OCD Action

KatieH
Member

I was just wondering if anyone else has encountered this...

Today a friend of mine wrote on his facebook status 'I am so OCD', I know for a fact that he doesn't have OCD and didn't mean anything spiteful by it, but it really annoys me when people do this. I diminishes the seriousness of the disorder and ruins people's understanding of it. Whie I was very tempted to respond, I didn't want to be mean and make him feel guilty (because he's the sort who would- like I said, not spiteful).

So I guess I'm just wondering, what has everyone else done in similar situations? I want people to understand that it's more than not walking on the cracks. I have the physical scars to prove that.

Mon Feb 6 2012 1:42:06 #
BT
Member

I agree and often wonder if there is any other condition that is so misunderstood.

Like you, I have physical scars, but it will take much more raising awareness before most people realise the serious nature of OCD.

Mon Feb 6 2012 15:26:29 #
Aimboy
Member

Hey

I get it sometimes, most the time it doesnt really bother me. Some of my mates say it but they only joke about and they only tend to joke around when they know im having a good phase with OCD, im generally light hearted about it and they know i am most of the time. Though i do agree its getting a bad name, i think it was David Beckham who was on the Jonathan Ross show a while back and he he said something about his OCD and they all laughed as well as the crowd. Im not saying its wrong to do that but at the same time It shows that OCD is not taken very seriously.

Joe

Mon Feb 6 2012 17:54:12 #
Nimrod
Key Master

This is a huge problem. At OCD Action we realise that raising awareness of OCD is the single most important thing we can do. Regretably celebrities such as David Beckham and others who say they have OCD or "are so OCD" are doing us and all OCD sufferers a great disservice as they portray OCD as something simple and insignificant such as a bit of extra hand washing or putting things in order - more of a minor inconvenience that a horrific life changing condition. This makes our job so much harder and so difficult to get over to people what OCD really is - and if we can't do that we can't get the attention and resources we need to tackle this dreadful condition. OCD is not a joke and this ignorant, misinformed use of the term is something we must contest and get over to people the seriousness and torment that this condition causes. Perhaps it would help if every time we came across something like this we could tell those who joke about it what OCD really is and what it is like to have your life dominated by it then it may help to raise awareness to the same levels as there is for cancer and heart disease.

Nimrod

Mon Feb 6 2012 20:40:14 #
sillybilly
Member

I too, hate this bs that people do. I occassionally get jokes about myself by people who know my problems. They make light off it and people like David Beckham who probably has a very minor mild.ocd. or even people read some of the symptoms.and dont realize that doing these things continuously day in day out makes you feel.

Personally, I would say sonething to this person, if u don't mind ppl knowing as fb is visible by all. Next time someone makes light of it at my expense I'm giving them a mouthful, and I don't tell anybody about my problems until I really trust them, as I know, MOST people make light off it.

Another thing I hate is when people tell me I CAN'T do something because of it. I can do whatever I want and this awful condition won't stop me.

Thu Feb 9 2012 19:00:57 #
Citaloman
Member

I wish I had David Beckhams variation of OCD.

Thu Feb 9 2012 19:14:24 #
sillybilly
Member

Jeremy Kyle is another one who claims to have ocd.

Now Howard Hughes, there's a man who had it, beat that Beckham.

Thu Feb 9 2012 19:22:29 #
slogsweep
Member

Katy Perry's another, blatant OCD sufferer performing to thousands every night on tour. Yeah right.

And poor Beckham needing to line up his fridge. He makes the condition seem a joke.

Everything Nimrod has said there is absolutely spot on. I see people writing "I'm so OCD", I just think "thank christ you're not."

OCD does have a few positives, like I bought a homeless guy some food and water despite being skint myself (not bearing to think of him on the streets on a day where the mercury struggled to -2), but the negatives far outweigh the positives and it's hell and nobody seems to properly understand outside of the OCD circle. I could cry with frustration at the lack of understanding and the ease of which non-OCDers go about their lives. Makes me infinitely sad and jealous.

Slog

Thu Feb 9 2012 19:48:29 #
Mike
Member

To me, that's like someone saying "I am so ALS" after working out at the gym and not being able to life their arms.

Thu Feb 9 2012 19:50:59 #