When you hear the term "OCD," you think of a person who organizes everything and needs everything done a certain way, but that is only a small portion of it. I am sick of everyone saying, “Oh, I need that picture to be perfectly straight. I am so OCD.” Are you, random person? Are you really? You may have a pet peeve about certain things, but that does not mean the same thing as having a serious anxiety disorder.
I have a mild form of the obsessive compulsive disorder, also known as OCD. For me, that means I have an obsession with germs. I compulsively wash my hands or clean the infected object to stop my obsession from annoying me. My hands would always be chapped, even in in the summertime, from constant hand washing. This behavior increased after watching a terrifying movie called "Contagion." Suffice it to say, I became terrified that if I got sick, it might spread everywhere and kill people. This may sound crazy, but in my anxiety-riddled mind, it made perfect sense.
OCD is a form of anxiety that pushes a certain fear to the surface, which compels you to compulsively do something or else the obsession will stay on your mind until you do so. It may sound silly or impractical, but to someone with this disorder, it can be restraint on the enjoyment of life. If I get my hands dirty, I can’t touch anything else until my hands are washed, which pulls my focus from some of the simple, fun things in life.
This disease has many layers. Some people might be obsessed with organization to the point where they have to stop everything and compulsively fix something. For others, it might mean checking the stovetop repeatedly to assure that you will not burn the house down even though the stove is off. No particular obsession defines OCD, but rather the fact that you feel stressed out until you fix it.
To speak on the behalf of others with problem, I want the loved ones of these victims to know something: We do not want to get in the way with our obsessions and compulsions. We hate the fact that we have to take certain precautions just as much as you do. Personally, if I ask you if something was washed, I am not judging you or questioning your cleanliness. I simply know that others don’t fear germs the way that I do. Don’t yell at me or be angry if I need something extra clean. The more calm you are, the more calm I will be. Anger just escalates anxiety to the point where one feels wrong for something uncontrollable in one’s mind.
There will always be misconceptions about OCD, but it should never be seen as some silly disease. It has a way of taking control of your mind and holding you hostage to an obsession. Understanding the disorder is the best way to help.
