What is OCD?
Spoiler - it is not just about a clean house
So, What is OCD (spoiler, it is not just about having a clean house)?
Obsessive compulsive Disorder is one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted mental health conditions due to media portrayal and glorification. OCD is often represented as being a beneficial condition because it equates to a clean house.
TV Shows Give Examples of OCD, Yet A Small Amount
One of the more recent television depictions is from Khloe Kardashian on one of her many reality episodes. Khloe goes as far as
calling the condition which she is not professionally diagnosed with “Khlo-CD.” She often does confessionals discussing how wonderful it is to have OCD and sees it as a blessing due to how clean and organized her house always is.
Monica from the television show Friends is often assumed to have OCD due to her tendencies to be tidy and organized and her perfectionism. She often gets very excited when “things are not just clean, they are Monica clean.”
Although both characters may have traits of the disorder, OCD is so much more and is not a pleasant experience that it is most often misinterpreted.
This is a More Real Example of OCD with a Celebrity
An accurate medial portrayal of OCD is courtesy of Howie Mandell: ROB SCHNEIDER SHAKES HOWIE MANDEL & HAND
This clip (0:00 to 1:26) depicts what it is truly like for someone to navigate OCD. Howie Mandell has contamination OCD. Typically, he would fist pump as a greeting or simply wave. However, the guest of the show (Rob Schneider) disrespected his boundaries and grabbed hold of his hand to “help him get over it” as if it were that simple.
In the situation depicted, it is not as simple as wanting to be clean or not wanting to touch another person but being in distress because it is not something that someone can “just get over,” as Rob Sneider suggests in the video. By understanding OCD as more than just a “quirk” or “habit” we can then support those who live with it. By increasing awareness, we can foster empathy and encourage more people to seek the treatment they need to live well with OCD.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition as per the DSM-5 which is a condition that involves persistent, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviours.
OCD has two main components: obsessions and compulsions.
- Obsessions – unwanted thoughts, images or urges that provoke anxiety
- Compulsions – repetitive thoughts or behaviours one feels as if they must perform to alleviate the distress the obsessions cause.
What does that mean?! If it isn't a clean house...?
Here are some examples of what obsessions and compulsions often are…
Common obsessions:
- Contamination
- Doubting or double checking
- Symmetry or “just right”
- Unwanted violent or sexual thoughts
- Common compulsions:
Common compulsions:
- Excessive washing
- Checking repeatedly
- Counting
- Arranging
- Rituals
Who is impacted by OCD?
- 2-3% of Canada’s population will have OCD in their lifetime
- 2/3 of those with OCD develop it in adolescence or early adulthood, most report their onset of symptoms occurred in childhood.
- Average onset is at age 19, however, 25% of people report OCD symptoms beginning by age 14.
Treatment for OCD:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is highly treatable with therapies including Cognitive behavioural therapy. Exposure and response prevention, a type of CBT is considered the gold standard for treating OCD. The most effective treatments focus on reducing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, while also addressing the underlying anxiety that drives them.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): ERP involves gradually exposing the person to the source of their anxiety (the obsession) in a controlled and safe environment. The key is preventing the compulsive behavior that typically follows the obsession. Over time, this process helps the individual become desensitized to their obsessions and learn that they can manage their anxiety without engaging in compulsions.
Example: If someone has an obsession with contamination and washes their hands excessively, ERP might involve them touching a dirty object and then resisting the urge to wash their hands. This helps break the cycle of obsession-compulsion.
But wait...what?...There are myths?!
Myth: OCD = Perfectionism
Reality: Perfectionism can be a trait in many people without OCD, whereas OCD is a clinically diagnosable mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions) aimed at reducing the distress caused by those thoughts.
Myth: OCD is not treatable
Reality: OCD is indeed a chronic condition, but it can be effectively managed and treated. With the right combination of therapy, medication, and support, many individuals experience significant relief from their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
Myth: “Everyone is a little OCD”
Reality: OCD affects approximately 1-2% of the global population. Phrases like this one suggests that everyone has obsessive or compulsive tendencies, equating occasional quirks like organizing things or checking locks with having obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The casual use of phrases like “I’m so OCD” downplays the severity of the condition.
Myth: People who have OCD are very clean and organized
Reality: OCD isn’t limited to cleanliness or orderliness. It can involve many other obsessions, like fear of causing harm or superstitious thoughts, leading to diverse types of compulsions.
SUPPORT options on your journey with OCD
Although a rare mental health condition impacting a small percentage, there are many of us who live with OCD. The following link is a website that began as a project to submit intrusive thought anonymously OCD | A Penny For Your Intrusive Thoughts. The goal of the project is to share thoughts people with OCD feel most ashamed about and the thoughts they feel nobody else could have. By sharing your intrusive thoughts within the mental health advocacy community, the conversation on mental health expands and results in destigmatizing the disorder while promoting the journey of healing and strength.
OCD is a very treatable condition. At Kindred Hope, we can help by providing a safe, trusting, and open environment of respect for all clients to speak freely. You can book a free 15-20-minute consultation with one of Kindred Hope’s therapists online. Also, feel free to email us with any questions.
