Dispelling the Myths of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Pop culture has turned Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD) into a quirky, funny character trait, but for those living with this serious psychological disorder, OCD is less of a positive. OCD can be broken down into two parts: obsessions, which are recurrent, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions, behaviors or actions that are repeated to stave off the anxiety brought about by the obsessions.
OCD is described as a disorder that causes people to experience distressing thoughts and mental images that won’t go away. It is time-consuming, with people often spending hours a day repeating actions or performing small rituals or other compulsions, at the expense of their family, academic or professional lives.
Popular TV characters like the ultra-neat Monica from Friends, or quirky-but-lovable Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory have helped shape public understanding of OCD, so today we are going to dispel some of the most common myths about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Myth #1 - OCD just means you’re organized and love cleaning
We all know those people who love to have a tidy desk at work, or keep an impeccable home. However, enjoying the feeling of a clean and tidy space is not the same as being motivated by the serious anxiety that comes along with OCD. Being neat and clean is associated with OCD, but obsessively worrying about sanitizing and compulsively cleaning spaces and even a person’s own body - for example, compulsive hand washing - quickly becomes debilitating. People with OCD describe feeling fear or disgust at certain objects or substances including dirt, germs, or trash, and an overwhelming need to carry out rituals and excessive washing to reduce their strong anxiety.
Myth #2 - OCD mainly affects women
Even today, housekeeping is still ‘gendered’. A study published in Sociological Methods & Research found that respondents were more likely to think women were responsible for housework than men. This traditional view of women being more focused on cleanliness and domestic tasks means that many people assume more women are living with OCD. While women do tend to report more symptoms in midlife, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) says that OCD is equally common among men and women and affects around 2.2 million adults, representing about 1% of the US population.
Myth #3 - People with OCD are just quirky
OCD has been portrayed as a cute, weird or funny personality trait, but this hides the disorder’s darker side and trivializes the experience of those living with obsessions and compulsions. People living with OCD often also suffer from depression in higher numbers than the general population, and around 36% of patients with diagnosed OCD have reported having suicidal thoughts.
Myth #4 - It’s easy to tell when someone has OCD
Although OCD is a debilitating and time-consuming condition, people living with the disorder are often able to hide it well. People often carry out their rituals and compulsions in secret, or avoid social, family, work or study commitments to spend time on their compulsions. Depending on the severity of a person’s OCD, they may be able to hide their disorder from their own family. Many people with OCD are highly functional, holding down jobs, completing education or managing a home and children, and say they know their obsessions and compulsions aren’t rational, they just can’t control them. People who fear losing their job or having their children removed from their care go to great lengths to hide their OCD.
Hope for the future
Stigma still surrounds OCD and hiding obsessions and compulsions is a natural reaction. However, seeking appropriate treatment is life-changing for those suffering in silence. The first line of treatment is finding a psychotherapist that specializes in a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Certain medications prescribed by a medical professional can also help suppress intrusive thoughts and compulsions. The International OCD Foundation says that 70% of people will benefit from ERP or a combination of ERP and medication, and that support groups and family involvement can be very helpful to an individual’s recovery.
Do you or a family member have OCD? Family Relations Intervention’s licensed psychotherapists are experienced in working with OCD symptoms and diagnoses. We would love to talk to you to find out how we can help you take back control of your life today.