OCD is Messy

Since 2008 I have had the privilege of getting to know many people who deal with obsessive-compulsive disorder. We’ve connected through face-to-face meetings, email exchanges, telephone calls, and social media. In each of these conversations, one thing always stands out to me. Each person’s story is unique and OCD always seems to be confusing, complicated and unpredictable. I know a fair amount about OCD. My son has the disorder and I know firsthand how it can affect the entire family. I’ve seen how OCD can devastate lives. I’ve written posts on everything from symptoms and treatment to enabling and recovery avoidance. But I don’t have OCD, and while I can pick one aspect of the disorder to focus on, discuss, and wrap up neatly with a bow, I never truly convey the scope of this illness. My posts are neat, and OCD is messy. Writing about obsessive-compulsive disorder is so much easier than living with it. Many people with OCD also suffer from depression, GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), and panic disorder, to name a few common comorbid conditions. Of course, each of these illnesses has its own definition and list of symptoms and this classification is important and necessary for diagnosis and proper treatment. But again, reading and writing about them conveys a sense of neatness and order. Patient number one has OCD, GAD and depression. Patient number two has OCD, panic disorder, and social phobia. A lineup of illnesses. Symptoms and the illnesses are ...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Anxiety Caregivers Children and Teens Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Parenting Personal Stories Anxiety Disorders Fear Generalized Anxiety Disorder Panic Disorder Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Social Anxiety Disorder Source Type: news