9781422272398

For quite some time, those with OCD were thought to be inflicted with an incurable form of insanity. Now, obsessive-compulsive disorder is not only covered in the DSM , it also has an individual category with associated disorders. Originally, OCD was considered solely an anxiety disorder; now, with further research, it has been proposed that anxiety is a byproduct of its obsessions and compulsions, and OCD should be considered on its own as a separate disorder. As research into the development and causes of obsessive compulsive disorder continues, details about how to recognize and treat it shift accordingly. What Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Isn’t The terms “obsessive-compulsive disorder” and “OCD” appear a great deal in popular culture, although the description is often a watered down version of its destructive reality. Real, diagnosable OCD is neither a cute personality quirk nor a joke. OCD is easily stereotyped, so fictional characters with obsessive-compulsive symptoms tend to stand out. Because the disorder is so easily typecast, OCD is often used as a cheap punchline or misrepresented in the media. It’s no surprise, then, that a makeup brand called Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics briefly took the lip gloss market by storm. Someone might describe themselves as “obsessed with” a vacation destination seen on Instagram, because that sounds more dramatic than simply saying “I’d like to visit there.” Or a friend could say, “I’m so OCD! I just have to see my shoes lined up neatly in the closet!” OCD is not a controllable perfectionist drive, a simple desire to eat all the blue M & Ms first, being a “neat freak,” or even feeling anxiety when personal or professional standards aren’t met. Instead, OCD is a serious medical reality with discernable symptoms and treatment options. Those with obsessive-compulsive disorder might

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What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?