You all know that there are many different myths and stigmas that surround mental health. I believe it is just because most people do not or can not understand the reality of what dealing with mental health actual means. Our path is definitely a foreign one that can be hard for others to understand. Even trying to explain it to one another can be confusing.
Mental illness is really a huge and diverse area in the health sector. From all the different disorders and then their intricate way they interact with each person's life.
Our Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is such a case. We all know and can understand the cycle we are stuck doing that limits our lives. Yet, within this huge disorder, there are so many different components that can change from person to person. We have already mentioned that people will have a different obsession that can be driven by what we find important in our lives. Another thing that makes each of our cases different is our reaction to the fear and anxiety our obsessions brings. We each have our own compulsions that we deal with. The range and diversity are truly beyond description. Many try to organize our obsessions and compulsions into categories yet ever I still find myself dealing with OCD driven behaviours that fall outside of these categories.
Obsessions:
- Contamination
- Harm
- Superstitious
- Religious
- Losing Control
- Unwanted Sexual Thoughts
These are just some of the common obsessions that are documented as causing a person with OCD to becoming consumed by the accompanying thoughts and feeling of distress. The thing is, though, that while a lot of our obsession do tend to fall with these categories, we also are apart of life and there are many things out there that can cause us to feel distressed and have the need to stress over.
I myself have an obsession with my music. I used to love to play the trumpet and piano but now a can do neither. I at first thought that is had to be because they were just too contaminated, seeing as that was my main obsession I was being treated for. But it never sat right with me. I would look at my piano and just know I wasn't allowed to play it. Maybe it was some sort of superstitious obsession, but again that did not feel right. I am only now realizing that my obsession with my music had to do with failing and not being good enough. This was not on the sheet and test I filled out when being diagnosed. An obsession linked to failure. Definitely not one that you see in the categories when researching OCD. Yet, that is my obsession for the thoughts I have about playing again involve a lot of doubt and intrusive thoughts on not being good enough, no matter what.
So you may have obsessions that you can't find the root cause because while research has been done, every OCD case is different. Most times, when looking for the information you will only find the 'common' reality of what it is to have OCD. Yet, life includes more the main six obsessions. Life is everywhere and everything. Meaning obsessions and the following compulsions can truly be anything you face in your life.
Therefore, it makes sense to me that many myths and stigmas have formed around our mental health disorder - OCD. How could it not, when even we have trouble figuring it out.
A very common stigma is actually about obsessing. People love to state how they are obsessed with something or other. Being 'obsessed' is so commonly used when people find things they love or want or hobbies. I am so obsessed with this new show...I am so obsessed lately with baking...I am so obsessing over that new song. It might not seem to be much of a stigma or harmful to us because I used to use that word many times too. But knowing know what it truly means to become obsessed with something that is causing distress and intrusive, all-consuming thoughts. Well, know hearing others who don't understand the impact it has on us who suffer from OCD makes me realize their use of that term invalidates our daily struggle. Yes, they may love something or need something they do obsess over it. But do they get anxious? Do they get stuck? Do they have to do compulsions in order to achieve or relieve themselves of said obsession?
The answer to that is no.
The stigmas surrounding our mental health disorder our many and also so very commonly used. People state that they are so OCD when performing a task. Or that they can't handle something due to being so OCD.
People mock their friends who may just be organized for being OCD.
Family members laugh and joke about an aunt or cousin who is a perfectionist and loves to keep things clean as being so OCD.
And since people use the term OCD in such a light and joking matter, it causes the stigma for those who suffer from this disorder to feel ashamed and invalidated for their struggle. As if it should be something that is easy to conquer and yet is actually quite debilitating.
That may be the reason many of us hide away our strange behaviour and anxious thoughts because we believe in the norm society has made around mental health. Nobody can see into our brains so whats the problem. Nobody knows of the battle we have to stage in order to get through the day, so again whats the problem. We do not have wounds that are seen or disease that can be diagnosed with blood tests, X-rays, or CT scans. The only way we can be discovered as being sick is by speaking up about what we are going through.
And that in itself is hard, thanks to the myths and stigmas that have accumulated around mental health. We have to be stronger and braver than all the words thrown around. The stares and disbelieving people who want us to not speak of it.
But if we can silently fight this sickness by ourselves, then we truly are strong enough to talk about it. Maybe its only to people you know who are also fighting the same battle you are or to a family member that has always been one to take up arms to join your fights. Either or, speaking up and allowing yourself to become a bit vulnerable is the only way we will be able to bring about change.
Telling our stories will bring an end to the myths and stigmas as true facts on our disorder replace them. Awareness and acceptance will also be gained as more of us join together and tell the truth about what we go through. You all know that right now we can only be hopeful that we will be able to manage our mental health so that we can be apart of life. While this is true and yet, the treatment options are only as good as the understanding of the sickness. Change can be won by our bravery to talk about our struggles and experiences. It can also help for us to accept the challenges we will face in our life. Because acceptance will first come from accepting yourself before others learn as well.
Here's my question to you all - what stigmas or myths have you faced when dealing with your OCD?
Send your answers via email or as a post here. We'd also love to hear your stories! We want to hear from you all. Let us know what you want to talk about or learn about. Questions you may have or treatment options that may have helped. Please feel free to send them in. Use our contact form, and you can also respond to each post. If you are not ready to have your name linked to our discussion, there is an anonymous option for both email and comments. But either way, this blog is a safe place for all of us and there is still more to come!
