Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: No Laughing Matter

Mrs. Bree Hodge in the TV series Desperate Housewives is considered the obsessive-compulsive type. She always rearranges matters rigidly. She has keen attention to details. She doesn't stop scrubbing the floor until she gets rid of the stubborn stain in the darkest corner of the kitchen. If you think that's a little extreme, wait until you hear the real anxiety disorder that her character is based on.

The term “obsessive-compulsive” has become a phrase we often hear everyday. It is used to describe a person who is very meticulous like Mrs. Bree Hodge. However, it should not be confused with the real obsessive-compulsive disorder. The real illness is far more extreme and more alarming.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric anxiety disorder. People with OCD have persistent, distressing thoughts called obsessions. In an attempt to neutralize and control these upsetting thoughts, they use rituals called compulsions. Often, these rituals or compulsions end up controlling them instead. For example, if you are obsessed with germs, you may develop a compulsion to wash your hands excessively every time. If you are obsessed with fire, you may check the stove over and over again. If you are obsessed with burglars, you may lock and relock your doors repeatedly. You may even wake up in the middle of the night to check your locks again. Other obsessive thoughts include thinking about things that are forbidden by the person's religion, frequently thinking about performing sexual acts that the person dislikes or is disgusted with or having persistent thoughts of violence or harming someone dear to the person. All these have their own compulsions.

These rituals or compulsions become barriers to living a normal life. For instance, repeatedly checking the stove and other electric appliances because your are obsessed with fire can divide your attention and prevent you from doing your job properly. A germ-obsessed girl may find herself spending too much time in the bathroom washing her hands that her studies suffer.

OCD affects more than 2 million American adults. What is worse is that OCD is sometimes accompanied by other anxiety disorders like depression and eating disorders. It affects men and women in almost equal numbers. OCD usually begins to manifest in early adulthood, adolescence,or even childhood. Research also shows that OCD might be hereditary.

Although on television, we love to laugh at Bree's obsessive-compulsive antics, the real psychiatric disorder is no laughing matter. If you think you have or you know someone who suffers from OCD, it is best to seek psychiatric attention.