When Ramya first heard the words “you have OCD” from her therapist, she expected relief to wash over her. Finally, a name for the constant, intrusive thoughts and rituals she had spent years trying to suppress. A label that would help her make sense of her behavior—why she repeated certain phrases under her breath, why she obsessed over whether she had hurt someone unintentionally, why her brain played the same unsettling thoughts on an endless loop.

But her relief was short-lived. The moment she shared her diagnosis with friends and family, their reactions were almost uniform: disbelief. “You don’t seem OCD,” one friend told her, half-laughing. “You’re not obsessed with washing your hands or anything.” Another chimed in, “But your room is always messy- are you sure?”

That was the moment she realized that, to many people, OCD only existed in one form- the hyper-clean, hyper-organized, germ-fearing perfectionist they had seen in movies and TV shows. And since she didn’t fit that mold, her diagnosis was up for debate.

Living with the "Invisible" OCD

What many don’t realize is that OCD isn’t always visible. It doesn’t always manifest in excessive handwashing or arranging items symmetrically. For me, it lived in my mind, quietly tormenting me with relentless doubt and irrational fears. I would spend hours questioning whether I had locked the door, even after checking multiple times. I avoided driving because I feared I might hit someone without realizing it.

Unlike compulsions related to cleanliness, my OCD rituals weren’t obvious to outsiders. I performed them silently—counting, repeating words in my head, seeking constant reassurance. This made it even harder for people to accept my diagnosis.

The Frustration of Being Doubted

One of the most painful parts of dealing with OCD wasn’t just the disorder itself—it was the invalidation from people I trusted. “Maybe you’re just overthinking,” a friend once said when I confided in them. “Everyone has weird thoughts sometimes.” Another person, who regularly posted about mental health awareness, casually dismissed my struggles, “You’re just anxious. OCD is something else.”

Their words, though likely not meant to hurt, left a lasting impact. I started doubting my own reality. Maybe they were right. Maybe I was making it up. Maybe I didn’t deserve therapy or medication. The doubt- already a core part of OCD- became amplified, creating a cycle of self-questioning that was nearly impossible to escape.

This kind of invalidation can be incredibly harmful. It plants seeds of self-doubt—something that people with OCD are already painfully familiar with. When my diagnosis was questioned, I found myself wondering:

What if my therapist was wrong?

What if I’m just making excuses for my personality flaws?

What if I’m actually just overreacting?

The Truth About OCD

Despite common stereotypes, OCD doesn’t always revolve around cleanliness. The disorder is defined by two core components: obsessions (intrusive, distressing thoughts) and compulsions (rituals or behaviors done to neutralize those thoughts). These compulsions can be physical, like checking the stove repeatedly, or mental like reciting a silent prayer to ward off imagined disasters.

There are many subtypes of OCD that have nothing to do with order or hygiene, including:

Harm OCD – The fear of unintentionally harming others, leading to excessive avoidance behaviors.

Relationship OCD – Intrusive doubts about one’s relationship, love, or attraction to a partner.

Scrupulosity OCD – An obsession with morality, religious purity, or being a “good person.”

Counting OCD – The compulsion to count things in a specific way to prevent a feared outcome.

For me, OCD looked like an exhausting mental battle with my own thoughts, a war that no one else could see.

Why the Disbelief Hurts

When friends and family dismiss an OCD diagnosis because it doesn’t match their limited perception, they unknowingly contribute to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Their doubt doesn’t just invalidate experiences, it can prevent people from seeking the help they need.

In my case, it made me hesitate to open up. I stopped sharing my struggles because I didn’t want to hear another, “Are you sure?” I began questioning whether I even deserved treatment. It took months of therapy and reading personal stories from others with OCD to understand that my experience was valid, even if those around me couldn’t see it.

How to Support Someone with OCD

If someone you know shares their OCD diagnosis with you, the best thing you can do is believe them. Even if their symptoms don’t match your expectations, trust that they know their own mind better than you do. Instead of questioning their experience, ask how you can support them. Sometimes, all it takes is saying, “I believe you.”

OCD is a difficult disorder to navigate on its own—but facing disbelief from those closest to you makes it even harder. Mental health awareness isn’t just about sharing Instagram posts or advocating for therapy. It’s about truly listening and understanding that OCD, like any other mental illness, doesn’t look the same for everyone.

I may not obsess over cleanliness, but my OCD is real. And just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

For years, people have joked about how women seem to enjoy showers that could probably cook noodles. If you are someone who loves cranking up the water temperature until the bathroom looks like a steam room, you may have wondered whether there is an actual reason behind it. According to UK surgeon and content creator Dr Karan Rajan, the answer lies in biology. Women are not simply choosing scalding showers for fun. Their bodies are wired differently, and that affects how they experience temperature.

Higher Core Body Temperature

Dr Rajan explains that, on average, women have a slightly higher core body temperature than men. It might sound like this would keep them warmer, but in reality, it does the opposite. When the core is warm but the surrounding environment is cool, that contrast makes cold air feel even colder. So a mildly chilly room may feel more uncomfortable for women, leading them to turn to hotter showers to compensate.

This idea has gone viral online. In a popular TikTok clip, creator couple Micah and Sarah joked about preparing for a shared shower. Micah pretended to train for the extreme heat by dipping his hand in boiling water. The internet quickly chimed in with comments like “My husband says I am training for hell” and “He calls it lobster time”. The jokes were relatable because many couples experience this temperature divide, but not many knew the science behind it until now.

Hormones Add to the Chill

Hormones play a major role too. Estrogen affects blood flow to the extremities, which includes hands, feet and even earlobes. Research shows that women’s extremities can be up to three degrees colder than men’s. Dr Rajan points out that this becomes more noticeable during ovulation when estrogen levels peak. Women on hormonal birth control may also experience increased sensitivity because estrogen stays higher for longer periods.

So even when the core stays warm, the toes and fingers may feel unusually cold. A very warm shower becomes a quick and comforting fix for this temperature imbalance.

Lower Metabolic Rates

Another biological factor is metabolic rate. Women generally have a lower resting metabolic rate than men, meaning they produce less body heat throughout the day. This naturally makes them feel colder and more drawn to hotter water while bathing. Women also tend to have more body fat and less muscle mass, which influences how the body responds to temperature changes.

What Doctors Say

Australian GP Dr Jasmina Dedic Hagan supports these findings, as reported in Body and Soul. She explains that women typically have warmer cores, cooler skin, and a higher layer of insulating fat around the body. On top of that, they have reduced circulation in the extremities because the body prioritises keeping reproductive organs warm. With less muscle mass, the body’s heat-producing brown fat does not function in quite the same way as it does in men.

So Is It Just Preference?

Not entirely. While some women truly enjoy the sensation of a very hot shower, much of it is tied to biology. From hormones to metabolism to circulation, several factors work together to make warmer showers feel soothing and sometimes even necessary. So the next time someone teases you about loving lava-level water, you can tell them it is simply science at work.

When you are burning up, even a simple shower can feel confusing. Should you cool your body quickly with cold water or soothe your aches with something warm? Fever is a natural defense mechanism, but the symptoms it brings can make you feel miserable. The right water temperature can help ease discomfort and support your recovery.

Below is a simple breakdown of how fever affects your body, followed by practical shower tips and additional ways to safely bring your temperature down.

How Fever Resets Your Body’s Thermostat

During an infection, your immune system releases chemicals called pyrogens. These signals tell the hypothalamus, which is your internal thermostat, to raise your core temperature. The added heat slows the growth of certain viruses and bacteria and helps immune cells work more efficiently.

This temperature rise is why you feel:

• Chills as your body works to reach the new set point
• Sweating when the fever begins to settle
• Faster heart rate and quicker breathing, which increase fluid loss

Knowing this matters because water that is too cold can trigger intense shivering, which drives your temperature higher. Water that is too hot can widen your blood vessels and increase sweating, which may worsen dehydration.

Cold, Lukewarm, or Hot: Which Shower Helps Most?

Each water temperature works differently with a fever. Understanding these differences helps you choose what your body needs at that moment.

Cold showers cool your skin quickly. They may feel refreshing if you are overheated, but they often trigger shivering. That shivering can raise your core temperature and is especially risky in children.

Lukewarm or tepid showers are the safest choice for most people with fever. This temperature allows gentle heat loss through the skin without causing shivering. It helps you cool down gradually while keeping your body comfortable.

Warm or hot showers can help relieve muscle aches or sinus congestion, especially for adults. However, they can increase sweating and may slightly raise your temperature. Avoid them if you are already overheated or dehydrated.

Simple Shower Tips When You Have a Fever

• Start with lukewarm water to safely reduce temperature and ease discomfort.
• If you feel flushed and sweaty, splash cold water only on pulse points such as the wrists and neck.
• Use warm showers only for congestion relief and follow up with hydration and light clothing.
• If you feel dizzy, sit on a chair outside the shower and let steam fill the bathroom while you take a gentle sponge bath.

Other Safe Ways to Bring Down a Fever

Rest

Your body is already working hard to fight the infection. Light activity can raise your temperature further, so give yourself time to rest and recover.

Stay Hydrated

Fever increases the risk of dehydration, especially if you have vomiting or a poor appetite. Sip water, oral rehydration solutions, or electrolyte drinks. Chilled fluids can also help lower your temperature.

Stay Cool

Keep your room slightly cool and wear loose, breathable clothing. If you have chills, use a light blanket but avoid overheating. You can place a cool cloth on your forehead or under the arms for short intervals.

Medication

Over the counter fever reducers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can safely lower fever. Always follow dosage guidelines. Avoid aspirin in children because it can lead to Reye's syndrome.

What Not to Do

• Do not take cold showers or ice baths because they trigger shivering and can raise your temperature.
• Avoid alcohol rubs since the alcohol can be absorbed through the skin.
• Do not take extra doses of fever medicine thinking it will work faster.
• Always read medication labels carefully to avoid accidental overdosing.

Turns out, kidney disease is not just a ‘kidney’ problem anymore, it can, in fact, affect other organs, and could even be linked to other chronic conditions, revealed a recent study.

In the US, more than 1 in 7 adults are affected by chronic kidney disease or (CKD). This means that 35.5 million Americans are affected by it, and what makes it worse is that 9 out of 10 people do not even know they have CKD, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Amid all these numbers thrown on to, something more concerning lies. A recent Lancet study shows a link between the rise in CKD and other chronic diseases. We are talking about chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

So, What Does The Study Say?

The researcher saw that 14 percent of adults who are over the age 20 or older, which makes 788 million Americans who had CKD in 2022. The biggest problem is not the disease itself, but the unawareness. Doctors, experts, and researchers from time and again have pointed out how kidney disease is often asymptomatic, this is why it is ignored until it becomes advanced. However, at that point the patients could already need dialysis or even an organ transplant. This gap in early diagnosis and treatment is what has made CKD the ninth leading reason of death, worldwide.

When you kidney functions naturally, it works as the powerhouse of filtration. A pair of healthy kidneys are able to filter and process more than 150 liters of fluid from the blood. These organs are also responsible for filtering out the waste and toxins through your urine. Not just that, but your kidneys also help in red blood cells production that keeps you healthy. When all of that does not happen, it can eventually impact every other organ in your body.

Like they say, everything is connected, and it surely is. For instance, somewhere around 20% of the blood that your heart pumps goes to your kidneys. If someone has diabetes and high blood pressure, it could damage the blood vessels and lead to protein in the urine and a slower filtration rate. It can then lead to other chronic infections, autoimmune disorders, and even genetic variants.

Kidney-Body Relation

If you leave your kidney disease untreated, it could lead to kidney failure. This is when you would be more in need of dialysis or a transplant. Doctors have pointed out that most people do not die of chronic kidney disease, rather it impacts their quality of life, worsening their cardiovascular conditions. It can lead to complications like a heart attack, a stroke, or a heart failure.

How Does This Happen?

People who have kidney diseases are at an increased risk for high blood pressure. Due to hurdles in the process of filtration, plaque build ups and hardens the arteries. This in return increases stress on the heart. In fact, the American Heart Association also defined the link between kidney and heart as 'cardiovascular-kidney metabolic syndrome'. This defines a health disorder that is a condition of the overlap of obesity, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases.

The bleed out of CKD is not just limited to your heart. The National Institute of Health, US points out that along with heart complications and high blood pressure, CKD could also lead to anemia, mineral and bone disorder, metabolic acidosis, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalances in the blood.

So, What Is The Best Way To Keep Yourself Safe?

The first way is to note any symptoms and get yourself diagnosed. Look for signs like loss of appetite, unexplained nausea or vomiting. Do you feel tired often? Are you having trouble concentrating? Is there any change in how often you go pee?

Other symptoms like a change in your urine color or texture, or feeling itchy or dry, muscle cramps, unexplained weight loss or skin conditions could also signal towards kidney diseases.

However, not always does CKD show symptoms, experts suggest that to be one step ahead, it is important to undergo regular health checkups, including blood culture. General guidelines usually point towards getting a blood test done every 3 to 6 months. For someone with high blood pressure, diabetes or any other disease, the current guidelines say that those people should get regular blood and urine tests to screen for kidney disease. But what really happens is that though these tests exist, they are still used far too little. Doctors point out that many patients skip them because collecting a urine sample feels inconvenient, and overall awareness about kidney disease remains low. As a result, research shows that only about 35 percent of people with diabetes, and just 4 percent of those with high blood pressure, actually end up getting the recommended urine screening.

A ray of hope is that there are now several effective tools to slow the progression of kidney disease. Along with traditional options like ACE inhibitors, newer classes of medications including certain heart failure drugs and GLP-1 drugs. These medicines have shown to help protect kidney function. Although these newer treatments are not widely used yet, their adoption is steadily increasing.

What is important to remember is to also always consult your GP to ensure all preventative measures are followed carefully.