Sharing examples of OCD is probably the best way to explain OCD to someone who doesn’t have it. It’s also a good way to connect with someone who also suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. Signs of OCD vary as well as our experiences differ. This is why sharing and making that connection is so important.
Examples Of OCD:
You ever hold a knife, and for whatever reason, that intrusive thought of stabbing someone with it comes to play? It sends a jolt through your body because the thought itself is disturbing. Most would just shake it off. It’s a thought, that certainly isn’t your intention. So why give it any more attention?
Well… before recovery, I would certainly obsess over this unwanted thought. In fact, I would preform rituals or undo what I was currently doing to reassure myself that I was not going to stab anyone. Possibly, to even reassure that I didn’t want to stab someone. As if I have to convince myself I am a decently good person.
The said ritual or undoing could just be acted on once, if my OCD was playing nicely. More often than not, I might have to repeat it three times. Because I like the number. But sometimes, another intrusive thought would enter, making it four times. I might repeat until I get to a number I like. Let’s say 16 – Yeah, I like that, my favorite team won a championship in 2016, so that’s good. Just as easy as I can say 16 works, OCD comes up with something that dispels that notion.
I could get to 21, find reasons to both stop there and to keep going. Guess who wins that battle – keep going it is. I could get to 90 before I find temporary relief. Or… I could also lose count and perform the ritual 89 more times to get back up to speed. It could be a half hour later before I find relief. And that’s only if I was able to hide it from any peering eyes in the room.
Then, another intrusive thought could enter, and the cycle recycles again. Ugh OCD!
Another Example Of OCD:
Meet Niki – A blogger sharing her struggles and progress on her site called The OCD Perspective. She has dealt with severe anxiety since 2007 and diagnosed with OCD in 2016. She is kind enough to share her example of OCD here as well.
OCD feeds off of fears, and Niki has a fear of falling. In high school, her legs would shake, start to wobble – mainly when running, but including other stressful moments as well. She has fallen before with larger crowds around, developing an obsession with the fear of falling often. So much, that larger public places can be a big trigger for her obsession, bringing on anxiety. She explains that she will shop small markets with higher prices, to avoid the crowds at larger chain stores.
Though all version of OCD differ from one another, it follows the same cycle – obsession, anxiety, compulsion, for temporary relief. Niki tends to use food as a compulsion, choosing high protein snacks to ease her mind, and provide that relief. Relief that the extra protein makes her legs stronger. For Niki, she says this only masks the fear, but doesn’t fix the issue.
Another compulsion she would use to ease her mind, is standing on one leg at bedtime. She’s developed this ritual to prove that her legs are strong, but this wouldn’t remove her obsession for fear of falling. The cycle would return all the same, making her, alongside her OCD, obsess even more.
Obsessions get the best of us sometimes. The fear of her legs giving up on her leads to her driving and walking less. But Niki is also choosing to stand up to her OCD. In recovery, she challenges herself to face her fears, her triggers, and compulsions. Kudos to you.
More Examples Of OCD:
One of my favorite follows on Twitter is Michael @ThisIsMich81. He too is open with his struggles and progress when facing his OCD. Talk to anyone with OCD and they are likely to tell you how ‘checking’ things over and over consumes a lot of their time in a day.
This is also true for Michael. We’re not talking double checking here, it becomes an obsession for those suffering with OCD. I’ve even shared how I would constantly check the stove over and over and over and… You get it. Just to verify my eyes and my mind aren’t playing tricks and that it is indeed turned off.
For Michael, who was diagnosed with OCD in 1998, an intrusive thought will strike leading him down a road of constant checking. He’ll worry that he might have stolen money by mistake, so he’ll check pockets and his wallet. Just from a simple intrusive thought questioning his own character.
The thought of a possible heart attack might lead him to checking his pulse multiple times. The compulsive part is checking. Though checking provides a sense of relief, it all cycles at the next scary thought. Whether that being the compulsion to check for stolen money, or checking his pulse, it can lead to more discomfort than relief. Relying on the compulsion makes the obsession stronger.
He might also worry that friends are mad at him without reason. This constant obsession leads to avoidance, bringing added anxiety when playing the dating game as well. Those with OCD can relate.
Recovery is also very important to him. With medication, Michael is committing to keep his OCD under control. Mad kudos to you too.
Explaining OCD:
For those who suffer from OCD, it is important to be able to share. Suffering in silence only does harm, but explaining OCD comes with its many challenges. You have to fight against the stigma, fight against your fears, and open up with vulnerability. Sharing examples of OCD helps in starting that conversation.
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Let me know if you found this helpful. I am curious to hear your spin. Leave a comment or find me on Twitter @UghOCD or Instagram @brentleybigkid.
