Mental health conditions can wreak havoc on your quality of life, especially if they compel you to think or act in a certain way. Obsessive compulsive disorder, for example, can be extremely hard to live with because it’s difficult to control and often hard to define. You can choose to be happy though, even if you’re struggling.
What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a type of mental health condition that causes people to obsess about certain aspects of their lives, even to the point of self-harm and/or social hindrance. It breeds unreasonable and illogical compulsions, often leading to repetitive behaviors and a preoccupation with seemingly mundane details.
In most cases, people with OCD tend to focus their attention on various things based on a defined theme. For example, some may have an unnatural fear of germs or dirt, thus compelling them to clean or disinfect all the time. Meanwhile, others may be fixated on arranging and rearranging objects in their environment to suit a specific need.
The symptoms of obsessive compulsion can begin at any time and at any age. It may also develop for a wide variety of reasons, including trauma, abuse, or the inability to properly process either one. Unfortunately, OCD can last a lifetime even if it’s treated by a therapist. Therefore, it’s important to learn how live with it.
5 ways obsessive compulsive disorder affects everyday life
Learning how to enjoy yourself regardless of an OCD diagnosis means understanding how it affects your everyday life. Obsession and compulsion can manifest is several different ways, with some of those ways being misconstrued as something else. For instance, hoarding is a type of OCD but it’s commonly attributed to apathy instead of obsession.
In fact, here are some other types of OCD manifestations that you may not have considered:
1. Checking on things incessantly – You can’t seem to let anything go without knowing all the details and confirming it all.
2. Cleaning all the time – You have trouble making, seeing, or leaving messes, even those that aren’t necessarily chaotic.
3. Fear of mental contamination – You feel dirty inside when someone treats you unfairly, causing you to obsess about fixing the problem.
4. Constant ruminations – You can’t stop thinking about something once you put your mind on it, even if it distracts you from other things.
5. Need for order and symmetry – You become uneasy in environments or around arrangements that aren’t perfectly symmetrical or orderly.
Do any of those scenarios describe you or someone you love? Did you know that obsessive compulsive disorder has many unique subtypes, including some that involve intrusive thoughts about unpleasant or inappropriate things? Alternatively, body-focused obsessions (sensorimotor OCD) consist of habitual muscle movements or spasms for the purposes of achieving a specific sensation.
FACT: Your obsessive-compulsive thoughts can be completely unwarranted or extremely disturbing even if you try to control them.
Tips for living with obsessive compulsive disorder
Suspecting or being diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder doesn’t have to ruin your life. It may require you to make some minor changes in your lifestyle, but it can be managed with the right approach.
#1. Recognize the triggers.
OCD and its subsequent behaviors can be tipped off for a variety of reasons, so take the time to know yourself a little bit better. Find out what makes you tick and then either avoid it or prevent it.
#2. Consider the expectations.
You may have standards that are far too high for even you to achieve. That means being more realistic about how your surroundings should look or feel. You can’t be in control of everything all the time.
#3. Avoid unnecessary comparisons.
Your habit of comparing your current situation with something or someone else is unhealthy and counterproductive. Remember that you’re a unique and independent human being.
#4. Notice the small improvements.
Try to give credit where credit is due, especially when it’s to yourself. Small improvements mean quite a bit when compared to doing nothing at all. You’re more capable than you think you are.
#5. Create a supportive environment.
Surrounding yourself with people who understand your condition and help you cope with the compulsions is crucial. So, try to make friends with likeminded people who respect you.
Living with obsessive or compulsive thoughts or behaviors may take a while to get used to. It may also require therapy to cope. So, for more help managing OCD or its many symptoms, book an appointment with a licensed mental health counselor as soon as you can.
The takeaway
Obsessive compulsive disorder affects millions of people worldwide, but those people are able to live happy, healthy, and peaceful lives by practicing helpful mantras and using effective coping mechanisms.
Photocredit : iStockphoto.com