OCD Is Not What You Think...

4/9/2018

TV and Movies Are Correct About OCD..........NOT!

I am sure you seen obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD in movies or TV shows. Whenever OCD is portrayed the individual tends to have struggles or issues with contamination of some kind or the need to put things in order. This is something that I see often as an issue. It puts in the world's mind that OCD is all about arranging, making things neat, or washing your hands. Not only is OCD commonly not like this but it gives many individuals the thought to say “I am so OCD about [fill in the blank]”

I have run into many posts on social media regarding OCD. There will be lines of brown M&Ms with one green one in there. The tagline will say, “if you cannot handle these pictures you probably have OCD”. This actually makes me very sad, especially when I read all of the comments that people have to say about it. In unison individuals are discussing and talking about how they must have OCD when in reality they most likely do not. You know, we can dislike seeing an image or not like seeing something out of place but this does not mean you have OCD. Someone with OCD could feel high amounts of intense anxiety seeing something out of place. Their thoughts getting hijacked, making it almost unbearable to leave it untouched or unfixed.

So when somebody comes to me and says “we all have a little OCD and us”, my response usually is. “Wow you feel intense anxiety throughout the entire day, almost to the point where you are incapacitated at home and work?” Or I will say “you have intense intrusive thoughts that you are going to harm somebody else or even your own children.”

Okay, So Then What Is OCD?

When I say OCD is not what you think it is I mean it. Yes, we see the relentless portrayal of OCD of cleanliness and orderliness but this is actually a rarity. Most of the time when somebody is struggling with OCD it is intense intrusive thoughts followed by sometimes hundreds of compulsions or ways for somebody to feel better from anxiety. These intrusive thoughts can be questions of moral right and wrong, the fear of sinning, the fear of harming someone else, the fear of harming yourself, the fear of being gay, having sexual intrusive thoughts and so many more.

These individuals not only feel these intrusive thoughts but have the need to ask for reassurance from others that they are okay. That they really will not harm that person. That they really are not sinning. There really are not gay. This is only one type of compulsion or neutralizer than individual with OCD might do.

The next time you think to say “wow I am so OCD about this because I like my room to be clean.” Think about what you are saying. Feel compassion for those who are struggling. OCD often is not seen on the outside because it is there on the inside. It is not something to be joked about and is really serious.

Can Therapy Really Work For OCD?

If you are struggling with OCD yourself, I want you to know that there is hope. There is a way for you to control your intrusive thoughts and for you to fill a reduction of anxiety. There is freedom. This takes some work but it definitely is doable. A therapist for OCD in McKinney can help you. Give me a call and we can talk about some of your options.

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