“So OCD” - The Cost of Casual Misuse

Whether I’m catching up with a friend, watching Netflix, scrolling on social media, or even going about my work day, I am continually struck by pop culture’s casual reference to obsessive-compulsive disorder. You may have heard it sound something like this: 

“I can’t stand when my desk is unorganized, I’m so OCD!”

“I have to make sure the door is locked. OCD problems!”

“I’m pretty OCD about making sure the frames are straight.”

To clarify, preferences for neatness, organization, or symmetry are not in themselves indicators of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is a common misconception because OCD tends to be presented as swinging on a pendulum from quirky personality traits to exaggerated issues of preference. While usually harmless in intent, these flippant references have contributed to poor representation and a grave misunderstanding about the experience of OCD. What pop culture so often gets wrong is that it’s not preference, but fear that drives compulsions.  

Examples of this could look like: circling back to the stop light 11 times to prove to yourself you didn’t run over anybody, saying (or thinking) your prayer over and over until you feel convinced it will protect you or a loved one from dying, tying your shoe laces or clicking off the lights until it “feels right” before you leave the house to ensure you won’t fail the exam, washing your hands so repetitively you’re running late or they’re cracked with dryness to prevent illness, or continually confessing all your unpleasant thoughts for fear if you did not then a person you’re upset with would be harmed. 

* This is not a comprehensive list of themes somebody with OCD might experience. 

OCD gravitates toward your deepest values and fears, targeting what matters most to you. Intrusive thoughts are so disturbing because they tend to clash harshly with morality, personal identity, and core beliefs. Obsessive-compulsive disorder exploits these sensitivities which results in a distressing cycle of doubt, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors aimed at gaining certainty or relief. 

One could imagine how this could impact your ability to work or learn, disrupt your relationships, contribute to isolation, and ultimately lead to immense suffering. The gravity of these experiences is trivialized by the casual misuse of the term “OCD.” The cost of this is a steep price: perpetuating misunderstanding, increasing stigma, and ultimately limiting or delaying one’s access to treatment. For a person with OCD, this minimization can contribute to the narrative that you should just be able to get over it, you’re not trying hard enough, or even that you’re choosing to continue experiencing your symptoms. The truth is, OCD is a serious mental health condition which is most effectively treated with a combination of mental health counseling and medication. It’s important to clarify that the presence of these symptoms is an indicator of a mental health disorder and does not speak to one’s character or define their personhood.

Pursuing the right support often starts with recognizing these anxious patterns as obsessions and compulsions, which is only possible when there is an adequate understanding of how OCD shows up differently for different people. Even when the components of obsessions and compulsions are understood, there seems to be a generalized limit which includes only themes of cleanliness and order. Exploring beyond pop culture’s limiting portrayal by understanding less commonly referenced OCD themes can possibly help you recognize your own symptoms of OCD or direct a loved one to the best support. For this reason, I’ve included a quick reference to information regarding obsessions, compulsions, and common OCD themes at the bottom of this post in hopes of helping those outside the mental health field to discern between traditional anxiety and symptoms of OCD. 

If this sounds like you or a loved one, I want to offer hope by sharing that with the right treatment, it’s more than possible to learn to manage your OCD and live a confident, capable life. I encourage you to reach out to myself or another therapist here at Zimmerman Therapy Group for assessment and treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. 

Thank you for the opportunity to connect with you,

Delane McGuire, LMFT 153929

Obsessions  unwanted or intrusive thoughts, images or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress which often results in suppressing or neutralizing them with some other thought or action  typically persistent, difficult to dismiss, and often irrational  It’s common to recognize that the obsession doesn’t make sense, but still experience intense anxiety and engage in compulsions to try to neutralize or escape this distress

Compulsions repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the individual feels driven to per­form in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly  aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing some dreaded outcome are either excessive or not connected in a realistic way with what they are intending to neutralize often time consuming or very distressing

Other common themes of obsessive-compulsive disorder include but are not limited to:  Checking (i.e. locks, appliances, frequently texting somebody to ensure safety) Contamination (i.e. fear of chemicals, vomiting, germs, illness) Order & Symmetry (i.e. evenness, compatibility, or needing things to feel “just right”)  Harm (i.e. fear of accidentally or deliberately hurting someone even though you don’t want to - even questioning if these thoughts could mean that you do want to)  Sexual or violent intrusive thoughts (i.e. distressing images or urges)  Religious or moral scrupulosity (i.e. fear of sinning or being immoral, questioning if you are a bad person, fear of damnation or possession, frequently repeated prayers)