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What is OCD like? From someone with Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour (OCD)

No, I’m not the one with OCD, just in case you think so LOL

It’s what I heard from a friend who is working in the health sector.

Almond (fake name) is your regular university student but with a mental “disorder” – OCD. She needs to constantly check things around her – like if she had left her things behind, if she had conpleted all steps in the “bathing sequence” … or even if she filled in the answers correctly on the previous page.

Yes, you would she her flipping back and forth just to check … she didn’t like it, instead she reported “hating myself when I do that” but then that is OCD – you’ll be obsessed and complied to do things repeatedly for no apparent reason …

Well, obviously Almond hardly finish her exam papers and had failed a few of them. Her OCD slowly led to anxiety issues because she was so tensed up and frustrated that most of her time were spent checking rather than doing stuffs she needs to (like homework and studying). She also lots a few jobs because of her compulsive behaviours.

She is also often late because she couldn’t leave home without checking through everything… sometimes she would miss the train (or the stop) because she was checking if she had left anything behind. At her worst, she went down on all fours to do a “carpet surfing”.

People around her, however don’t believe in mental illnesses and believe its just her inability to control herself. But when she started crying a lot and hyperventilating, her parents decided to bring her to a doctor … they were thinking, there is no way she had some problem, it’s just her excuses.

But who know, it really is! She had OCD. When the doctor told her parents, they were too shocked to say anything…

  • Question of

    Do you know someone with OCD?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you think OCD is mental illness or inability to control over oneself?

    • Illness
    • Inability

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What do you think?

11 Points

Written by alibb

14 Comments

  1. I don’t think either illness or inability can truly define OCD.
    It’s a tendency that becomes so strong and out of control that ends up affecting someone’s life negatively. It’s a disorder, a defense mechanism that goes too far, an instinctive way to cope with anxiety that doesn’t work. People with OCD aren’t to blame, of course.
    If I really had to choose, I’d go for inability because it’s the closest to disability, then mental disabilities should be understood and accepted the way physical disabilities are.

    • OCD can be mild or serious. Usually they can affect someone’s life – like they could not do something or they have to keep doing something.

      It’s classify a mental illness that needs external/professional help.

    • Yes, and many aren’t that aware of mental illnesses at that time …
      it’s much better now but seems like more and more people are getting sick mentally …
      sometimes I wonder its really getting serious or that it’s the knowledge … sounds like a chicken and egg question :p

      1
  2. Users voted 5 times.
    Q: Do you know someone with OCD?

    Yes (5 votes) – 83%
    No (1 votes) – 17%

    Q: Do you think OCD is mental illness or inability to control over oneself?

    Illness (2 votes) – 50%
    Inability (2 votes) – 50%

  3. I do not know anyone with OCD but I do know from what I have read that if I would meet anyone with this I would attempt to do my best to understand them and not push them aside.

    1
    • Yes, its is … but its hardly curable without some sort of help …
      and usually “mental illness” medicines have side effects like making one tired and so on …
      it’s a give and take …

  4. I know someone obsessed with buying things, especially purses. It was due to severe depression, so she thought she would pick buying purses, watches etc. Now, she is in counseling, and it is helping. many times OCD is from having a bad past, and developing bad habits to easy their pains. Sometimes there is no answer, but family support is necessary.

    1
    • Yes, sometimes it roots from trauma or pain … and usually they need external factors (say couselling and support) to get out of it … if no one is supportive, usually they just get worst …

      I hope your friend is doing better 🙂

    • OCD is usually serious enough to need help …
      it’s to a point some cannot control themselves at all …
      and sadly some are born with it (it could be their brain is slightly different in certain areas or just from bad experience) …

      1