[Article] Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

[marina84]

I used to have pretty bad OCD, but I was able to overcome it on my own over the course of several years. I still have a few OCDish traits that I don't think I'll ever be able to shake off, but I'm much better now than I used to. I used to be EXTREMELY psychiotic about cleanliness and germs. I would wash my hands immediately after handling 'public' things, each time washing my hands 3 times with anti-bacteriuial soap during each 'session' to make sure I was completely clean. I also put sandwich bags around things that I had to sure with people at home, like videogame controllers and such.. I was washing my hands so much during the day, that they literally started cracking and bleeding, which would make me get skin allergies and infections, which lead to even more handwashing. Eventually, I got tired of the cylical nature of it all, and started taking baby steps towards becoming less obsessive handwashing..I'd watch people during the day, and see that they were just fine handling public objects, and that nothing would happen to them, so bit by bit, I got myself acclimated to it all. I still can't bring myself to handle some things, such as doorknobs and such, but I think that is for the best, especially in bathrooms, since a lot of people here don't wash their hands after bathrooms and such. I also vigorously wash my hands after using the PC's at school, but that's pretty much justified because they're pretty nasty there. On strange trait I still carry though is that I have "outside" and "inside" things. Basically waht that means, is that I will have pencils and such that I will ONLY use outside, and others that I'll only use inside so as to reduce germ exposure..Sounds crazy, but like I said, a lot of people outside don't really have very clean habits..

I also can't bring myself to throw away anything. And I mean anything. I even save the tags on clothes, for "just in case" situations. What that situation is, I don't know. o.o

gosh, after reading all that, I think I still have OCD. o.O

[skylight]

i feel that many of the OCD cases are related to cleaniness.
is it better if you wear a glove before touching those public stuff or bring a small handkerchief, touching any public stuff using the handkerchief...

[marina84]

Originally Posted by skylight

is it better if you wear a glove before touching those public stuff or bring a small handkerchief, touching any public stuff using the handkerchief...

Actually, that's what I pretty much generally do when handling doorknobs and such. I always carry around a few napkins or paper towels from the bathroom so I can use them to open doors.

[yosemite]

i have some ocd like tendencies like double taking a lot but thats about it.

[Venna-Jo]

I think my best friend is borderline OCD. But I love her for it. She's my business partner and without her quirky need for perfect balance, the quality of what we're doing would just not be the same.

[yosemite]

my aunt has to be, cause she always cleans

[sixpounder]

u dont know the chances what if i to die im soo blind

[Yuuji]

For more exact information look up OCD in the DSM-IV. (That is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition). It gives the latest operational definition of OCD.

Otherwise, how many of you have/are:

1) Taking a college level Psych course?
2) Taking Abnormal Psych.
3) Plan to enter the field of Psychology as a career?

[avl]

wow that weird

[yosemite]

i sometimes think i have it. i am not severe like i see on tv, but i dont like odd numbers, but not to the point that its noticable, i really shouldnt say i have it though.