OCD Action

Moocher
Member

It amazes me how many people on TV flippantly state,"I have OCD," meaning that they are a bit obsessive about tidiness and order. I hear it all the time, the last time was Rhona Cameron on Wife Swap.
It really annoys me because it shows a complete lack of understanding of the condition and also trivialises it. If you're on TV, surely you should be more careful about what you say. But it does go to illustrate how little is known about OCD by non-sufferers.
It really makes my hackles rise everytime I hear someone say,"I know I am totally OCD," with a big grin on their face. Do they not think that there might be people watching at home who really suffer from the condition who might find that a bit offensive?

Thu Jul 30 2009 13:47:22 #
Unregistered

I agree with you, but I'm not sure we can change people's opinion of this debilitating condition. OCD does seem to be targeted in this way, more than other mental illnesses. Iâve not heard the same light-hearted approach to having manic depression, for example. I think it is wrong to say any disorder is worse than another, but after watching Stephen Fry's documentary on bipolar, I have come to the conclusion that it can't be as bad as OCD, at least in the majority of cases.
I am basing that on the fact that the majority in the programme, given the choice, would choose to keep their condition.

No, they don't realize they are causing offence, and, as much as I am a fan of Monk, I do think comedies involving OCD sufferers can have an adverse effect. We know the pain involved, I think Tony Shalhoub does, too, and he portrays the character with great sensitivity, but how many people without OCD pick that up. I still recall a friend of mine in the US, telling me how distraught she was when a large cinema audience laughed at very distressing scenes in the Aviator. For some reason our behaviour is seen as a joke.

It seems to be the case that having OCD is the in thing, whereas, having depression or bipolar will probably never be in fashion.

Thu Jul 30 2009 14:31:29 #
swan
Member

Yes I totally agree I hate it too and given the choice I wouldn't choose to have ocd either

Fri Jul 31 2009 18:38:06 #
Moocher
Member

I think the reason that people have this opinion is that there is still this misconception that OCD just means that you are exceptionally tidy. I guess the difference between OCD and Bi-Polar disorder is that most manic depressives are still able to function most of the time. And when they are in a manic phase they are more highly functioning than even people that don't suffer from a mental disorder. So there is a positive to bi-polar disorder.
I guess the reason that manic depressives would choose to keep their condition is that they do gain something from it. Whereas with OCD there is nothing at all to be gained. When you overcome OCD you don't really take anything positive away from it, apart from thinking, I can't let that happen again.
Did you see that awful OCD doll that used to be sold by "I Want one of those.com"? They stopped selling it due to complaints but it's still available from Amazon in America. I mean, that goes to show how comical non-OCD sufferers think the condition is. And I guess the repetitive behaviours are quite funny to watch if you don't understand the suffering behind it. Like when you see polar bears kept in captivity and they go insane and start pacing backwards and forwards. Put that to a bit of music and what could be funnier? Nevermind the poor creature has been driven stark raving mad.
A few weeks ago there was a documentary on BBC1 about Tourettes syndrome and on the night it was due to be shown I heard a boy outside in the street with his mates swearing and then saying,"Sorry, I've got Tourettes," and laughing. There are actually people in this area that suffer from Tourettes for real and I don't know what they would think if they saw his behaviour. It's people like that boy that make people afraid to get on with their lives. He would ridicule people with Tourettes when if you laughed at something he had wrong with him, he'd be mortified.
It does seem to be fashionable lately to say,"I've got OCD." But if it goes out of fashion, we'll still be stuck with it anyway.

Mon Aug 3 2009 14:40:34 #
frazzledmom
Member

Hope everyone is well, Was on a much needed vacation, but in response to the fake ocder's I do find people extremely insensitive I had a little episode a few weeks ago, some things were stolen from my home by kids that I thought were my kids friends when I spoke to the parents they had defended they stealing saying anytime my kids take something from someone I make them bring it back, so it's not stealing and I think your daughter left it here they didn't steal it, but anyways it's a real long story when I tried to explain to the parents about OCD and the obsession my daughter has with certain things that it would be impossible for her to have left these items, the one parent just made the comment of well " I have OCD and smirked" I was thinking if you can make a comment about it like that you do not suffer from it, I don't know about the rest of you but in most situations in everyday life I try as hard as I can to hide my symptoms, I know after the stealing episode I started checking again, and intrusive thoughts of people getting in my house and going through my things even when the house alarm is on, It' s starting to drive my husband nuts. I even make him get out of bed and check doors and windows after i've just checked even though I know everything is locked, or we'll be going out I'll be in the car all buckled in but I have to check again and again, and I have to ask my husband to check as well just in case, he will even say I just watched you lock it and check it's locked, but it does not help, but it's a huge source of anxiety right now. If people only knew how much this can rule your life they would not joke about it, to me it's like joking about having cancer or some terminal disease.

Frazzledmom

Sat Aug 8 2009 16:17:12 #
ashlennon
Member

I hate that SO Much. In college, i always hear people saying things like "I'm SO OCD about this..." it drives me nuts. Its like it is some fun, awesome thing to have. Or that really liking something or caring about how something looks alot means OCD? So annoying.

Wed Aug 19 2009 2:08:23 #
Unregistered

Frazzledmom, I know what you mean about it being like joking about cancer or some other terminal disease. By the way, I have now known three OCD sufferers with cancer. One was a very close friend, the other two were friends of a friend. All three found their cancer easier to deal with than their OCD.

I would appreciate your view on the thread âhumour'. I am still wavering and I can see you feel strongly about this issue, but you may feel it's OK for us to make light of certain situations we've faced. I do actually wonder also if you have a different perspective as a parent of a young OCD sufferer

Ashlennon, My daughter has just finished university, she met several people there who claimed to have OCD. Of course, we can never be sure what others are suffering, but it was her view that these people had a few habits that they labelled as OCD and had no idea of the suffering involved in the actual condition. It really annoyed her.

Tricia x

Wed Aug 19 2009 15:16:36 #
frazzledmom
Member

Hi Tricia

I have no problem with humor as long as it is done tastefully, for myself in certain situations I have used humor to help pull me through some things, but you know as well as I do that at times it is not appropriate especially when you have got a hurricane of thoughts going through your head, I think it depends on timing and the state of mind of the individual, because if you are having a bad day it can be taken differently and be perceived as offensive or it can go in your favor and be a hit. In any case I think it can be used as a wonderful form of therapy. When it comes to my children after the fact I can usually see the brighter side of the situation, but when it's during an explosion of emotion that's what we call it for my daughter it's never funny.
Frazzledmom

Fri Aug 21 2009 0:56:28 #
stevieb
Member

That attitude pi**es me off as well, those who think that OCD is a joke. I read somewhere once that OCD is listed among the top ten most debilitating mental illnesses, and I can believe it.

I agree that it must be worse than depression, but can go hand-in-hand with it. However, someone mentioned Tourette's, and I think a bad case of that can be even worse than moderate OCD. Tourette's must be horrendous.

But as for these idiots who find OCD and Tourette's funny, THEY should be made to suffer with either of these for a week. A week of severe OCD for a week, or a week of Tourette's. That will wipe the silly, contemptuous grins off their faces!

OCD can also be a embarrassing if the repetitive actions are witnessed by others, but sadly some of them find it a hilarious spectacle, don't they? People just find it easier to point and titter, rather than to make the effort to understand.

Sat Sep 5 2009 22:51:32 #