YSK: OCD is a serious, debilitating mental disorder and should not be treated lightly or as a quirk
Why YSK: It's OCD awareness week, and it's another good time to bring awareness to what is frequently one of the most misunderstood mental disorders.
OCD stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it is a disorder characterized by unwanted thoughts and fears entering a person's mind, which usually compels them to perform rituals or compulsions in order to rid themselves of the associated anxiety from the thoughts.
Although instances of such behavior do occur in most people, those with the disorder experience these instances far more frequently and more intensely than others.
Although a large percentage of people have heard about the disorder, some the three biggest misconceptions about it are:
- it is inherently or overwhelmingly linked to cleanliness, orderliness, or tidiness obsessions
- It is a relatively light and easy-to-manage disorder in comparison to other serious mental health conditions
- The repeated thoughts, feelings, and urges that enters a person with OCD's mind are because, at least in part, they have some desire to act on their fears, or it aligns with their values
All three points listed are untrue. OCD can take the form of any obsession imaginable (obsessions over certain things are usually referred to as OCD themes or sub-types), and it is unclear whether cleanliness obsessions are even the most common sub-type. In terms of the internal stress it produces, cases of severe OCD are similar to severe cases of PTSD and Schizophrenia, which are generally treated as very serious disorders (which they should be, of course.)
And lastly, the person experiencing the thoughts and fears does so precisely because they do NOT like or want them. If anything, a person's OCD about say, harming their family (a common sub-type) makes them less likely to do so than otherwise.
A list of the most common OCD sub-types can be found below. I would encourage people to read the link, as it may be able to help you identify the disorder in yourself or others, which can lead people to recovery much quicker and easier:
https://www.flatironcbt.com/post/12-common-ocd-themes
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