OCD CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES

Are You Sure .
OCD CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
by Michael S. Love
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TV
Comedian Howie Mandel, host of
NBC’s “Deal or No Deal,” has an
obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mandel
fears germs. He fears shaking hands and is
compelled to cover his hand with a paper
towel or handkerchief when opening doors.
It is not a condition he tries to hide. Mandel
often jokes about his phobia during his
comedy routines. However, for many, OCD
is far from a joking matter.
Did you check it? Are you sure? Is it straight
enough? Clean enough? Did you do this? Did
you remember that? Are you sure? Should
you keep this or throw it away? Did you wash
enough? Are you sure? Are you very sure?
These are the insistent questions in the minds
of those who are obsessive-compulsive.
Millions of people struggle with OCD—a
condition that often goes undiagnosed.
Mandel and other well-known personalities
have helped raise public awareness of the
condition.
OBSESSIONS AND COMPULSIONS
An “obsession” is an unwanted thought that
will not go away. A “compulsion” is behavior
one feels one must perform, often repeatedly.
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An obsession
might be, “Did I
lock the door?”
The compulsion
would be going
back to check
two, three, four
times. Intense
anxiety is what
drives the
individual to
Mandel on “Deal Or No Deal”
perform these
repetitive behaviors. What causes the anxiety
remains a mystery.
The questions in the second paragraph
provide examples of the different symptoms
and classifications of OCD. Some people fit
into just one classification while others meet
more than one criteria. Each individual is
different.
Classifications range from checking
rituals to hoarding (excessive collecting),
washing rituals, obsessive thinking and/or
worry, counting rituals, issues of symmetry
and per fectionism, excessive fear of
contamination, religious scrupulosity, and
the list goes on. Related to OCD, but not
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recognized as meeting all the criteria for the
condition, are cutting and trichotillomania
(hair pulling).
GOING PUBLIC
Many have an easier time accepting their
own experience when well-known personalities
go public with their challenges. I am personally
grateful to those celebrities who have come
forward with their own stories about OCD. It
has made a difference in my life.
Movie actress Cameron Diaz (“The Mask,”
“My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Charlie’s
Angels”) washes her hands many times a day
and opens doors with her elbows to avoid
touching doorknobs. Soccer superstar and
international celebrity David Beckham has an
obsessive need for symmetry. His home has
three refrigerators, one for food, another for
salads, and yet another for drinks. The fridge
for drinks is stocked in perfect symmetry. If
there are three sodas, one must be thrown
out to make an even number.
CAUSES IN QUESTION
What causes an individual to develop OCD?
The question remains largely unanswered,
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but there is evidence of a chemical imbalance
in the brain, creating a lower-than-normal
level of serotonin. A genetic connection
seems to exist, but has yet to be confirmed.
It is also believed that psychological
factors are in play. A child growing up in
a household affected by OCD may learn
behaviors from parents. But a child also may
not develop those behaviors. There is still
much to be learned. What is increasingly
understood is that OCD is real, and it will
not be ignored.
It is estimated that as many as five million
Americans suffer from OCD, though many
are undiagnosed. A wide range of treatment
methods is available. Some choose to
go with pharmaceuticals alone, usually
focusing on Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitor medications. These medications
help increase the level of serotonin in the
brain. Others choose to combine medication
with counseling therapy. The combination of
the two is believed by many to be the best
strategy. Joining an OCD support group
and reading widely on the subject also
helps many to manage their condition more
effectively.
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GETTING ON WITH LIFE
I have been diagnosed with OCD and
also with cyclothymic bipolar disorder. My
OCD problems include obsessive thinking
and checking rituals. I can literally get stuck
checking and re-checking anything that
involves opening and closing, or on and off.
I have a hard time when it comes to oven
knobs—making sure they are turned off.
I may check door locks many times. I also
have issues with symmetry: things have to
be arranged a certain way. It’s a form of
perfectionism.
I see both a psychiatrist and a therapist,
and I take medication. I am also involved
in a support group. I have been helped by
supportive books and by practicing relaxation
techniques. It is important to develop as
strong a support system as possible.
Presently, I am living at home while I work
on getting my life together. OCD contributed to
the failure of my marriage. The condition has
taken a lot from my life, but I am determined to
win this fight. I have successfully completed
a B.A. in English and liberal studies. I write
poetry and stories. Recently my first book of
poetry was published.
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My dream is one day to teach creative
writing at the college level. For now, I am
doing volunteer work. My next step will be
part-time work. It’s a baby-step process.
Those of us with OCD often have to go slow to
avoid anxiety. One step at a time, challenging
myself—but at a comfortable pace—that’s
my philosophy. So far it’s working.
OCD used to be treated as many other
diseases were, as something to be ashamed
of. If you had it, your life was basically over.
Many were institutionalized—disappearing
from society. It was not a topic for discussion
within the family. Today things have improved.
There is still much misunderstanding, but
now there is hope for a better and brighter
tomorrow. ▼
For more information about OCD visit
www.ocfoundation.org.
The inability to open to hope is what blocks
trust, and blocked trust is the reason for
blighted dreams.
—Elizabeth Gilbert
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