Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
I think I've been misdiagnosed but I would believe the people on this site b/4 I would believe one psychiatrist (I hope that doesn't sound too bad). Ok, I went to the psychiatrist for my first appt. She asked me so many questions regarding my depression and panic attacks but then she started with a whole new line of questioning. I guess she noticed my hands. I tend to wash them frequently because well.... because of germs I guess. Then she asked me if when I go on vacation or stay at a friends house do I take my own pillow. Doesn't everyone usually take a pillow, their favorite blanket and a clean sheet? She said that "no people don't". I assumed that most people do. She asked me if I constantly check and recheck things, and of course I do because I've left irons on before among other things and I think it's always a good rule of thumb to "just make sure".
I welcome any response to this and appreciate anyone's input.
I welcome any response to this and appreciate anyone's input.
Everyone checks things, some more than others. The problem is everyone does things that are characteristic of OCD. The actual definition of OCD involves repeating these things so much that it significantly interferes your life. If you spend a few minutes per day checking things like the iron, stove, locks, etc. and it doesn't bother you too much, then I would say it is not OCD. To be OCD it must be detrimental to your everyday functioning. So if you check and recheck and recheck and recheck the iron, stove, etc. so much that you end up spending more than an hour per day doing such things and other parts of your life are put on hold because the uncontrollable urge to do these things, then yes you could probably be classified as OCD. Basically, if you didn't even notice that you do these things, they must not affect your life enough to be classified as OCD.
If you can't get to work on time because you had to touch the doorknob until it felt just right or a curse would be put on your kids or something, or you have to set and reset the alarm 12 times and can't actually go to bed until an hour from when you started the rituals, then that's definitely a problem. See, those things for sure interfere with life. Sure you can have "mild OCD" but if it doesn't interfere with your life in any way, I wouldn't even call it that.
Hope this helps.
Yes, that does help. No, I don't feel that being obsessive about checking things is interferring with my life. I do them and it makes me happy to know I'm being thorough. I didn't think it was ocd and I was very surprise my psych did. Thank you again, I feel...like I have once less worry on my mind. I think it was terrible of her to tell someone with a panic disorder that I also have more to worry about.
Goingdown has a good point. It's not just rituals but also obsessive thoughts you have to consider. Those can be quite obtrusive as well even if you don't do many compulsions. I feel like just the thoughts shouldn't necessarilly be diagnosed as OCD because the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder label implies that you do a lot of compulsions too.
Goingdown could be right that what your psych was looking to do is treat the obsessive thoughts like you would treat the obsessions part of OCD. Even if you do have some thoughts you dwell way too much, I don't think this should automaticaly classify you as OCD. One question to ask regarding thoughts is can you control them? Are you consciously dwelling on and purposefully analyzing them or is it like horrific images, your worst fears constantly in your head, that sort of thing?
I think psychologists are always looking for labels. If they find a label, then there's a recipe for treatment right beneath it. Just saying "well you do -this- which is characteristic of -this- and also -this- which is characteristic of -this-..." makes it a lot more difficult to come up with an appropriate treatment. If they can find a disorder, or multiple disorders, they can look in the giant database of information regarding those disorders and choose a tried and tested form of treatment. Otherwise it would be just a stab in the dark guessing what to do.
What I think this means is, diagnosing a person as having a disorder is very useful for the psychologist (and maybe sometimes they can be too eager to find a disorder). For the person being diagnosed, it's a horrifying label that implies impending doom.
So follow Goingdown's advice and ask your psychologist what it is that makes him/her diagnose you as OCD. Are you the epitome of the disorder or do you just do some things that can be treated like OCD would be treated?
And keep in mind, a diagnosis is just a guide for a psychologist to follow. It doesn't indicate anything about who you are. And a diagnosis should never be stressful. It's not another problem. It's one step towards a solution.
...ok that's my personal opinion summed up in a lot of tangents. Ignore my rambling if it doesn't make sense.
Thanks for the compliment, myjesus. I actually am applying for a Masters of Counseling Psych program. Not looking to do clinical psychiatry though. You still made my day. lol.
Anyway, like I said, keep an eye on those behaviors and always be honest with your psych. Best wishes!
There are some very helpful replies here.