OCD is a commonly misunderstood condition. Have you or someone you know ever casually said “I’m just so OCD” while cleaning? Well, there is a lot more to OCD than obsessive cleaning.
Dr. Ileana Berman is a Cognitive Science Researcher with over 30 years of experience in her field. Her work largely focuses on drawing connections between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia. Today she shares the top 3 misconceptions about OCD.
- People with OCD are obsessed with being clean. The truth is that OCD is a very complex disorder that has to do with anxiety and intrusive thoughts that develop into obsessions. This can be about absolutely anything – from repeatedly checking your doors are locked so your house doesn’t get broken into all the way to hair-pulling compulsions. It doesn’t have to be about cleanliness.
- Everyone has OCD to an extent. Even for people who like to keep their house immaculately clean, this does in no way mean that you have OCD. In order to be diagnosed with OCD, you have to have intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety, unease, or disgust. You would also be engaging in compulsive acts in order to temporarily relieve yourself of the obsessive thoughts.
- OCD is untreatable. It can’t be cured, per se, but behavioral therapy has been shown to be incredibly effective at managing the symptoms of OCD. There are also medications that can be used alongside therapeutic treatment.