OCD & Chinatown

One way to explain obsessive-compulsive disorder involves a comparison to the old Roman Polanski film “Chinatown”, starring Jack Nicholson. Nicholson plays a detective investigating a suspicious California land developer (played by the director John Huston). As in many detective thrillers, the closer he gets to the truth, the more chaos ensues. He uncovers an incestuous relationship, innocent characters are murdered, and in the final scene, his friend declares his efforts to make the situation right a lost cause, a tragedy (“It’s Chinatown, Jake”). Thankfully, I don’t view obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as negatively as the “Chinatown” plot. However, there are parallels. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was fifteen. I have survived many obstacles and hurdles that life and OCD have presented me with in order to throw me off the path of recovery. OCD is analogous to the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain in the film of the same name. It is an illusionist. The average time for OCD to be correctly diagnosed in most people with OCD is 10 (yes, 10) years. I was fortunate enough to have a diagnosis early in my life. In the beginning, OCD had the upper hand. It has been called “the great pretender” due to its ability to mimic other disorders such as schizophrenia. I was an overachiever during my teenage years. I was on the honor roll and played three sports without the knowledge of what I was up against and without a complete awareness of what I ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Brain and Behavior Disorders General Industrial and Workplace Mental Health and Wellness Money and Financial OCD Personal Treatment Academic Achievement California Land Chinatown Director John Huston Film Of The Same Name Great Source Type: blogs