The recent rise in mental health awareness has had a lot of benefits. Unfortunately, it also had a number of disadvantages, such as when misinformed people romanticize certain mental health disorders. The term OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is regularly used in everyday language to show an occasional trait in a person. However, OCD is a clinically diagnosable mental health condition that can, at its worst, be crippling. One of the most common downsides of the mental health industry today is self-diagnosis, where a lot of people think they have OCD just because they like things in a pattern. This needs to change.
To make sure that there is no misinformation around about OCD, we must first understand it completely. Romanticizing the condition is going to do no good when people who actually suffer from mental health disorders are neglected. In order to understand the condition, we must acknowledge that just because you have nitpicky behaviour or you like to do something that is neurotic to the common eye, you do not necessarily have OCD. These may be the signs, but they don’t always mean that you have the condition.
Let’s get to understand what OCD is.
What is OCD?
OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a serious mental health condition that affects 1.2% of the US population. It may be different for everyone, but usually, a pattern can be discovered if a person has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It usually has three main elements; obsessions, compulsions, and emotions. Let’s try to look at these three elements separately so you can see if you need professional help or not.
Firstly, let’s talk about obsession with OCD. Usually, an intrusive, unwanted, and a lot of the time distressing urge to do something, a thought pattern or image occurs in your mind. This may repeatedly happen with someone who has OCD. People who may have this condition can also get feelings of intense distress and anxiety. Moreover, obsessions can also cause the person to perform repetitive behaviours or mental acts. This part of the condition related to compulsion can also be widely seen in the majority of people who have the condition.
Signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
It is never a good idea to self-diagnose, especially in the case of such a serious mental health issue. Do yourself and everyone else around you a favour by saying no to self-diagnosis and actually getting a mental health professional to help you. So, if you find the signs mentioned below in your daily routine, it might be a good idea to get checked by a mental health physician. Let’s look at some of the signs of OCD below.
Heavy Cleaning and Handwashing:
One common fear among those who have OCD is the irrational fear of germs. Of course, everyone understands that germs can be unsanitary and harmful. However, those who have OCD seem to be obsessed with the idea of getting rid of any germs that they may encounter. This compels them to do heavy cleaning and frequent handwashing.
You might also become a germaphobe if you have OCD. This can become bad to the extent that you refuse to touch anything that other people have touched. Moreover, you might find yourself hesitant to shake hands with others or hug people.
The Need for Order:
Sure, everyone wants things to be in order. However, if you have OCD, things might be a lot more different for you. It is common among those who have OCD to have an irrational need to want things to be perfect and in order all the time. People who have OCD very often feel stressed if things are not in order and feel the need to correct them and place them in order.
Also, know that while you like things to be ordered, you should not self-diagnose with OCD. There are a lot of people who wrongly self-diagnose OCD just because they like things to be in order. It is always a great option to get yourself checked by a licensed mental health practitioner. If you feel that your need for an order is way too much and it might be linked to the condition, go to a professional and get their opinion. OCD affects daily life, so you should not let it go unchecked and undiagnosed.
Checking Repeatedly:
Another symptom of this condition is when you keep checking things repeatedly. For example, if you keep checking the door to see if you closed it or not again and again, it might be a sign of OCD. In addition to being orderly, people who have OCD can also have a need for perfectionism. This causes them to check for anything that might be an issue again and again. Excessive hand washing also comes under this because you want all the germs to go away.
Moreover, you might check to see if your stove is off after every while. Things like this can mean that you have OCD. So, if you see any of such symptoms mentioned above related to checking things repeatedly, get a professional opinion and see what they say.
OCD has many types, but the symptoms are often similar. If you think that the symptoms mentioned above may be present in you and you may have OCD, it should always be your priority to go to a mental health professional. In all situations, you should not self-diagnose because it can cause a lot of problems related to your daily life.
