How to explain OCD to someone
How exactly do you explain OCD to someone? This is a question that comes up time and time again.
When we think of OCD, we often visualize individuals constantly checking things - the door, the stove - but this is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to living with OCD.
Many people try to comprehend OCD by focusing solely on visible behaviours because that's what they observe - changes in behaviour and constant checking. These observable behaviours mould our perception of what it means to have OCD.
But here lies the crux - here's how we aim to help others understand and ultimately conquer their battle with OCD.
OCD boils down to being a phobia related to your own thoughts. It is essentially a fear - something everyone can relate to.
We generally associate fears with tangible entities such as spiders, dogs, driving, and social situations. However, for individuals struggling with OCD, it manifests as an intense fear directly linked to their own thought processes. As these thoughts are intangible, there's often a societal misinterpretation regarding what truly defines OCD. At its core, it involves being fearful of one's own train of thought due to invasive and unmanageable thought patterns.
These thoughts tend to become intrusive, and individuals will do what they can to alleviate them. Consider an individual fearful of dogs who actively avoids specific scenarios where dogs might be present as part of their protection strategy against their fear. For individuals experiencing such fears (including those linked with compulsive behaviour), gradual exposure therapy has proven effective in overcoming these obstacles.
I personally have experienced success through exposure therapy after battling my own long-standing fear of dogs for many years.
Exposure ultimately enabled me to overcome my aversion. So, what does this signify for individuals dealing with OCD? Much like working through other fears (e.g., fearing dogs), addressing one's obsessive-compulsive tendencies necessitates confronting these challenging thought patterns without resorting to self-protection mechanisms that merely intensify their impact. It's not easy, but it is effective.
So, how would I succinctly convey this explanation? I would describe OCD as essentially being governed by an overwhelming dread tied directly to one’s internal musings; relinquishing attempts at self-protection against distressing thought patterns and embracing acceptance is a key to achieving genuine recovery.
If you want more support, check out these links:
1. if you want to read more about exposure for OCD, follow this link: www.ocdto.com,
2. If you want to learn more from one of our courses, follow this link: www.ocdto.com/courses.
3. If you want to make an appointment for one-on-one therapy with an OCD specialist, follow this link: https://calendly.com/ocdto/30min?month=2024-05
4. if you need more resources, follow this link https://iocdf.org/ to the International OCD foundation
