Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
What is it?
Many people may think of OCD as simply being a annoying habit of hand washing, cleanliness and need for order and perfection. Although these can be elements of OCD, there is also so much more to this condition that can make life a living nightmare for sufferers. OCD has the power to dramatically affect a sufferers quality of life....what may be seen as small harmless things, such as repetitive hand washing, can become a debilitating obsession that takes over a persons life.
Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety, which can manifest itself in several ways. OCD causes severe anxiety in those affected and involves both obsessions and compulsions. There are many ways that OCD can affect sufferers…
Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety, which can manifest itself in several ways. OCD causes severe anxiety in those affected and involves both obsessions and compulsions. There are many ways that OCD can affect sufferers…
Obsessions and Compulsions
Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety, which can manifest itself in several ways. OCD causes severe anxiety in those affected and involves both obsessions and compulsions. There are many ways that OCD can affect sufferers…
Constant Checking
The checking ritual is carried out many times, often lasting for hours on end, resulting in a serious impact on a person’s ability to maintain jobs, relationships, social activities and to live a ‘normal’ life that most people would take for granted.
Obsessive Checking May Include
- Door locks (fear of break in).
- Water taps (fear of flooding and accidents)
- Gas or stove knobs (fear of causing explosions)
- Wallet or purse (fear of losing important bank cards)
- Check symptoms online (fear of developing an illness)
Contamination
This involves the obsessive fear of contamination and the extreme anxiety that this may lead to illness and ultimately death to loved ones or themselves.
Examples may include fear of….
- Handling door knobs/handles (fear of contracting germs)
- Shaking hands (germs from other people).
- Using public toilets (germs)
- Using public telephones
- Waiting in a GP’s surgery (catching diseases)
- Eating in a cafe/restaurant (germs)
- Being in a crowd (germs from other people).
- Avoiding red objects and stains (fear of contracting HIV/AIDS).
- Clothes (dead skin cells and fear of contamination).
- Excessive Tooth Brushing (fear of mouth disease).
- Cleaning of home (fear of germs being spread to family).
Examples may include fear of….
- Handling door knobs/handles (fear of contracting germs)
- Shaking hands (germs from other people).
- Using public toilets (germs)
- Using public telephones
- Waiting in a GP’s surgery (catching diseases)
- Eating in a cafe/restaurant (germs)
- Being in a crowd (germs from other people).
- Avoiding red objects and stains (fear of contracting HIV/AIDS).
- Clothes (dead skin cells and fear of contamination).
- Excessive Tooth Brushing (fear of mouth disease).
- Cleaning of home (fear of germs being spread to family).
Intrusive Thoughts
OCD can also involve thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again and feel out of the person's control. Sometines OCD sufferers can struggle with unwanted thoughts and ideas that can be disturbing and don’t make sense. This can be a frightening and frustrating exprerience for the sufferer and a person may engage in repetitive behaviours in an attempt to make their obsessions go away.
Who Does It Affect?
OCD affects as many as 12 in every 1000 people. People with OCD often realise that their obsessive thoughts are irrational, but they believe the only way to relieve the anxiety is to gain some form of control by performing compulsive behaviours, in an attempt to try and prevent perceived harm happening to themselves or to loved ones.
Unfortunately, any relief that the compulsive behaviours provide is only temporary and often reinforces the original obsession, making the cycle gain more power and making it more difficult to escape from the vicious cycle of OCD.
Many suffers may feel embarrassed and ashamed of their condition and this can often make things much worse as the person then does not get the help that they so need. Others may not even be aware that they have a condition and again, it is vital that they see a health professional to get a diagnosis and support they need.
Lack of public awareness of OCD may also make the condition more difficult for sufferers to deal with, as lack of knowledge can lead to lack of understanding and compassion. Many OCD sufferers not only have to deal with their distressing condition, but also the prejudices and discrimination from other people’s ignorance
Famous Celebrities with OCD
Justin Timberlake - a succesful solo artist and actor, revealed that he suffered from ADD and OCD. In an interview with Collider.com (see link for full interview) the 27-year-old singer/actor is quoted as saying, “I have OCD mixed with ADD, you try living with that.” Justin is living proof that mental illness dosn't have to hold you back - and that we can still go it there and achieve our dreams.
On the website www.disabled-world.com there is a huge list of different famous people who suffer from OCD. Leonardo DiCapri's OCD involved fighting the urge to
" not to step on every chewing gum stain when walking along" and he fights urges to "walk through a doorway several times" as he doesn't want his condition taking over his life.
David Beckam's OCD comes in the form of constant cleanliness and the need for perfection. For David his need for order manifests itself in the urge to put everything in pairs... read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/famous-ocd.shtml#ixzz1b4bR7kPF
More Information
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/famous-ocd.shtml
http://www.ocduk.org/
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Obsessive-compulsive-disorder
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/famous-ocd.shtml
http://www.ocduk.org/
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Obsessive-compulsive-disorder