Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing. It is not your fault or the result of a "weak" or unstable personality." - Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation. Common Obsessions:
Traces of OCD My personal experience with OCD is not extreme nor bothersome. It's so insignificant in my life that I do not even think of myself as having OCD. Sometimes, I appreciate the desire to have things a certain way. It motivates me when I'm cleaning the house for company or entertaining. I have high standards and enjoy making people feel comfortable and delighted. One Sunday, my pastor asked the congregation if anyone is a perfectionist. I responded, "Sure, when I have the time." I don't live in a perpetual state of perfectionism. But, I do look forward to the relaxing feeling of having order around me. I think everyone understands that. Even if they don't maintain it in their lives, they still understand it. :) After all, our Creator is a God of order. It's only natural that order would soothe us and the desire for it might even drive us. The key is in a balanced way. I do find myself giving into occasional, small urges, such as during times when I'm daydreaming and I get a tune or rhythm in my head. I may give in to the desire to play the tune out just a certain way before I move on to something else. If you can imagine tapping two drums with a drum stick in each hand. Each time you hit the drum on the left with your left drum stick, you're most likely not going to hit the drum on the right the same exact way. Feeling unsatisfied with even the slightest difference will keep the person with OCD tapping left and right until they sense that they have hit each drum the same way, or in a certain order or number of times, etc. Years ago, especially as a child, I gave in to more obvious urges such as if I turned around in a circle to get something off of the table, I would make sure I turned back around that same way. Now, I sometimes vaguely think that thought, but I realize that it is unnecessary and I just don't do it. Even though I am speaking as someone who has not had extreme OCD, I do understand struggling with an anxiety disorder and I believe you can be free from OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder does not have to run your life anymore!
Return to Anxiety Cures from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
