So I've been looking at OCs, and often, I see people misuse disorders that do not reflect how it actually is in reality. This made me a bit disappointed and angry, since these disorders are being seen in a stereotypical light.

Don't do it.

Of course, some people justify it by using it as a way to prevent their OCs from becoming Mary Sues; you need some flaws to balance out the pros, right? While this is true, also noted that if your OC has flaws, play it right. I've seen many people disregard their "negative" traits, play it incorrectly, or exploit it.

Playing disorders inaccurately is the one that enrages me the most, considering I have one myself (Asperger syndrome).

Let's start with the disorders most often misused...

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

This disorder is the most overused one in roleplaying. People often compare this to perfectionism; it is not. It is an anxiety disorder of doing repetitive, unreasonable behaviors that is likely to affect the victim's personal life, caused by repeated, unwanted thoughts; their rituals are a continuous attempt to rid of these thoughts.

A typical example is continuous hand washing, though several other rituals can be considered a symptom of this; repeatedly opening doors to ensure they're locked, driving or walking around a block for no discernible reason, showering multiple times, deliberately flicking the light switch, and compulsive hoarding. They can do this for an excessive amount of time, making it time consuming. This can also apply with mental tasks as well, not just physical.

A good deal of people with OCD may be aware that these behaviors may be caused by irrational thoughts, though they continue to do this because they inexplicably want to. They may appear paranoid, though this is not necessarily a symptom of OCD itself.

Of course, OCD is often misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed. Though actions caused by OCD itself can be time-consuming, it can still potentially be controlled and doesn't always affect the person's life. The disorder is also confused with OCPD – Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, which include symptoms of perfectionism, orderliness, and a need for control of his or her environment that may cause negative suffering and stress.

Schizophrenia

The second most overused and most misused disorder in roleplay existence.

First of all, it's not Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously called Multiple Personality Disorder), or as you may know it, split personality. People often confuse DID with schizophrenia (though technically, it means "split mind" in Greek).

Second, it does not associate itself with insanity. Simply put, schizophrenic people simply have auditory and visual hallucinations and delusions, and disorganized speech. Contrary to popular belief, people with schizophrenia rarely commit any serious crime or violence; if they do, usually this is caused by drug use or the environment they live in.

Simply acting like you're a crazy person (or OC) and justifying with schizophrenia would be considered, in my opinion, a new kind of "lowlife". You're not acting schizophrenic; you're acting stupid.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

This isn't just contrasting personalities, and they're not the type you see on TV.

First of all, people with DID almost never show any explicit change when they "switch" personalities; the difference in actions may be subtle and others may pass off their changing personalities as simply being moody or erratic. Their contrasting personalities are rarely aggressive or "crazy".

It is thought that DID is caused by trauma or abuse; the person will dissociate herself or himself (most people with DID are females, as female cases occur ten times more than male cases), technically creating another personality. Dissociative amnesia and fugue, as well as memory loss, can happen in people with DID. Some people with DID also experience body pain, such as head aches, sometimes depression, insomnia, phobias, and "personality" hallucinations. Derealization and depersonalization, and in severe occasions, suicidal thoughts, can be a result of this.

Also, DID almost never occurs in children or teenagers, though a severely traumatic event from that time can cause DID itself. It usually appears in adults, usually of parent age. Different identities can exist, though DID personalities can exist with having the same identity.

Most people aren't aware they even have DID, as they are commonly misdiagnosed for other disorders (such as borderline personality disorder) or none at all.

And most roleplayers misuse this. A lot. Don't use this one unless you're good at it and can pull it off.