Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions in popular culture. In films, TV shows, and everyday language, it’s often reduced to a personality quirk. Someone who likes things neat, color-coded, or alphabetized is labeled “so OCD.” But this oversimplified portrayal does real harm.

It can feel like we are living in an age of anxiety. Sometimes even hearing the word is enough to spark a sense of dread. But what if there were another side to it? What if struggling with anxiety or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (which affects about 3% of the U.S. population) could also reveal hidden strengths?