OCD can wreak havoc on every part of someone’s life. They already know this in fact, their frustration at not being able to control their thoughts and compulsions despite knowing that they are irrational is itself a source of suffering. That’s why explaining to someone with OCD that their actions are irrational probably isn’t doing them any good. Most of them know this behavior is illogical, but this doesn’t convince their brain that it can take a break and stop seeking certainty all the time. Instead of focusing on school, work, family, friends, health or recreation, people with OCD end up spending their time and energy on compulsions. Although there’s no real connection between folding clothes and a sister’s wellbeing, the logic of this person’s mind tells them it does. Then, to protect the sister and get rid of distress, the compulsion: folding things in a specific way. In this case, the first intrusive thought is, “My sister is going to die unless I do this right.” The obsessions come next: “Oh god, this means I really do have to get this right.” Mental and physical distress coincides with the obsessions, until it becomes seemingly unbearable. It’s adapted from a real patient’s story, and it’s typical of the condition. You think, “If I don’t get this right in the next two tries, she’s going to die.” So you start over again, completely panicked. You fold your green shirt, and then the blue one, and finally the red. You put everything back on the floor and try again. But it’s a crazy thought, and you know it, so you don’t tell anyone. Your head starts to spin: “Oh no, this means I really have to get this tidying right, or she’s going to die and it’ll be my fault.” Your stomach feels sick, you’re getting dizzy, and you feel like you just have to tell someone about the thought. You start to tidy things up, but then a thought pops into your head: “My sister is going to die unless I do this right.” You’re not going to convince her, so you’ll do it as quickly as possible. You just want to fly through your homework and go spend time with your friends, but your mom reminds you that you still have to clean your room. Let’s say you’re a 12-year-old kid and you’ve just gotten home from school. Let’s explore what it really feels like to have OCD, why OCD thoughts feel so real, and what can be done to get relief from the grips of OCD. And it’s not rare-affecting 1 in 40 individuals.īut simply knowing that OCD is not uncommon is not enough to bring relief. But OCD is actually a debilitating and usually chronic psychiatric disorder. People also tend to think of it as an odd or frustrating personality quirk. In movies and on TV, obsessive-compulsive disorder ( OCD) is usually portrayed as perfectionism or germophobia. If you’re asking yourself this, you’re not alone. I’ve also been avoiding situations that might bring the thoughts back. They’re usually about things that matter a lot to me, and I’ve started doing specific things (sometimes over and over) just to make sure the thoughts won’t come true. Every day, from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, I’m overwhelmed by disturbing thoughts that I don’t want to have.
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