Does anyone else have ocd?

Question

Why do people like to pretend they have it? They like I worry all the time its ocd... or I pluck out my hairs and like to pluck out other people's hairs its ocd... or I cant stop thinking about this guy its ocd. well, I have the REAL thing and it controls my life. I can't eat or sleep sometimes cuz of it, I have been diagnosed and forced to take meds for it. I overdosed twice and almost died cuz I couldn't get rid of it and i didn't kno what was wrong with me. Im sick of people saying they have it when they have NO idea the pain it brings to my life. I lost all my friends and I couldn't leave my house for weeks. Ive been washing my hair at least 3 times aday for bout 6 years and see it crumple in my hands when I brush it. I wash my face sometimes up to thirty times and I have to get a new bottle of foundation at least once a week. Why do people like that make a mockery of my disease? I just wish someone could understand instead of pretending like they kno how

Answer 1

Strange, any mental disorder 10 years ago was taboo, no one talked about it. Then, all of a sudden, it was chic to be on Prozac. Initially, when people don't understand what something is, they shun it and make fun of it. As soon as something gets some press, people need to 'relate'. They hear the symptoms on 20/20 and ta-da . . . they think they have the problem or can explain them.

So with OCD, it got some press in the recent past. There are different degrees of OCD, mild to debilitating, as with many mental disorders. It's one thing to have 'habits' (washing in order from top to bottom, putting on your shoes in the same place in the bedroom every time, touching something in the house before you walk out the door), but a habit becomes OCD (as you know) if you cannot move beyond that and there becomes an overwhelming need to do the activity and cannot do anything until that first activity is done, and done, and done again. The repetitive washing is a classic example, you just washed, you know you did, but something (the towel, the faucet, whatever) makes you wash again.

Severe OCD can cause havoc in someone's life. If you are around people that blame every action they do on OCD, if they are your friends, then maybe you need to be honest with them, let them know it bothers you and how it can cause such problems in your life. Let them know you don't appreciate their attitude about something that is so serious in your life. If they are not your friends and it's just people making passing comments you do one of two things: 1) ignore it or 2) confront them.

Having a support system is very important. Having people around you that understand and know how to help can make the day a little easier.

Answer 2

I went to a shrink and asked for help about my anxiety, worry, etc....I was hoping that he'll give me encouraging words, or some kind of a positive attitute and tell me everything is ok. But lo...you guessed it...he diagonosed me with OCD. Well, you see, I mentioned that I like my clothes in the closet neatly arranged, when I am worried I just pray, I hate clutter, I want the lines (I mean people's lines, say in a McDonalds) to be clean...but aren't these signs of a normal person? I'm sure everybody loves order...but that doesn't mean we have OCD. My shrink prescribed some pills, and I threw it away. I did not take them...What happended to me when I did not take his pill? Well, I still suffer from worry and feel anxious all the time...not because I did not take the pill but because I still haven't practiced positive attitude. Maybe I am still waiting for the perfect person to tell me everything's ok.

Answer 3

i am sorry hunny. I know i dont have it and i wont say i know what you are going thru because i have never been there. Its hard for some people to understand what you are going thru. shame on those people. those people are not your real friends because real friends would not treat you in such a manner. I really really hope that things can get better for you. hey if you ever want to talk you can im me at c.coen. thats my yahoo mess. I wish you all the best.

Answer 4

my mom has a milder case of OCD but refuses to admit it. At least you realize your actions are not the norm. Blessings to you and may you find a healing in your heart and life. Ive heard people joke about it, but like you said until you or someone you love suffers from it they do not have a CLUE..

Answer 5

I don't have OCD but I know what it is about. Good Luck and hang in there. and trust me..people with any sort of intelligence would never make a joke about something that can disrupt a person's life such as OCD.

Answer 6

Um, I am a 13 yr old guy! I used to have it! IDK how, but it just stopped! Um, i really just like... started reading a lot, it took my mind of it, now i dont have it at all!