By Brianna Brinker, Campus News Editor
Have you ever wanted to keep your room organized? What about washing your hands and keeping yourself clean? You might think you are just a little OCD about certain things in life. But did you know that this is not at all what obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is?
This mental illness is one of the most misunderstood disorders. October is OCD Awareness Month, and the silence and confusion of this illness needs to be broken.
OCD is a mental illness that takes over the mind with intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts are not common topics. For example, impulsively deciding to cut your hair is not an intrusive thought. Intrusive thoughts are not acted upon. Intrusive thoughts are distressing; they are thoughts and images that are unwanted and ego dystonic.
If you are diagnosed with OCD, the scary thoughts and images in the mind are the obsession the disorder clings to. It is usually about your worst fear or the opposite of your values. OCD makes the thoughts repetitive and creates a cycle that feels like it is never going to end.
People with this disorder can also go through compulsions. Compulsions are rituals that their mind tells them to do, or else something bad is going to happen. Compulsions give these individuals temporary relief, but they just make the cycle of the mind repeat itself. This makes OCD have more power over them.
According to verywellmind.com, compulsions are different for every type of OCD; a few examples are checking if doors are locked, checking bodily functions for sensations towards a person or thinking they’re sick, or seeking reassurance.
These obsessions and compulsions can become exhausting and take over an individual’s life. There are many themes OCD can cling to. Themes can be different for everyone, but the pain that these people go through is something they all can relate to.
According to Simcoe Addiction & Mental Health, themes can include harm, suicide, sexuality, health, religion, and relationship fears. Also, they stress about bodily sensations towards people they’re not attracted to, contamination, or past events.
OCD makes people feel like they have no control over what they think about. This leads to these struggling individuals feeling guilt, shame, fear, and anxiety.
Living with this disorder affects everyday life; most people who have OCD spend their days spiraling about their thoughts and acting on compulsions.
According to Therapy Route, half of all adults with OCD report serious impairment in their daily functioning.
According to the National Library of Medicine, OCD is misunderstood to the point where people will take their own life to get out of the cycle of believing the thoughts in their heads. In the 44-year study period, 545 individuals from the OCD cohort had died by suicide and 4,297 had attempted suicide at least once.
Most people with OCD do not seek help for years because they are scared for multiple reasons. NOCD, an OCD app explains why people do not tell anyone about what they are going through. The most common concerns are: “What if I don’t really have OCD? What if it’s really something else that is wrong with me?” or “What if my therapist judges me?”
Most people wait over a decade to get the help they need, reports Therapy Route.
For people with OCD:
There are ways for OCD to be cured! Seek a psychiatrist to give you a diagnosis and medication to help treat your disorder. You also can see a therapist who creates a comfortable nonjudgment space for you to share what you’re going through. Therapists have tools to help you cope with your obsessions and compulsions.
Madelynn Bourgoing, a junior studying religious studies at University of Alabama has struggled with Past Event OCD. Bourgoing says: “Leaning on God is the most important way to get through it.”
It is hard to feel seen, heard, and understood. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can lead to depression, and it is hard to fight the battle alone. If anyone has said to you that you are not normal for having these thoughts, just know that OCD can make you have any intrusive thoughts, ones that you hate. You are normal, and you will get through this. OCD does not define you or your identity. Make OCD known.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6–7
2 Comments
I think you are amazing!
I have to tell you this was a fantastic amount of knowledge regarding OCD and what goes on with people that have it . I am blessed that I have such a caring daughter that wants people to understand the struggles people go thru with this disorder ! Brianna you are amazing and your sister Brooke is too ! Love you Dad