You Either Have it or You Don't

I want to touch on the topic of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A lot of times people miss use the abbreviation because they don't actually know what it stands for, they have just heard it before and  just assume it's a funny adjective to describe their actions. I know they don't mean to offend anyone by using it this way, they are just uneducated. As someone who is clinically diagnosed with OCD I don't take offense but instead would like to spread the word.

Once I was in the store waiting in line to check out and I hear one line over "Sorry, I sort of have OCD when placing my groceries on the conveyer belt." I just shook my head and pretend I didn't hear it. In reality it is thrown around ALL THE TIME. Uneducated people view it as being orderly, needing to have things a certain way, being extra clean or organized. I'm sure a lot of them don't even know what OCD stands for. --- FYI people the D stands for Disorder which is not to be taken lightly. When someone has a disorder it means that there is something going on within them is something out of their control.

That is why in this post I would like to provide some education when it comes to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I will define each letter of the abbreviation and will use a couple examples as they pertain to me.

Obsessive - "Unwanted, repetitive and intrusive ideas, urges or images frequently well up in the mind of the person with OCD. Persistent paranoid fears, an unreasonable concern with becoming contaminated, or an excessive need to do things perfectly, are common."

In the Past: I would have obsessive thoughts that my house would catch on fire or someone would break into my house and hurt me or my family.

Currently: I have obsessive thoughts that I am doing right by my baby because I am a first time mom.
It's extremely hard to stop thinking of what I should do or when I should do them in regards to raising her.
Compulsive - "In response to their obsessions, most people with OCD resort to repetitive behaviors, or compulsions... These behaviors generally are intended to ward off harm to the person with OCD or to others. Some people with OCD have regimented rituals. Performing the rituals in the same manner provides the person some relief from anxiety and a sense of control, but this is only temporary."
To make my obsessive thoughts go away in an anxious moment I would...

In the past: Check the locks to make sure they were locks. Check the stove and candles to make sure they were off/out.

Currently: I will do research on whatever I am not sure of when it comes to my daughter until I have an idea of what to do.

Now when I said "make the thoughts go away" they don't go away entirely, they will come back. Just in that anxious moment those with OCD will do these repetitive behaviors to calm their obsessions or worries until the next time they come up. Like in the example of checking locks and the stove, I wouldn't just check them once, I would check them and stare at them until my brain clicks and realizes that, yes, they are off, they are locked; now you can relax.

Disorder -  Dictionary.com defines it as: A disturbance or derangement that affects the function of mind or body.

Now that we know what the abbreviation means, do you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? If you use it in the way as the lady at the grocery store, you are using it to describe your "silly" actions. Those that are diagnosed don't just throw around "OCD" in public or for fun because we know how damaging it is to have and it is not silly to us.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder