Can OCD be often overlooked by misdiagnoses?

[Ravenfreak]

Sometimes the line between OCD and Autism can be hard to determine. These two disabilities might present with similar symptoms and those who might actually have OCD might get diagnosed with Autism. Do you know someone who was diagnosed with Autism then diagnosed with OCD instead later on in life? Is there a way to prevent this from happening or are the lines between OCD and other illnesses too close?

 

[Hazel]

OCD can often be overlooked or misdiagnosed. It’s sometimes mistaken for anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, or even just “perfectionism,” especially when compulsions are mostly mental (like rumination or checking thoughts) rather than visible behaviors.
Because symptoms can be internal and repetitive thoughts aren’t always obvious, people may not realize OCD is the underlying issue, and it can take time to get an accurate diagnosis.

 

[Shortie]

OCD can very much be overlooked and misdiagnosed for sure. You will often find that OCD can be misdiagnosed as being too perfect or wanting to be too perfect, and in some cases, it can even be confused with anxiety, autism and even ADHD.

I know when my youngest son was growing up, he always wanted everything perfect, anything he played with had to be in a certain way, and he was never happy if something was not the way he wanted it. This could have been OCD, but now we know he, in fact, has autism, a perfect example of how it can be misdiagnosed or even overlooked.