OCD Action

Tess
Member

Just to let everyone know I had a phone call out of the blue from Radio Cornwall last week asking if I would be willing to do an interview about OCD. They must have kept my details from two years ago when they gave publicity for an OCD awareness day we held in Liskeard as part of OCD week. Anyway, I agreed to do it, the interviewer wanted a very personal account about my own OCD and it will be broadcast on Radio Cornwall tomorrow straight after the news at 1pm and followed by a phone in with experts on hand to answer questions. There will be 'tasters' at 7.05am and 12.05 pm to advertise the main feature. They want lots of people to phone in to create an interesting and informative discussion - so please feel free to contribute.
Then, this morning yet another phone call out of the blue from BBC Spotlight TV Plymouth to ask if I would be willing to give a TV interview, when I said I would do it they said "tomorrow?". So yet another reporter is coming tomorrow morning. I just hope I will get the opportunity to talk about the matters which are important to all of us and not end up just feeling like a museum exhibit. I don't know when it will be broadcast but it could be as soon as on the 6.30pm programme tomorrow.
One reporter into my home was stressful, now another one with camera equipment is going to be worse but the thing I am dreading most is that my 'secret' will be well and truly out of the closet and I am wondering how it will affect people's attitudes to me. Wish me luck please everyone.

Tue 1 Nov 2011 19:11 #
aishah
Member

Hi Tess,

Thank you so much for doing these interviews despite it being really hard for you. I'm sure you'll do a brilliant job of representing us, and don't worry about your 'secret' being out and people thinkling differently towards you.

You have always been a huge support to everyone here and thats how we will think of you , with respect.

Good Luck

Bridget
x

Wed 2 Nov 2011 9:48 #
Tess
Member

Hi Bridget
Thanks for your lovely post. I've already managed to break a mug this morning and have had to resort to taking a valium which is really annoying, just hope I don't let everyone down - if only half my head was not going to be worrying about everything the reporter touches I would be able to do a much better job.

Wed 2 Nov 2011 10:34 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Best of luck, dear Tess! I'd written a long post initially, hit the wrong button, and it got lost in cyberspace... will try to write a similar one today again - but need some time to recover from the self-loathing about this...

Wed 2 Nov 2011 11:43 #
wannabefree
Member

Absolutely all the best with it Tess, It will be a good thing in the long run... You're always very supportive on here, which is really appreciated... Take it steady, do the slow breathing and stuff to get through it... We are all amazing, you especially so at this time
wannabe

Wed 2 Nov 2011 13:21 #
Tess
Member

Hi everyone
Thanks so much for the support. Have just finished the interview, wasn't as bad as I had anticipated, even managed to allow him into my 'office' to film me on the forum as they are not allowed to give out charity details so we got the OCD Action website on film with the helpline no. He is hoping to get a snippet out on the 1.30pm slot this afternoon and there will be a one and a half minute item on the 6.30pm programme. He said there is enough material for a documentary and he will speak to his contacts but can't promise anything. Thank goodness for seroxat, valium and a very supportive hubby who scrubbed the outside path so no mud got walked in.

Wed 2 Nov 2011 13:37 #
wannabefree
Member

Well done Tess... This is an inspiration to all on here, and will serve to educate the people listening and watching the interview... I cannot recieve it this far away, but I'm sure you've done us all proud... People need to know about this illness, so it can be taken more seriousely by people in general...
Thank you for helping to spread the message about our illness...
wannabe

Wed 2 Nov 2011 13:55 #
jon
Member

Tess - well done for doing this.

Wed 2 Nov 2011 15:48 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hiya Tess -

great stuff, great achievement. I really hope to hear and see the results eventually, am sorry I can't find them right now. If they appear somewhere on the net, please inform us, will you?

It is so important that the usual way popular media and the gutter press speak about OCD is counterbalanced in the way you did it. Remember we discussed that policeman who let two dogs die from heat in a closed car, and the fact that the paper implicated that that might have been the result of his mental problems, amongst them OCD? People need to know that OCD patients are extremely conscientious and always check multiple times as to make sure they don't harm anyone or anything.

I admire your courage, m'lady!

Three cheers to you from autumnal Holland,

Cuthbert.

Wed 2 Nov 2011 16:14 #
Tess
Member

Hi folks
The phone in programme this afternoon went really well, in fact it was extended from the usual 1 - 2pm slot into the next hour and didn't finish until after half past two. If you want to listen you can catch it on I player, go on to the Radio Cornwall website, it's on today's Lawrence Reed programme. There is part of my interview followed by one phone in at about 12.05pm which lasts about ten to fifteen minutes, then the main phone in starts around about ten past one. I think you can listen to it on the internet at any time for the next 7 days. Similarly tonight's TV interview on BBC Spotlight will be going out between 6.30 - 7pm but I think it will only be a 90 secs feature and again I think you can get it on I player.
Cuthbert, it's so lovely to be called m'lady. I feel at present like I've done 12 rounds in a boxing ring so I will hang on to your compliment.

Wed 2 Nov 2011 18:35 #
1909j
Member

Hi Tess
I have just listen to the phone in on the radio about ocd and it has informed me some more about this illness,I'm 17 years old and think I have ocd and this has encouraged me more about seeing a doctor,I admire your courage

Wed 2 Nov 2011 20:54 #
Tess
Member

Hi
Thanks so much for the positive feedback and I'm so pleased it has encouraged you to get help. Don't be embarrassed about speaking to your GP, it is the first step for all of us on the journey towards recovery.

Wed 2 Nov 2011 21:01 #
Tess
Member

This is the link for the radio programme
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00l3dfj/Laurence_Reed_02_11_2011/

Wed 2 Nov 2011 21:07 #
playthoseblues
Member

Hi Tess,

I saw your interview on Spotlight! Great Work!!

Jon

Wed 2 Nov 2011 21:56 #
Tess
Member

Thanks Jon, I've been so encouraged by all the support I've received. Had a phone call this morning from Gemma Gladstone who runs the Exeter support group, she saw the TV interview by chance and has posted it on various websites including the OCD Action facebook page. I was a bit disappointed when I watched it yesterday evening but having looked at it on I player this morning I guess it got a few points over, including some good publicity for OCD Action and it's hard to fit much into 90 secs particularly when they want to set scenes and photograph my hands which bear witness to decades of obsessive cleaning. I was delighted by the support from the members of our support group, three of them phoned in to the radio programme and made some very pertinent points and were also courageous enough to speak personally about their own OCD. The psychologist who spoke about OCD on the programme said she is going to organise an OCD awareness day in January in mid Cornwall.
Could never have done any of this without the total support of my husband who went out on that terrible Monday last week when the heavens opened all day long and scrubbed the entrance path again and again with a yard broom so that no mud would get walked in and put down cardboard in the entrance to soak up all the wet and then he did the same again yesterday before the TV reporter came.

Thu 3 Nov 2011 11:34 #
Tess
Member

This is the link for the TV programme, the section about OCD starts at 12.15
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016p5d8/Spotlight_02_11_2011/

Thu 3 Nov 2011 11:46 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Tess -

heartfelt thanks for the links, will look & listen ASAP!

Yours, Cuthbert.

Thu 3 Nov 2011 11:53 #
Truddles
Member

I haven't listened to all of the radio programme as they kept interrupting it but have watched the TV programme.
Well done I know how difficult it must have been for you to do it especially as they gave you very little notice.
It was terrific idea having the computer on with the OCD Action page open. A free plug for OCD Action

BTW having seen how tidy your desk was I'm thoroughly ashamed of mine and so am now tidying my desk and not before time

Thu 3 Nov 2011 12:22 #
Tess
Member

Hi Trudy
Yes, the phone in programme was very long but it was extremely good, the best part comes a few minutes after the 1 o'clock news and once it really got down to the subject of OCD I don't recall a lot in the way of interruptions. I thought the presenter was very good bearing in mind he knew nothing about OCD and was just working form a couple of pages of notes.

Thu 3 Nov 2011 12:42 #
goldenseal
Member

I listened to the ocd programme, you were very good Tess! You didn't sound nervous and it was brave of you and the people that rang in, I thought the programme showed how people with OCD are very intelligent and articulate it shows the layman how it affects different kinds of people and hopefully will give people more understanding about it.

You did so well having the reporter come to your home and what a lovely husband you have scrubbing the entrance path!

I'm looking forward to the OCD awareness meeting in January at Kingsley village, it should be really helpful and informative.

Thu 3 Nov 2011 14:27 #
Soxon
Key Master

Well done

Thu 3 Nov 2011 17:22 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi again Tess, I heard te radio programme on I-player and it was brilliant! Thank you ever so much for doing it, there's nothing like that in the midlands of england... It was a good programme, and well presented too... I can't get the TV link to work, but never mind, you've done us all a great service by doing the radio thingy... The experts were good too, and they're setting up an awareness day, in January too which is really good... I sre hope that this will spread to the rest of England, and to be honest, the world needs to know about our suffering condition, cos I do think with the way we live these days, OCD is gonna increase in it's frequency in the population...
Anyway, well done on a really scary task on the radio and TV...
wannabe

Thu 3 Nov 2011 21:33 #
Tess
Member

The TV link only worked until 6.59pm yesterday so I'm afraid it's no longer possible to access it.

Fri 4 Nov 2011 9:44 #
Nimrod
Key Master

Well done Tess. In contrast to your factual presentation of OCD, there is a programme tonight (Friday 4th November) at 10.30 on Channel 5 "Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$ Girl" She is a millionaire in her own right and is daughter of multi-billionaire Bernie Ecclestone. She claims to have OCD because she hangs up her many expensive dresses in order. I very much suspect that this will be yet another "fashion" OCD that does so much damage to the understanding and awareness of real OCD. However, we will only know when the programme is shown.

Nimrod

Fri 4 Nov 2011 12:14 #
Tess
Member

Hi Nimrod, thanks for your kind words and info. As you say, we have to wait before making judgement, thankfully it is not prime time viewing but the portrayal of OCD as a trendy designer illness in the media just makes our job of raising awareness so much harder than it needs to be. If she does have OCD at least she can afford the best treatment money can buy. Perhaps you could appeal to her philanthropic side and get a nice donation!

Fri 4 Nov 2011 12:46 #
BT
Member

Tess, Your radio interview was so good. I was bitterly disappointed that I missed the television one. My own fault, I assumed it had seven days.

Tue 8 Nov 2011 14:18 #
Tess
Member

BT, there is an article you can still read at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-15542612 which seems to have gone global!

Tue 8 Nov 2011 16:26 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Tess, just seen that article... It is really good... Great stuff!
wannabe

Tue 8 Nov 2011 22:19 #
Gemma Gladstone
Member

Hi Tess,

You already know how proud I am of you for being so brave as to go on TV and radio!

But I want to say something about it here for others too.

I used to be highly embarrassed talking about my OCD until I met my current therapist, India Haylor, the director and founder of the OCDCentre of London and New York.
She is the first person I knowingly met with OCD and is an inspirational role model!
I had group therapy with her, and fondly remember how she talked about OCD in a normal (and loud!) manner in the British Science Museum's cafe and Cafe Rouge, amongst other places!

I now do the same with my Exeter OCD Support Group.
As one member pointed out, as far as anyone knows we could all be a group of professionals talking about OCD.
Either way, I always look forward to my fortnightly support group, and to seeing members becoming more confident about talking about their OCD.

As you know, the more people who do so, the more we can raise awareness, combat embarrassment, and stop people living years of misery and possibly committing suicide!

Thanks and best wishes,
Gemma

... there might be a story in this. On obsessive-compulsive disorder. Not as big a blip on the radar as cancer, maybe, but sufferers will tell you it's still some mighty scary shit.
Stephen King, 'N.', Just After Sunset

Shantih shantih shantih
T S Eliot, The Waste Land

PS: If my "email signature" quote above from T S Eliot at first alienates you for being "literary", please note that he wrote The Waste Land while suffering from a mental breakdown. It is a true example of writing therapy!

Wed 23 Nov 2011 1:57 #
Gemma Gladstone
Member

Hi all,

I would like to add the following, while not taking anything away from my excellent therapist, India Haylor:

I will always be grateful to my GP, Dr David Bossano: David, you have given me the confidence to accept and no longer be ashamed of my OCD - I could not ask for a better doctor.

Best wishes,
Gemma

Wed 23 Nov 2011 2:07 #