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True OCD is More Than a Compulsion for Neatness

I'm sure you've heard these statements:

  • He's so OCD.
  • Quit being so OCD.
  • This is just my OCD coming out.

The term OCD has become common in our society. Stigma turned OCD into an adjective that we frequently use to describe someone who likes things a certain way. However, OCD, short for obsessive-compulsive disorder, is much more than a compulsion for neatness.

It's often recognized that obsessive-compulsive disorder involves repetitive actions.
If you're familiar with television's, The Big Bang Theory, perhaps you might be thinking of Sheldon and the way he repetitively knocks on Penny's door. Does Sheldon thus have OCD? It doesn't seem as though he has the other necessary features of the disorder to warrant a diagnosis of OCD.

Do I Have OCD?

The term OCD is so prevalent in our society that many people wonder if they live with it.  What's the difference between anxiety, driven behavior and true OCD?So prevalent is the term OCD in our society that many people question whether they have it. Someone once came to me concerned that she had obsessive-compulsive disorder because she checked all the door locks multiple times before bed each night. Upon exploring things together, it was relatively easy to conclude that she did not, in fact, actually have OCD.

In this short video, I examine OCD as it compares to anxiety. If you are wondering if you might be experiencing this anxiety disorder, you can explore your symptoms in this online OCD test.

APA Reference
Peterson, T. (2013, December 22). True OCD is More Than a Compulsion for Neatness, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2013/12/true-ocd-is-more-than-a-compulsion-for-neatness



Author: Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC, DAIS

Tanya J. Peterson is the author of numerous anxiety self-help books, including The Morning Magic 5-Minute Journal, The Mindful Path Through Anxiety, 101 Ways to Help Stop Anxiety, The 5-Minute Anxiety Relief Journal, The Mindfulness Journal for Anxiety, The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety, and Break Free: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in 3 steps. She has also written five critically acclaimed, award-winning novels about life with mental health challenges. She delivers workshops for all ages and provides online and in-person mental health education for youth. She has shared information about creating a quality life on podcasts, summits, print and online interviews and articles, and at speaking events. Tanya is a Diplomate of the American Institution of Stress helping to educate others about stress and provide useful tools for handling it well in order to live a healthy and vibrant life. Find her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

True OCD is More Than a Compulsion for Neatness | iLoveMyBrain
December, 23 2013 at 3:13 am

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