We should establish what we really mean when we say ‘I have OCD,’ just to ensure that we understand each other. While those of us who suffer from OCD are likely familiar with the condition, there are many who are on the verge of realizing whether they suffer from OCD or are unsure if that’s what they’re experiencing.
This is not an OCD test or a way for individuals to diagnose themselves with OCD.
Please take this post as a collection of thoughts spilled onto a digital paper. We can transform this into a discussion in the comments section, where I’ll be happy to participate, learn from you, hear your story, and discover your experiences with OCD. We can share our thoughts on what OCD means in each individual case.
Here’s what the internet says about OCD. I highlighted my personal experience in the text:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by the presence of recurrent, intrusive, and distressing thoughts, images, or urges (known as obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (known as compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions are time-consuming, cause significant distress, and interfere with daily functioning and quality of life.
The symptoms of OCD can vary widely from person to person, but they generally fall into two main categories: obsessions and compulsions.
- Obsessions are persistent and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that intrude into a person’s mind and cause significant distress. Common obsessions in OCD include:
- Contamination fears: Intense fear of germs, dirt, or chemicals, leading to excessive handwashing or cleaning. Symmetry and order: Need for things to be arranged in a specific, symmetrical, or precise manner. Intrusive thoughts: Disturbing thoughts of violence, harm, or taboo subjects that go against a person’s values. Fear of harming oneself or others: Persistent fear of causing harm to oneself or others, often accompanied by intrusive thoughts or mental rituals to prevent harm. Unwanted sexual thoughts: Distressing and intrusive sexual thoughts or images that go against a person’s sexual orientation or values.
- Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that individuals with OCD perform in response to their obsessions. These behaviors are aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a feared outcome. Common compulsions include:
- Checking: Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or other items to ensure they are secure or functioning properly.
- Cleaning and washing: Excessive handwashing, cleaning, or sanitizing to reduce contamination fears.
- Ordering and arranging: Compulsive need for symmetry, exactness, or specific order in objects or daily routines.
- Counting and repeating: Repeating certain words, phrases, or actions a specific number of times, or counting to a certain number before feeling a sense of relief.
- Mental rituals: Engaging in mental rituals, such as silently praying or counting, to neutralize or prevent obsessive thoughts.
Individuals with OCD often recognize that their obsessions and compulsions are excessive or irrational, but they feel compelled to perform them to alleviate anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. – I fear the possible outcome that could happen if I don’t do the compulsions. And I hate the obsessive thoughts that precede the compulsions. It’s not me. But it makes me think it is. It’s very exhausting.
The cycle of obsessions and compulsions can become time-consuming, interfering with daily activities, relationships, and overall well-being. – I can confirm the fact of how time-consuming OCD is, even when you obsess about one thing. You are trapped in your own thoughts, and it can take hours or days to overcome a particular thought. Once you start engaging in compulsions, it can take several minutes to hours to leave a room and walk through a door before performing all the other compulsions that your mind has prepared for you. And you HAVE to do them. It’s essential for your own survival or the safety of others. That’s what your mind tells you. It’s incredibly difficult to let go.
OCD is a chronic condition, but it is also treatable. Treatment typically involves therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), especially a form called exposure and response prevention (ERP), is considered the gold standard in treating OCD. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also be prescribed to help reduce symptoms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of OCD, it is recommended to seek professional help from a mental health provider who specializes in OCD treatment.
I’ve heard multiple opinions about medication for OCD. Some say it helped them, while others say it only provided partial relief and caused anxiety or other side effects.
What I’ve learned is that breathwork and meditation with affirmations can be very helpful. The biggest challenge is consistency.
I hate to say it, but I know that the road to recovery from OCD is long and filled with ups and downs. The best outcome seems to be just taming it – managing it rather than completely eliminating it. However, reaching a point where it no longer drains all your energy is a great goal to strive for.
Many therapists and individuals who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder compare the mental exercises that help cope with OCD to working out. When you lift weights, it takes time to build muscles. You get sore, and you have to maintain the progress, or you lose the muscles and have to start again. Learning something, making it a habit, and sticking with it requires constant work. This is something I have to remind myself of very often. It’s intangible. I can’t see it, yet it happens, and my mind is the first to let me know if I’m on the right track or not.
I believe we can make ourselves feel better. No one else will do it for us. It’s up to us.
Let me know your thoughts on this.
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I consider this blog a calling. I never realized that before. But now I know what my calling is, and I want to continue to improve and help us better manage our OCD. I know how limiting OCD is. I’ve lived with it for more than 24 years. It’s time to learn as much as we can about this disorder to not only cope with it, but to actually get better.
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