{"id":367,"date":"2021-05-04T15:16:04","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T14:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/as\/bahealthandwellbeing\/?p=367"},"modified":"2021-05-04T15:16:04","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T14:16:04","slug":"misconceptions-of-ocd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/as\/bahealthandwellbeing\/2021\/05\/04\/misconceptions-of-ocd\/","title":{"rendered":"Misconceptions of OCD"},"content":{"rendered":"

The issue?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is far more\u00a0<\/span><\/span>complex than<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the media represents it to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>b<\/span><\/span>e. It\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0not merely just a love of cleaning, hand washing,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>repetitively<\/span><\/span>\u00a0clicking<\/span><\/span>\u00a0light switches and being organized.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>It is a serious\u00a0<\/span><\/span>debilitating anxiety disorder which is highly distressing <\/span><\/span>Sadly,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>t is regularly trivialized in the media as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a quirk<\/span><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0useful character trait.<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Every time<\/span><\/span>\u00a0someone makes an OCD joke or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>misrepresents\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the severity of the disorder is<\/span><\/span> being <\/span><\/span>trivialized.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>he lack of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>understanding<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and stigma\u00a0<\/span><\/span>surrounding<\/span><\/span> OCD makes many people<\/span><\/span>\u00a0unaware<\/span><\/span>\u00a0they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are suffering<\/span><\/span> from it <\/span><\/span>as<\/span><\/span> they don\u2019t fit society\u2019s stereotypes of the illness. <\/span><\/span>So,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0it<\/span><\/span>\u00a0takes on average 1<\/span><\/span>0-14\u00a0<\/span><\/span>years for<\/span><\/span>\u00a0someone to be diagnosed with OCD<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and receive the correct treatment.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is OCD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Obsessive compulsive disorder\u00a0<\/span>(commonly<\/span>\u00a0referred to as OCD) is\u00a0<\/span>an<\/span>\u00a0anxiety related condition wh<\/span>ere a<\/span>\u00a0person <\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>experience<\/span>\u00a0obsessions which are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>unwanted\u00a0<\/span>repetitive<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>intrusive thoughts<\/span>, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span> results in the person carrying out compulsions to <\/span>get rid of obsessions or decrease the anxiety surrounding them<\/span>.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Obsessions<\/h3>\n

Most obsessions\u00a0<\/span>usually fall under the following\u00a0<\/span>categories: <\/span><\/p>\n