OCD Action

Subo
Member

Hi all
Just for a bit of fun, I thought we could suggest some jobs that people with ocd might be good at- a way they may be able to channel their intricate thought process into something worthwhile or creative. Then if any of us fancy a career change we could consider these jobs!!!

I reckon Id make a really good detective, because I seem to be able to look at things in such depth and from so many angles and spot mistakes and slip ups a mile off!!!

Anyone else?

Fri Apr 9 2010 11:57:07 #
Unregistered

Monk is obviously a light-hearted show about a detective with OCD. But many writers have used obsessionals as detectives in crime novels. Poirot and Sherlock Holmes seem to be obsessional.

I recall a comment about the state of our hospitals and someone remarked that the cleaning should be done by people with OCD. This caused great offence to many OCD sufferers. Of course, hardly a creative job anyway!

To be honest, I think when we are well enough to work, and I suppose the majority of us are, we do any task well, because we are inclined to be conscientious and hard-working. We are also creative and observant. Decision making is possibly a trait that lets many of us down. We tend to be indecisive.

I wonder if a dictionary would ever have been compiled, but for men like Samuel Johnson. People who will go the extra mile and are totally committed to a project and to seeing it through.

Even in music or sport, an obsessional will put in the extra hours needed to reach the top. We can also have vivid imaginations, which are usually to our detriment, but can be used in a positive and creative way through writing and art.

However, I am talking more about an obsessional mind, and that can be different from an OCD sufferer.

Fri Apr 9 2010 13:03:16 #
Subo
Member

True - I suppose anything we put our mind to we do well! Hey ocd does have its upsides too then! x

Fri Apr 9 2010 13:27:52 #
Truddles
Member

Great Topic but my brain has turned to mush (so what's new there ) so can't think of a specific job at the moment

Fri Apr 9 2010 13:45:19 #
Unregistered

Just in case anyone was offended by my remarks about cleaning not being a creative job, I worked as a cleaner when I was chucked out of nursing. I couldn’t find any other work at the time, because my reason for being dismissed seemed to alarm people (an incurable infection).

Like any other job, I took the work seriously and was complimented on the sparkling toilets and basins, even the men’s urinals (did struggle a bit there!). Developed a fear of bleach etc at this time, which made the work very difficult!

Fri Apr 9 2010 13:59:55 #
Subo
Member

Oh no hope people wont get offended by anything anyone says-not meant to cause any offence, just saying I think our 'skills' can come in handy in other ways sometimes!!

Fri Apr 9 2010 14:08:38 #
Unregistered

Don't worry, I am sure no-one will be! I just worried I'd made cleaning seem a menial task and wanted to correct that!

Fri Apr 9 2010 14:27:25 #
Subo
Member

Hehe we're terrible arent we? We all worry about hurting each others feelings so much! I worry Im worrying too much and that my worrying will cause me to point things out that people werent worried about but when Ive highlighted it then theyll be worried

Fri Apr 9 2010 14:29:44 #
Subo
Member

By the way, by 'terribe' I didnt mean 'terrible' as in 'bad' just overly analytical.....not that being ove analytical is bad......

Fri Apr 9 2010 14:31:38 #
swan
Member

Subo,
You are right that we do ally worry a lot about hurting each others feelings. Good we regonise that though.
I told my chemist who was really checking that she had given me the right medication and counting each tablet individually that those were the tablets to stop me doing what she was doing. Not sure she was that impressed.

Fri Apr 9 2010 15:41:20 #
Truddles
Member

Nice one swan

Fri Apr 9 2010 18:30:25 #
Unregistered

I think i'd make a great health and safety officer! I wouldn't let them put a small pipe through a wall at work because of the risk of asbestos!! I also work in an estate agent's but stick to admin, if i had to do viewings of peoples houses, I'd lose sleep worrying I hadn't locked their doors or turned all their lights off!!

Fri Apr 9 2010 18:58:39 #
Truddles
Member

I was our department's health and safety officer and some of the lectures I had to attend certainly fuelled my OCD. But yes, I think we'd make great Health and Safety Officers, though we'd probably bankrupt the company with all the restrictions that we'd impose. Still at least no one would get hurt on our shift

Estate Agent - what a nightmare, it's bad enough ensuring that you've turned your own lights off and locked your own door without having to do it for a living

Fri Apr 9 2010 19:19:12 #
Rena32
Member

Subo, I agree with you, I think I would make a good detective as well, because I am always analyzing people and different situations from every angle.

Fri Apr 9 2010 19:29:16 #
Subo
Member

So true about the esate agent!!!!! I had to laugh at that one I would lie awake all night worrying about that!!!!
I think thats why I got so stressed when I was teaching - I would lie awake at night and think about the day and all the reasons why parents might complain about me or one tiny thing Id said to a child that might lead them to complain, call me a racist etc - none of it was real of course, and nothing ever happened but it really did not do my mental health any good!
The health and safety officer is a good one - wow Id be great at that but I know it would make my ocd 10 times worse!
Food saftey and hygeine people - the ones that come to check out restaurants - environmental health are they called? Now that Id also be great at -im really funny about food and out of date stuff etc - I drive my hub mad!!! Although if somewhere was really grotty and dirty Id worry Id catch something, Id have to go in with a face mask and boiler suit, 10 pais of gloves etc!!!!

Sat Apr 10 2010 11:45:01 #
nettlenoo
Member

my partner says im like a doctor as i self diagnose all my worrisome aches and pains which out consulting a real dr. if worring was a paid form of employment id be rich

Mon Apr 12 2010 19:01:14 #