We are all a little bit “OCD” at times
FACT: OCD is not a personality quirk or a character trait — it is a very real mental health condition that affects about 2 to 3 million adults, and half a million youth, in the US alone. While many people can have obsessive or compulsive traits, OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder, and people who are diagnosed with OCD cannot simply “turn it off.” Research has shown that their brains are wired differently than the brains of people without OCD, and as such OCD strongly influences their thoughts and actions.
Below are some common myths people have about OCD:
OCD means cleanliness
FACT: Not really, one of the symptoms might be a need for compulsive cleaning but if you like your work station organized doesn’t mean you have OCD. Individuals with OCD experience persistent intrusive thoughts and a compulsion to carry out the cleaning is a response to prevent that, compulsive cleaning is often related to fears of contamination.
Stress causes OCD
FACT: Think people with OCD should just relax and stop obsessing? Szymanski says it’s not that simple. OCD incites uncontrollable fears and anxiety — and while stressful situations can exacerbate symptoms in people with obsessive compulsive disorder, stress alone does not cause it.
OCD is rare in kids
FACT: At least 1 in every 200 kids and teens has obsessive compulsive disorder, and it can strike as young as 4 years old. “This is about the same number of children who have diabetes — but no one considers diabetes to be rare.” If you took an average-size elementary school, you’d find four or five kids with OCD. In a medium to large high school, you’d find about 20 students dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder.
Tests can confirm OCD
FACT: Unlike cancer or diabetes, obsessive compulsive disorder can’t be diagnosed with a blood test or a scan. However, your doctor is likely to conduct a physical examination and order tests to rule out other medical conditions. If mental health professionals suspect you have OCD, they are likely to ask you a series of questions and look for three signs of OCD: whether you have obsessions, whether you exhibit compulsive behaviors, and if you do, whether they get in the way of your normal activities.
Bad parenting causes OCD
FACT : A complex interaction of factors causes OCD. Bad parenting is rarely the cause.Like most mental health conditions, OCD is a complex diagnosis with many potential causes. Research suggests OCD often has a strong genetic component. If a person has a parent or sibling with OCD, they are twice as likely to have OCD themselves.
Environmental factors such as trauma can also contribute to obsessions and compulsions. Typical parenting—even when it’s imperfect—does not cause OCD. Using daycare services or gentle discipline will not cause obsessions or compulsions. Parents do not need to blame themselves for their child’s OCD. Attempts to blame a parent can undermine treatment by making both the parent and child feel guilty.
While typical parenting does not cause OCD, abuse might. People with a history of trauma and neglect are more likely to be diagnosed with OCD. Therapists who treat OCD may wish to ask about a person’s experiences with abuse. When a child with OCD is living in an abusive home, treatment may require removing the child from the home.
If people with OCD understand their actions aren’t rational, they’ll stop doing the compulsions
FACT: Compulsions are a way to temporarily alleviate anxiety. Most people with OCD realize their actions are irrational and won’t prevent a tragedy. Instead, compulsions often serve to reduce anxiety about obsessions. In other words, someone with OCD may do a compulsion because they believe it is easier than enduring their intrusive thoughts.
It’s obvious when people have OCD
Not all compulsions are visible. Mental compulsions include behaviors done within one’s mind. They may include praying, counting, repeating a phrase, or avoiding specific thoughts.
A person who seems distracted to others may be very focused on mental compulsions.Even when a person’s compulsions are physical, others may not see them. People with OCD often feel ashamed of their symptoms. They may avoid doing compulsions in public, even if the delay causes intense anxiety.
Sources:
International OCD foundation. (2017). Help Separate OCD Myths from the Facts. Retrieved from https://iocdf.org/blog/2017/10/03/help-seperate-ocd-myths-from-the-facts/
https://orangepsychassociates.com/common-ocd-myths/
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/ocd-cleaning