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.

Supreme Court on Friday declared the right to menstrual health as part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court issued a slew of directions to ensure that every school provides biodegradable sanitary napkins free of cost to adolescent girls. The guidelines also ensured that schools must be equipped with functional and hygienic gender-segregated toilets. The Court directed the pan-India implementation of the Union's national policy, 'Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-going Girls' in schools for adolescent girl children from Classes 6-12.

Read: Menopause Clinics Explained: Latest Launch By Maharashtra And Kerala Government

Supreme Court Declares Menstrual Hygiene As Part Of Right To Life: Here Are the Directions

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan passed the following directions:

• All States/UT must ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas, is provided with functional gender segregated toilets with usable water connectivity.
• All existing or newly constructed toilets in schools shall be designed, constructed and maintained to ensure privacy and accessibility, including by catering to needs of children with disabilities.
• All school toilets must be equipped with functional washing facilities and soap and water available at all times.
• All states/UTs must ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas, provide oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins manufactured in compliance with the ASTM D-6954 standards free of cost. Such sanitary napkins must be made readily accessible to girl students, preferably within toilet premises through sanitary napkin vending machines or, where not visible, at a designated place.
• All States/UTs must ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas establish menstrual hygiene management corners. It must be equipped with spare innerwears, uniforms, disposable pads and other necessary materials to address menstrual urgency.

The court also issued directions for the disposal of sanitary waste. Justice Pardiwala said, "This pronouncement is not just for stakeholders of the legal system. It is also meant for classrooms where girls hesitate to ask for help. It is for teachers who want to help but are restrained due to a lack of resources. And it is for parents who may not realise the impact of their silence and for society to establish its progress as a measure in how we protect the most vulnerable. We wish to communicate to every girlchild who may have become a victim of absenteeism because her body was perceived as a burden when the fault is not hers."

Read: Menstrual Cups To Replace Sanitary Napkins In Karnataka Government Schools

Why Is This Judgment So Important?

In India, menstruation is still seen as taboo. In fact, there is a lot of shame around it. Menstrual shame is the deeply internalized stigma, embarrassment, and negative perception surrounding menstruation, which causes individuals to feel unclean, or "less than" for a natural biological process. This judgment thus is an effort to do away with the shame rooted in cultural, social, and religious taboos, which is often the reason why many girls drop out, or due to lack of awareness, develop health adversities.

Most health videos on YouTube, even those made by doctors are also not reliable medical information, found a new study, published in JAMA Network Open. The researchers reviewed 309 popular YouTube videos on cancer and diabetes and found that fewer than 1 in 5 were supported by high quality scientific evidence. About two-thirds of the view had low, very low or no evidence at all to back up their health claims.

What was more concerning is that weaker evidence often attracted more viewer than those backed with strong science. The study looked at videos which had at least 10,000 views. The lead author of the study Dr EunKyo Kang of South Korea's National Cancer Center, said, "This reveals a substantial credibility-evidence gap in medical content videos, where physician authority frequently legitimizes claims lacking robust empirical support."

"Our findings underscore the necessity for evidence-based content-creation guidelines, enhanced science communication training for health care professionals, and algorithmic reforms prioritizing scientific rigor alongside engagement metrics," Kang added in a news release.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The researchers reviewed videos from June 20 and 21, 2025, focusing on cancer and diabetes content. 75 per cent of them were made by physicians. The videos had a median count of 164,000 views and a median length of 19 minutes.

Researchers also developed a scoring system, called E-GRADE to rate the strength of science backed evidence in each video's claim.

This is how the grading system worked:

• GRADE A: high quality evidence
• GRADE B: standard quality evidence
• GRADE C: low quality evidence
• GRADE D: very low or no evidence

What Were The Results Of The Medical Videos?

• GRADE A: 19.7%
• GRABE B: 14.6%
• GRADE C: 3.2%
• GRADE D: 62.5%

The study also found that videos with the weakest evidence were 35% more likely to get higher views than videos with strong scientific evidence.

Richard Saver, a professor of law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill noted that this issue is not just limited to YouTube. "Physician-spread misinformation is a long-standing problem, dating back well before the internet era," he wrote in an accompanying editorial.

Saver said some doctors continue to lean on personal experience rather than solid data, despite evidence-based medicine being regarded as the gold standard. He noted that EBM can feel like it downplays individual clinical judgment. Still, Saver stressed that more research is needed, adding that the study underscores the importance of examining the evidence behind health professionals’ claims on social media.

How Health And Me Has Helped With Medical Facts

Health and Me has always stayed a step ahead from medical misinformation and ensured that its readers too consume correct information. Health and Me's Fact Check series have consistently ran checks on bizarre medical claims, whether it is about a magical potion for weight loss, fake health news, or un-scientific remedies.

Fact Check By Health And Me:

• Fact Check: Does Circumcision Really Cause Autism As Claimed By RFK Jr.?
• Fact Check: Semen Production Means You Have Healthy Sperms, Here's What The Doctor Says
• Fact Check: Is The COVID-19 'Lab Leak' Theory Correct?
• Fact Check: Are Fewer Childhood Vaccines Really “A Better Thing” Under the New CDC Guidelines?
• Fact Check: Is Weight Lifting Safe for Teens? An Expert Explains the Risks and Safer Alternatives
• Fact Check: Do Heart Attacks Peak in the Early Morning? Here’s What a Doctor Says
• Fact Check: Does Ja Morant Have Lung Cancer?
• Fact Check: Can Cold Morning Showers Trigger Brain Stroke?
• Fact Check: Is The Pink Salt Trick Recipe Effective For Weight Loss?

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that menopause often goes unnoticed as a clinical priority, observing these unmet needs, the state governments in Maharashtra and Kerala will soon launch government-run menopause clinics. These clinics will have specialized support systems designed to offer holistic healthcare services for menopausal women within the public system.

These clinics will also have medical consultations, mental health counselling, targeted screening services and lifestyle guidance.

What Are Menopause Clinics?

Menopause clinics are specialized healthcare units, usually housed in government hospitals, urban health centres or district hospitals, that focus on both the medical and emotional needs of women transitioning through menopause. Rather than brushing menopause aside as a “natural” phase that needs little attention, these clinics offer organized, evidence-based care that goes well beyond routine outpatient visits.

At the heart of a menopause clinic is a comprehensive, integrated approach that includes:

• Clinical assessment of menopausal symptoms
• Screening for hormonal and physical health issues, such as bone health and heart disease risk
• Mental health support and psychosocial counselling
• Personalized advice on lifestyle, nutrition and mid-life wellness
• Ongoing patient education and structured follow-up

By bringing these services together under one roof, menopause clinics help women cope with day-to-day symptoms while also addressing long-term risks like osteoporosis, metabolic changes and a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

What Is Menopause?

This is the natural, permanent end of menstruation defined as 12 consecutive months without a period. This typically occurs between ages 45 to 55.

Foods That May Help During Menopause

• Soy: A top source of phytoestrogens, particularly isoflavones, which bind to estrogen receptors in your body. Studies suggest soy may help alleviate hot flashes, improve cholesterol levels, and even reduce the risk of heart disease during menopause.
• Flaxseed: Packed with lignans, a type of phytoestrogen with mild estrogenic effects, flaxseed may also offer some relief.

Including these foods in your diet could help ease symptoms and reduce your risk of certain menopause-related conditions.

Why a Balanced Diet Matters

A nutrient-packed, balanced diet is the foundation of good health at any age. Prioritize:

• Vegetables and fruits: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
• Whole grains: Great for maintaining steady blood sugar levels.
• Lean proteins: Support muscle health and repair.
• Low-fat dairy: Provides calcium for bone strength.
• Avoid ultra-processed junk foods, excessive sugar, and unhealthy fats, which contribute little beyond empty calories.

Maharashtra Menopause Clinic

Earlier this January, the Maharashtra government rolled out the country’s first state-run menopause clinics across government hospitals and urban health facilities. The initiative was launched on Makar Sankranti, January 14, under the guidance of Minister of State for Health Meghna Bordikar.

As per official statements, these clinics are designed to offer end-to-end care in one place. Services include expert medical consultations to evaluate and manage menopausal symptoms, mental health support to address emotional and psychological concerns, and screenings for bone health, cardiovascular risk and hormonal balance. Medicines and follow-up advice are also provided during the same visit, cutting down the need for multiple referrals and repeat hospital trips.

A senior health official pointed out that while menopause is a natural life stage and not a disease, many women need consistent physical and emotional support during this transition. The strong response from women across Maharashtra highlights a long-standing gap in healthcare, where menopause-related concerns often went unaddressed due to the absence of dedicated services. With this move, Maharashtra has also set an example for other states looking to introduce gender-specific care within public health systems.

Read: Can Your Diet Affect Menopause?

Kerala follows with dedicated clinics

Taking a cue from Maharashtra, the Kerala government has announced plans to set up specialized menopause clinics in district hospitals. An initial allocation of Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for the project in the 2026 state budget, presented by Finance Minister K N Balagopal.

The proposed clinics in Kerala will follow a similar model, offering medical consultations for menopausal symptoms, mental health counselling, and screenings for heart, bone and hormonal health. Women will also receive medicines along with lifestyle and dietary advice at a single facility.

The initiative acknowledges the wide-ranging impact of menopause, including hormonal changes, sleep disturbances, bone health issues and increased stress, and aims to create a one-stop support system within district hospitals. By bringing menopause care into mainstream public healthcare, Kerala hopes to improve access, reduce stigma and ensure that women receive timely, structured support during this phase of life.