Rabat – In books, TV shows, and movies, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is often misinterpreted – take, for example, the character of Monica from the famous sitcom “Friends.”
In the sitcom, there is little to no conversation about the disorder, and Monica shows only the typical symptoms of a surface-level OCD. Such representations often create misunderstandings about the real obsessive-compulsive disorder, ultimately affecting the general perception of those with OCD.
This feature will dive into OCD beyond the reductionist definition of a “clean freak” or “perfectionist.”
A deep dive into the character of Monica shows that her obsessiveness and tidiness were her most significant personality traits, following the pressure that her mother puts on her. The show often exaggerates those traits, which may look like typical OCD behavior on the surface, but in reality, are not.
It is important to understand that OCD is not a personality trait, but a clinical disorder that evokes anxiety and distress due to unwanted intrusive thoughts.
OCD is as old as you think
Symptoms of OCD appear from historical records dating back to the 14th century
More specifically, records from the 14th century to the 18th century showed that throughout much of history, one common phenomenon was obsessional fear over religion. .
In the context of Islam, it was reported by Islamic scholar Ibn Abbas that one man approached the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and confided in him that he had thoughts that made him want to “turn to a coal rather than speak of them.”
In the Christian context, an Italian Dominican friar and Archbishop Antoninus of Florence warns against any thoughts that may be “scrupulous” – warning that any thoughts that strayed from piousness were devilish and caused physical illness.
These are historical examples of a the kind of obsessive – and sometimes scary – thoughts that people with OCD endure every day.
What is OCD ?
Psychologist Pierre Janet and psychiatrist Sigmund Freud were perhaps the most influential figures in defining OCD. Janet approached OCD through his own concept of “psychasthenia”: when intrusive thoughts and impulsive actions come from mental fatigue that enables the loss of control over one’s thoughts and behavior.
On the other hand, according to his psychoanalysis studies and practice, Freud believed that OCD was obsessional neurosis, which is rooted in the subconscious. He theorized that intrusive thoughts and obsessive behavior are results of repressed impulses often emerging from our innate aggressive and sexual traits. Essentially, the father of modern psychology proposed that OCD traits serve as a defense mechanism, replacing an even more unacceptable impulse.
Today, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), OCD is defined as “recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.” Additionally, it was clarified by the APA that the obsessions are “individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e. by performing a compulsion).”
According to the APA, compulsions are “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.”
OCD, in summary, is a constant inner fight with the subconscious. It makes you feel stuck in your own mind with unwanted thoughts. OCD often makes the individual suffering from it question: “Why am I having these horrible thoughts, and why isn’t it stopping?”
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is about continuous intrusive thoughts that won’t let you rest until you act on impulse, and for many, it becomes a vicious cycle.
OCD is not particularly about tidiness – which so many people commonly believe – but rather feels like an outer, intrusive voice.
OCD does not care about logic. The intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions often make no sense, even for a person suffering from it. Although the impulses are often irrational, they are very hard to control, which only adds to the frustration.
Individuals suffering from OCD often feel ashamed of thoughts that are not theirs. It is important to remember that instead of immediately trying to get rid of those thoughts, it is better to first understand what triggers them.Intrusive thoughts are described as intrusive for a reason.
To conclude, OCD is not a personality trait, and it goes beyond a simple quirk. It is a persistent mental struggle that requires support and understanding from those around the person suffering from it. People suffering from OCD are often stuck in mental loops that can get dark. Distractions and subtle gestures can go a long way for people struggling with mental health issues like OCD.
