently?
I'm frustrated by the false binary in entrepreneur spaces:
"My condition is my secret weapon!"
OR
"My condition makes success impossible."
Both are crap. Both flatten the messy reality of building a business while your brain plays on hard mode.
The truth is more complicated:
Some days are harder than they have any right to be
Some tasks take me three times longer than they "should"
AND I've still built something meaningful
AND the adaptations I've developed have genuine value (and on some days even help me get things done faster)
AND success looks different for me, and that's okay
AND that success is still possible and real
What I Actually Want to See
I want to see more entrepreneurs talking about mental health without:
Toxic positivity ("It's a blessing in disguise!")
Doomer negativity ("You can't succeed with this condition")
Performative vulnerability ("I struggle BUT I still crushed my revenue goals!")
Just honest accounts. The reality. The strategies that actually help. The boundaries that matter. The understanding that success might need to look different when your brain is wired differently.
And to be crystal clear: how much or how little you choose to share about your own mental health is completely personal. This post isn't meant to suggest everyone should disclose their conditions or talk about them publicly. That's entirely your choice. Some people find power in privacy, others in openness - both are equally valid.
My OCD isn't a superpower. It's a chronic condition I manage while running a business. The adaptations I've developed have value, but they came at a cost sometimes. I’m here now, and am I proud of myself for everything I’ve achieved so far? F*ck YES. Am I terrified I’m still not doing enough & worry about the future A LOT… F YES too. But I’m also still learning & adapting along the way.
If you're also building a business while managing OCD or any other mental health challenge - I see you. The unfiltered, uncommercialized, complicated reality of you. However you choose to navigate it, is up to you, and I’m rooting for ya.
Disclaimer: This article represents my personal experience only and should not be taken as medical or mental health advice. I am not a mental health professional, therapist, or healthcare provider. While sharing my journey may be helpful to others, everyone's experience with mental health is unique. If you're struggling with OCD, C-PTSD, or any other mental health condition, please consider reaching out to a qualified professional. The approaches that help me may not be appropriate for everyone, and professional guidance is invaluable when navigating mental health challenges in business or life.