You may not be aware of it, but evryone has some level of OCD. OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, ranges from alligning a picture frame perfectly on a desk, to washing your hands every time you touch something. OCD is "an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions)." Some common symptoms of OCD are handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning.
One good example of OCD is organizing M&Ms into a pattern. I know some people who used to do this as a kid, and I did it too. I would open my M&M's and put them in a pattern, or organize them by color. Then I would eat them until there was the same amount of each color. Finally, I would eat them in order of my least-favorite to favorite color. Weird, right? People with OCD see the scattered M&Ms as a problem, and in order to "fix" the problem, they feel they need to perform a proceedure similar to the one previously explained. Sometimes, the disorder can get so out-of-hand that they can't function without doing their "rituals". The "rituals" only provide temporary relief before the person feels they need to do it again to relieve their anxiety.
One good example of OCD is organizing M&Ms into a pattern. I know some people who used to do this as a kid, and I did it too. I would open my M&M's and put them in a pattern, or organize them by color. Then I would eat them until there was the same amount of each color. Finally, I would eat them in order of my least-favorite to favorite color. Weird, right? People with OCD see the scattered M&Ms as a problem, and in order to "fix" the problem, they feel they need to perform a proceedure similar to the one previously explained. Sometimes, the disorder can get so out-of-hand that they can't function without doing their "rituals". The "rituals" only provide temporary relief before the person feels they need to do it again to relieve their anxiety.
The best way to get rid of OCD perminently is to not give in to your anxiety. Depending on the severity of the disorder, you may need to see a psyciatrist. The important thing to keep in mind is that you have control over your OCD. Medication should only be used as a last-resort. OCD will never go away, but if you feel the symptoms reoccurring, resist the temptation by not carrying out the "ritual" that seems to be bothering you. It's tough at first, but once you recognize your OCD, it becomes much easier.
Wow, I didn't know that everyone is basically considered to have some level of OCD. Adding onto a few examples you listed, there was a serious case shown on TV that I saw, where this teenage girl suffered from extreme OCD (I think it was OCD). She couldn't enter a room unless she made in it in exactly eight steps, otherwise she would have to back-up and start over.
ReplyDeleteI do believe the fact that everyone has some level of OCD. I can tell by reading your summary that I do! On an episode of Grey's Anatomy, there was a man who had to touch an object or listen to something a certain number of times before he would move on. His case, and I know it is fictional, was life-threatning because he would not even let the doctors take him into the hospital unless he touched the ambulance the set number of times. I'm glad to know that I don't have that severe of a case. And I'm with you, Nick. I like to eat my M&M's in a color order, or eat the color that has the ost in the packet until I get an equal amount.
ReplyDeleteBringing up the M&M's topic again, I catagorized my M&M's when I was little and ate the candy in an order that would even the number of M&M's. Now, in Erica's case where she still is doing that...I think she needs to get treated for OCD haha. Just kidding Erica. I believe that I watched them same show as Jaden. It was an episode in an MTV series, called True Life: I have OCD. It was difficult to watch the show because I felt sorry for the people being filmed. It was as if they were "prisoners" in their own body or mind. They could not continue their daily lives without the impulse to touch or repeat various "rituals" as Nick put it. It can to the point were one girl could not even choose which fish to take from the plate at dinner. She had to have her mother pick for her. I completely agree with the fact that everyone has a slight hint of OCD. I believe that I do at least. There are times when I see something, such as a paper that is crooked on a desk and think to myself, "Don't do it, don't turn the paper." But I do anyway. Haha. No one better joke about that in school haha.
ReplyDeleteNice blog Nick! I agree that everyone has some case of OCD to a degree. When I go to the mall I have to touch everything i make eye contact with haha. I also hate it when teachers erase the board and their are still marking on the board, I can't stand it! The people with OCD have to make everything right because they feel that it is a bad problem. It is not your fault if you have OCD because other people have it to, you just have a bigger case of it. Good information.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is (just spitballing here) such thing as a little OCD. That expression is way to overused to, like I hate it when people call each other OCD just because they clean sometimes.
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