How can I explain my OCD to others?

In my experience, OCD can best be explained to others who don't have it by relating it to something that they are familiar with experiencing in their life. Usually, I do this by saying something like, "I have OCD because my brain is structured in a different way. Picture the feeling you get when you suddenly freak out thinking you left your phone somewhere. That's the type of feeling OCD makes you have, except all the time, and, it often connects the compulsions to invasive thoughts and fears that I can't control having in my head."

It can be difficult to explain OCD to others who have not experienced it personally. For me, I explain it from relatable experiences. Personally, I have a lot of intrusive thoughts, so I compare it to having a song stuck in your head but only worse. You can also share articles and videos that make others better informed.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is best defined as intrusive thoughts that ruminate longer than they should, and lead to the victim's distress manifesting in compulsive behaviors in order to feel safer/calmer. My OCD involves violent intrusive thoughts that I do not want to act upon in any way, but they reoccur in my brain more than they should, the compulsive behaviors that I experience as a result are counting/touching things a number of times or until they are just right. Sometimes it involves stepping, blinking, or walking a certain way. When I was younger, my intrusive thoughts started with a scary clown that one of my closest friends had made up for a joke, and I would think if I didn't turn around three times (as an example) the clan would get me or something bad would happen.