Separating Fact from Fiction About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

For most people, separating fact from fiction when it comes to understanding mental health disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder  (OCD) poses a real challenge.

“It just makes her excessively clean; that’s not a bad thing.”
“So, what if he’s a little uptight? Doesn’t everybody have their quirks?”

These are just two of the many misconceptions that exist in people’s minds regarding living with the disorder. It is a highly misunderstood illness, considering how it’s simplified. It is, in fact, much more complex. From intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors to stigma and shame, those living with OCD face many hidden struggles that deserve understanding and support.

Now that society is breaking the barriers of talking about mental ailments, it is a good time to bring OCD into the discussion. It is important to clarify false assumptions and stereotypes that have long been associated with conditions such as OCD. When common yet untrue beliefs about OCD are identified, they shed light on what it is like for those who live with the condition.

What are some hidden realities of living with OCD?

• Days are filled with a never-ending struggle. Even basic activities, like getting dressed or going out, are painfully difficult since obsessive ideas crowd the mind and compulsions take over.
• There is pressure each day to conceal the obsessions or rituals that are occurring. This can create unhealthy communication patterns in relationships, stress, and further anxiety.
• Relationships require so much mental work that a person finds it hard to maintain a balance between keeping their symptoms under control and being a healthy communicator.

There is still such a stigma on mental illness that many suffer in silence rather than seek treatment for fear of judgment and persecution. This happens with most mental illnesses, but is especially prevalent with OCD because so many uninformed people view it as an obsession with cleanliness.

As professionals who have broadly engaged in raising awareness for several mental health issues, we have seen how myths bring forth harmful stigma against people struggling with these conditions. Changing negative attitudes toward people diagnosed with chronic anxiety disorders is the only clear way to get meaningful results. Where there’s more awareness, there’s more support.

The Biggest Myths Surrounding OCD

Myth 1: OCD is just about cleanliness and being neat

This is probably the most common misconception, leaving people to believe that individuals with OCD simply love to organize things and clean. In actuality, it is a debilitating disorder that involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals that they cannot simply turn off. Their compulsions can manifest in many different ways, including the fear of harm, unwanted thoughts, and the need for symmetry.

Myth 2: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is obvious and easy to spot

Most people have learned to hide their symptoms out of shame, fear of judgment, or fear of being laughed at, so it can be quite difficult to recognize OCD.

Myth 3: People with OCD have superpowers

The fact that this illness usually involves compulsions which, in most cases, make people more organized or observant of detail, makes many people almost admire them rather than understand how debilitating and disruptive the compulsions can be.

Myth 4: OCD is caused by a troubled childhood or bad parenting

The fact is, no one, not even specialists, truly knows what causes OCD, but it is believed that this involves a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental elements.

Myth 5: A person with OCD just needs to relax or snap out of it

Obviously, no one can just wish somebody to snap out of a chronic medical condition that requires professional treatment and medication to keep the condition manageable. While OCD is a lifelong condition, a lot of people suffering from this disorder can achieve remarkable improvement with proper support and treatment.

These negative stereotypes harm mainstream conversations about mental health. Let’s take these misguided attitudes, not through frustration or angry lenses, but positively for change, at the individual levels.

It is only by focusing on personal stories of resilience and demystifying myths that the outlook will shift from one of a disorder representing weakness to one representing part of someone’s general strength.

Recovery from any mental health condition takes work and commitment coupled with long-term management approaches, which always vary with the individual’s needs.

How to Help Someone with OCD

• When someone has OCD, work together as a team – a professional counselor, the person with OCD, and their supports – to produce a treatment plan that best fits the symptoms and needs the person with OCD is dealing with.
• Include various forms of therapy, medication, and support networks that allow the person to cope with the disorder.
• Open up communication between the sufferer and their therapist or healthcare provider. This is a key to progress in managing OCD.
• Create a safe place where the person with OCD can talk without feeling judged about thoughts or behaviors related to their condition. This will help them learn to cope more effectively.

It is easy for individuals with OCD to feel overwhelmed because they may focus on an all-or-nothing approach to beating every single compulsion or pattern of thought. As professionals who help such individuals, our job is to remind them how to celebrate small achievements along the way, too.

OCD affects millions worldwide, yet there remains an alarming lack of knowledge regarding its causes and treatments among the general public. It is not some sort of weird quirk, but rather an anxiety-based disorder that can greatly disrupt one’s life. It can cause considerable distress among people who have this disorder.

By debunking these destructive obsessions associated with obsessive-compulsive behavior, we could very well inject hope into those communities that are suffering and call people with symptoms to action without shame or fear.

It is important to point out that living with untreated OCD can cause important personal and professional consequences for the individual. Because of a high level of anxiety, which is the cause of poor performance in the workplace or the avoidance of social interactions, untreated OCD may sabotage a person’s life or career. Increasing awareness of evidence-based treatments can make all the difference in effectively supporting them through this complex disorder.

A trained therapist can help someone with evidence-based methods, such as CBT, in managing symptoms while infusing self-awareness, support, and coping mechanisms. With evidence-based interventions and supported by professional counselors, such individuals become capable of rising above the challenges created by OCD.

Besides regular therapeutic intervention, it is common for a practitioner to provide information on some helpful resources, such as books, literature formats, audio learning programs, and methods of seeking peer support systems. Such information tools are known to reduce anxiety and isolation while infusing fresh hope and motivation on good and bad days.

Although professionals emphasize how early diagnosis and family education are vital in the treatment of symptoms related to OCD, ongoing therapeutic help remains important throughout a person’s life as he or she goes through changes that also affect long-term management.

Ultimately, freedom from societal misconceptions about OCD is necessary for anyone looking to heal and move forward in their journey toward mental wellness. Seeking professional guidance through therapy allows one not only to challenge false beliefs but also to open up a safe area for growth and healing on all levels: mind, body, and spirit.

Next Steps

If you or your loved one would like help in living with OCD, please reach out to our offices today. We will be happy to connect you with one of the trained therapists in our practice who can lead you on a journey of empowerment.