HAPPY MONDAY! It's a new month, a new week, a new day! And it wouldn't be a Monday without a Mental Health Topic! So, what's on the table today? Well, if ya didn't read the header.. it's OCD! Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which is much much more than just having your ducks in a row and things in a perfect line. Let's crack into it! 

 

From the International OCD Foundation, OCD is defined as : 
"Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress.

Most people have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors at some point in their lives, but that does not mean that we all have “some OCD.” In order for a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder to be made, this cycle of obsessions and compulsions becomes so extreme that it consumes a lot of time and gets in the way of important activities that the person values." 

So, OCD has 2 major parts - Obsession and Compulsion 
Obsessions are thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control.
Compulsions are the second part of obsessive compulsive disorder. These are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses with the intention of neutralizing, counteracting, or making their obsessions go away.

The International OCD Foundation website has a really great list/chart that breaks down what some of those obsessions and compulsions could be. To avoid triggering anyone.. I'll refrain from posting them, but definitely have a look if you're interested!  https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

They also have a great educational video via Youtube that explains OCD in futher detail : https://youtu.be/wlBYCl2Ytyo . 

Here is another resource from PH D. Reid Wilson - 8 tips/tricks for Self Help with OCD : https://youtu.be/qfGeHfMThSQ . 

You can also click HERE!  To see a fun info graphic about myths and truths of OCD. 

It was difficult to find resources and hotlines specifically for OCD, but NAMI did include their hotline : 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

 

If you have OCD, you are not alone. My wife and my in-laws struggle with this. You are not alone. 

As always - my DM's/inbox/messages are always open and I'm happy to talk any time! 
My anonymous venting form is always open - no judgement : https://forms.gle/qxwzuwssgYdSzFsi6

Hope y'all like this one! ♥ 

Thak you for always inorming us with care, Sat. I'm grateful for you and this community we all are creating!

Thank you so much for supporting me Goose! ♥ 

Love these weekly mental health posts! My mother deals with OCD, it was very difficult for her having such a messy child that I was. xD

My wife and mother in law are - so when I got married to Steph, I had to completely change my habits lol 

I used to have to have things a certain way and couldn't cope if they weren't.  It left Rob feeling very frustrated as it meant things like when he was poo-picking the field with me we had to be very specific in how we went around the field.  I can't imagine how he's managed to stay with me all these years as at one point I had him message me every time he got to a place of work and when he was leaving to go to next job (working as a contractor he could easily be in 6 or more places in a day) and if he didn't I panicked conjuring up images of him crashing and no-one knowing where he was.  When I drove I had so many scenarios run through my head of loads of "what ifs".  I now know that most of that was my anxiety coming through and I had to control what I could in my life. 

Being ill became my turning point as I had no energy to do daily things such as showering let alone worrying about anything else.  7 years on I still worry a little but no longer have to have that desperate control although some of that is managed through medication as I went into complete meltdown during the first lockdown (as many did).  

I hope everyone is ok x 

Your experiences and feelings are so so very valid, Tifi! 
I completely understand how your anxiety could have been peeking out during those situations and it makes sense! 
I hope you are doing okay and staying safe! 

I do wonder how much anxiety and OCD have in common.
I definitely do not struggle with OCD - but I do get anxious if my spoons aren't put in the drawer correctly, for an example.

*I'm not a professional* But, I do feel that OCD and Anxiety semi co-exist. Lack of control can cause anxiety, anxiety can cause impulse decisions. 

That's kind of how I feel.

Like my anxiety will make me compulsively HAVE to finish a task or do something.

Particularly with cleaning - I cannot handle dirty houses.