Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Stigma

It’s completely normal for someone to have a minor obsession or compulsion with something. We all worry about whether we’ve turned off the coffee pot before the morning commute or maybe we “obsess” over the cleanliness of our home. However, these types of things are not usually equated with nothing more than typical anxiety, but for some people these issues cause interference with everyday life.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

People with obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, usually suffer from both an obsession and compulsion. Obsessions are things that bring about unwanted or bothersome thoughts and ideas. Compulsions are repetitive activities that a person feels they must do and usually it will put one in a state of panic, stress and anxiety.

It’s believes that around 1- 2 percent of the population in America have OCD, and it is severe enough to be disruptive to someone’s life. This disorder can affect people from any age group and all different backgrounds.

OCD & Stigma

It’s not surprising that OCD comes with its own stereotypes and stigma. People with mental health issues report that stigma and discrimination are very common and it can make it very difficult for them to seek treatment. People with mental health issues can shy away from opening up to another person for fear of being judged or ridiculed.

Moreover, mental illness can result in someone losing friends, becoming isolated and withdrawn.
Sadly, many people do not consider OCD to be a genuine mental health issue and many will make light of the condition. The high level of stigma that accompanies conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder could be due to a lack of understanding or because of many other reasons. If the public is ever to accept OCD as a valid mental health condition, it is going to require raising awareness and educating others.

Time to Change the Face of OCD

We’ve all probably told someone “You are so OCD!” or maybe we’ve heard it said to us. Hearing someone throw that phrase around so liberally is a deliberate attempt to lighten the seriousness of obsessive compulsive disorder and it isn’t funny.

The struggle men and woman have with OCD is very real and genuine. This disorder is more than just a quirky personality trait or someone’s obsession with locking doors, checking a coffee pot or cleaning their home until it’s like a museum. It’s much deeper than what most people realize and until society realizes this fact, the stigma will remain.

In order to remove the stigma associated with obsessive compulsive disorder, it starts with people realizing this can happen to them. If you look to your left, then to your right, behind you and in front of you—one of the people you just saw has probably been diagnosed with some sort of mental illness.

It’s important to realize the numbers, because mental health disorders affect literally millions of people. If anything regarding mental illness is ever to change, it’s vital to think about it this way-just because someone might have OCD does not make it okay to tease them or minimize the situation. This is a very real disorder and as such, needs to be treated with the same consideration and seriousness as any other type of illness or health condition.