Ask Someone With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder...
 

So I've been trying to think of a something I know enough about that I might be able to spread some information around TFP and maybe dis-spell some rumors and mis-truths.

I couldn't think of anything. Then yesterday as I was arranging everything in my shower for the 5th time...

With the popularity of shows like "Monk" and "House" I've found that people with anxiety disorders like myself are not being portrayed very nicely or accurately.


I've been dealing with some form or another of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) for as far back as I can remember. Well, since I was first sat down in a nice clean office with a seemingly smart person and was told that, "It's okay that you feel the way you do and act the way you do. We just want to know why."

I don't know how much help I can be but if you all have any questions please feel free to ask.



PS: Don't ask what weird things I do. Please. I'm sure I'll talk about them at some point.

Did you experience something in life that may have brought this on, or was it spontaneous or developed as you aged?

I ask because I had a violent childhood and looking back, I was OCD at that time. Now I am not. Could be related or not. Just curious.

Nothing happened when I was younger other then my parents getting divorced when I was 13. Now I don't discredit that that might have pushed things a little further down the rabbit hole for me but I was far along my way to crazy when I was much younger. It started with setting fires. I still love telling people that. In my head it's always in a Ralph's voice from the Simpsons. After that other things came about. And yes, things have gotten worse with age. Its been up and down. Mostly down.

I see. Do you take anything for it?

I ask because my wife has OCD tendencies, but it's not as strong as panic attacks in her case.

I don't take anything anymore. I did in high school. And exactly... because of what I was talking about in my first post, shows like "Monk" have given people a bad idea of what it is to actually suffer. It can be very serious. When I don't leave my house for hours because I can't unlock my door the right way enough time... I've lost jobs. Your wife might have weird things that she does... but unless she's doing them out of fear. She's fine and doesn't need meds. And don't take my word for it on that. She might need help. I don't know. When it starts effecting your everyday life... that's when you should seek another opinion on why you can only chew food on the life side of your mouth. (That one is gone. I'm very happy about that.)

Have you ever bumbled your way into solving a crime with your OCD, or committed one?

Both.

When you say "one form or another," is it just OCD, or also Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

It puts the lotion in the basket?

One form or another includes OCPD.





And Hal... Or it gets the hose again...

Does it bother you when people who like to be clean and orderly say they're OCD? Because it bothers me.

what does...

Do you...

Oh sodit. I'll just ask myself, I'm hopeless

Have you been diagnosed by a licensed psychologist? If so, what was the treatment prescribed?

Yes it does. A lot.

People think it's funny and cute. Sure, like I said before, I make light of it at times but that's only to keep my sanity in check.

Does your OCD interfere with your personal life at all?

Yes. I have been diagnosed. And I haven't gone through any treatment. I don't want to. I see my doctor once a week. We talk. That's it. He doesn't feel that it's gotten out of control and I agree with him. I have good days and bad days. It's pretty even.

By doctor you don't mean GP, you mean psychiatrist? If so, that talk could very well be an effective treatment.

Do you think it would be worth a more active treatment if there was a chance you had mostly good days and few bad days?

I don't think there is anything about me that needs to be fixed. Everyone has good days and bad days. And Yes, I see a psychiatrist. I've been going to him for only a year now. I did start to see things getting worse. My family noticed too. You're right, the talks once a week is a form of treatment. But no one is trying to fix me or rid me of anything. I'm merely learning how to live my life better.


Yes and no. The only thing that I could say that has caused problems in my personal life is my hoarding. I fully admit that I'm a hoarder. You couldn't tell by looking at my apartment but I am. See, everything I keep ends up in my mom's basement in my old room. I have a problem with collections. I cant just have one of anything... I tell people I collect collections. The reason is very obvious as to why it's cause problems in my life. My mom has had to take on my problem as well. (She's a bit of an enabler.)

I was being flippant - I'm way short of compulsion, I'm just a person that thinks that there's a right way and a wrong way to do almost anything, and my way is often right because of the obsessive way I think things through.

I'm wrong of course, but it doesn't stop me.

WK - what compulsions do you suffer from? I worked with a guy that had to turn lights on an off a set number of times or it made him physically unwell, is it anything like that?

So you are very good at cooking, picking up women and getting into trouble with the law. Monk is good at solving crimes. House is a good doctor. All three of you clean.

Why do you say the media portrayed you badly?

Have you sat down and identified what defines "out of control" in regards to the behaviors? I'm curious because I've worked with several children and teenagers dx with OCD and some were able to actually identify, "okay if X behavior gets to Y level, then we are going to do Z." Which seemed interesting to me because in some cases it really helped the teens have some feeling of normalcy and in some cases it made them even more anxious about the fact that they were potentially going to get to Y level. I've not been around any truly (not the "OMG I'm so OCD about that, hee hee) OCD adults and I'm just interested.



P.S. I don't need to know what defines your "out of control" either, that's not what I'm asking, I just wonder if this is a dialogue that occurs.

So you were just leading me on when you said I could buy that other hookers kidney?

I don't mean to suggest that you're... whatever the antonym is of fixed.. broken? You are who you are, and that's fine with me.

I'm one of those people who refers to themself as "a bit OCD" about having things clean.
I use this description because I have never been diagnosed with OCD, but I will stay up all night rearranging things over and over until they are just right - and I will not leave my room in the morning if things are out of line. I thrive on organization and often cannot function (anxiety, depression) if I do not develop a set habit.
Given this description, should I continue to describe myself as "a bit OCD", or should I find another way to explain my behavior?

In my training, GG, you're good with your description.
But WK's the personal expert.

I'm just gonna say that the mere fact that I haven't be able to answer questions in order in this thread...

It's bugging the fuck outta me. If I was a Mod still I would have edited all this.

How bad is your OCD in the kitchen. That is such a detail orientated profession that I couldn't imagine having that kind of problem in loud and unorganized kitchen. I know my chefs (I have a few) have many things that they consider their pet peeves (No garnish/sauce on the rims, fish never touches the veggies, knifes have to face a certain way on the table). Never known anyone that was on the back line that had OCD.