Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)is a disorder marked by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive and excessive behaviours (compulsions), or both. Obsessions are repetitive thoughts or images which are experienced as intrusive and unwanted; they cause marked anxiety and distress. Compulsions (also known as rituals) are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that individuals with OCD perform in an attempt to decrease their anxiety. It is common for people with OCD also to have a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder.
The mainstay of treatment for OCD includes cognitive-behavioural therapy in the form of Exposure And Response Therapy (ERP) and medication management (most commonly with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SRIs).
Common obsessions in OCD include:
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Fear of contamination – not engaging in normal activities like shaking hands for fear of contamination
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Excessive concern with exactness – objects not facing a particular direction nor set in an orderly or symmetrical fashion
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Beyond normal need for orderliness
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Anxiety related to unwelcome thoughts including anger, or sexual or religious content
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Anxiety related to unwelcome thoughts of hurting others or oneself
Common compulsions include:
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Cleaning
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Repeatedly checking stoves, windows, or doors
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Washing
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Repeating acts
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Repeating words, prayers, or phrases
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Mental rituals
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Ordering or arranging things
The current digital age on one hand has increased awareness and information about mental health issues but, on the other hand it has trivialised issues like OCD. OCD is not about a neat desk or a colour coded wardrobe arrangement or arranging things in symmetry. This trivialisation drowns out real sufferers who struggle to voice their struggles amid the social media buzz.
For individuals with OCD, there is a persistent internal “voice” in the form of intrusive thoughts that creates doubt and anxiety. This voice repeatedly signals that something is wrong or incomplete The discomfort does not settle easily and often continues until a compulsion is performed to reduce the anxiety.
When OCD is reduced to a daily routine, people who actually live with it feel invalidated. Someone who spends hours stuck in a”ritual” does not see himself/ herself being represented in the social media posts.
When majority agree to the trend, those who need actual help get left behind, thinking, “mine might not be a real OCD”, because they are not struggling with their daily routine. Such posts or trends might stop the actual sufferers from seeking help.
Increased awareness of mental health conditions is an important and positive shift in today’s digital landscape. Awareness, however must be accompanied by accurate representation. Trivialising OCD into a personality trait or social media trend risks invalidating those who experience it’s more severe and less visible symptoms. An informed conversation can help ensure that individuals struggling with OCD feel understood, accurately represented, and encouraged to seek appropriate support.
The goal should not be to make OCD relatable, but to make it correctly understood.
What are your thoughts on this ?
MBH/PS