OCD Action

Chipper
Member

:-)does the use of ocd in jokes annoy you? Why is it acceptable to most people to joke about?
Could humour in other ways help reduce symptoms? for example by laughing to self at own compulsions to help reduce impact and frequency. Can this work?

Wed Mar 17 2010 22:23:09 #
Unregistered

If you're thinking of what I am thinking, it could be really useful exposure therapy, if you can ride out the first 10 minutes, which is usually where the anxiety occurs.

Giles

Wed Mar 17 2010 22:41:34 #
Blueskies
Member

Hello there Chipper welcome to the forum

Interesting questions.

I think it depends on the individual,the severity of their conditions, the level of self esteem , self confidence and how they generally feel in themselves. I for one have a laugh everyday, and as my checking affects those around me, for example my daughter, if she sees me checking the cooker for example, she would remark,' Mum you have forgotton one'. Now I don't see that she is joking at me, but rather recognising I have this conditon, and helping me to break the cycle of negative thinking. We always end up laughing so I see this as being supportive rather than judgemental as her motives is not to ridicule, but to support.

The other aspect of laughter, on a personal level, it is very healthy and uplifting, the opposite to negative thinking and it is the balance that makes it work for me. I hardly check when I am feeling happy and relaxed and that is the positive of laughter.

Good questions.

Pam

Wed Mar 17 2010 22:57:51 #
mama
Member

laughter is excellent medicine for OCD. Thats my oppinion and personal experience.

Thu Mar 18 2010 1:45:34 #
Unregistered

It didn't work for me at first but over the years I have become a lot less stressed and left my depression behind me and so I have found it easier to laugh and let it slide every now and again. Not too often though.......but i'm getting there!

Thu Mar 25 2010 12:45:49 #
Daisy Vine
Member

Chipper, I usually find the humour after the event when I look back at an OCD situation that was far from funny at the time, but seeing it from someone else's eyes, there does tend to be a kind of sit com relevance. I like to make light of a situation whenever possible, perhaps so that I can talk to other people about my problem without making them feel uncomfortable. I don't mind people laughing with me, but not at me.

That said though, I find it annoying when people without OCD use the subject to gain a cheap laugh at someone's expense, or are flippant saying things like "you're so OCD" - if only they knew a fraction of what we go through daily.

Daisy

Fri Mar 26 2010 1:53:49 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Humour is important for ourselves. But, as Daisy Vine rightfully noted: we should not be laughed at by non-patients, because that'd be very insulting.

Cheers, Cuthbert.

(time for a new poo joke? perhaps...)

Fri Mar 26 2010 11:35:26 #