Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Sadly, some people with OCD are blind to the concerns of others. I have met three such people in my life who are totally self-obsessed. Unfortunately, they seem unaware of how they treat others.
On my birthday, I awoke at 8.15 to the desperate hammering on my front door. I had hoped for a lie-in, but jumped out of bed in sheer panic. Two very dirty workmen were walking around my front garden peering up at the window. I was shaking with fear, having no idea what they were doing. Whatever it was, they were already contaminating 'my space'. For twenty years, I have had my front door sealed with silicone, so afraid am I of contaminated air entering the house, so there was no way I could open it. I desperately tried to focus my eyes on the phone number on their vehicle, but couldn’t make it out. I had to resort to drawing the curtain aside, something I can’t even touch normally, because I feel they are contaminated. I was shaking and crying and had been sick with fear. I still couldn’t focus on the phone number through my tears. Eventually, I read the number and repeated it constantly while I scrubbed my hands. I couldn’t touch a pen to write down the number, while my hands were dirty. I was so terrified I could barely speak, so I called my husband and tried to explain to him what was wrong and asked him to phone the number.
I stood transfixed at the bedroom window, watching the workmen’s every move. I had taken off my nightdress so as not to contaminate it and only realized, three hours later, that I was still totally naked. I had actually been peering out of the window like this, so great was my fear I was unaware.
The workmen seemed to be dealing with a blocked sewer, next-door. Unfortunately, they parked their tanker across our driveway and left a dreadful mess behind (cleaned next-door’s driveway and left it looking spotless). Despite the fact the windows are never open, the stench drifted into the bedroom. My birthday was turning into one of my worst nightmares.
I received a call from a friend and was not able to answer the phone, because I was sobbing too much. As soon as I was able I phoned the person back. I assumed he was calling to wish me a happy birthday, but he was only interested in explaining about a problem he had with a friend. He could tell I was distressed and I briefly explained. I received an ‘oh’ and then my problem was ignored. The next day I received another call, and not one word was spoken about my problem - back we went to his…
I cannot face the task of cleaning the mess in front of the drive and I am terrified of our car running through it…I am also unable to go into the front porch, where we have a box for the post, because the workmen ‘contaminated’ there.
Perhaps I should have more tolerance for people when they use me and never give anything in return, but I believe it’s actually time I did toughen up. Like any relationship, friendship has to be a two way affair.
Sorry if the title of the thread offends. I am not contemplating such action, because I wouldn't leave my daughter. However, but for her...
An old 78 record my grandfather played included those words and I didn't understand them at the time.
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