Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - A friends experience.

[Celtaur]

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation on the phone with a long time friend of mine. Her computer is not working and gave me permission to write about her experience here.

She's currently having a bout of depression and taking medication for it, but our conversation was funny, we laughed and had a good time as we talked about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder rather than getting overly serious about the situation.

She didn't know that's what her behaviour was labelled as, she just started telling me about the things she's been doing lately and asked me if I thought it was crazy or what. I came to the conclusion that yes, this is definitely OCD.

She's was walking down the road the other day and decided to pick up a rock and carry it along with her. When she went quite a distance down the road she felt the urge (compulsion) to go all the way back to where the stone was and find the other stone it was beside that she had kicked away. Once she found it she put them both together again, as they were before she picked one up. She felt relieved, as she said it was driving her nuts that they weren't together.

The next occurance she told me about was when she was at a convenience store with her sister and she saw a lighter at the counter that was blue, but didn't have a pair so she had to open up the box the other lighters were in and put it beside another blue one.

Then she told me about a tree that had lost all it's leaves except one. All the other leaves were down around the bottom of the tree, and she felt bad for the leaf that was alone. She said she spent about an hour trying to get that leaf down by doing such things as shaking the tree and throwing rocks towards the leaf to break it off.

So yes, this is most assuredly showing signs of OCD.

As we talked, laughed and had a great conversation I started putting the pieces together for her, maybe showing her a possibility of why this is manifesting in her actions. I asked if she thought that her subconscious mind could possibly be telling her a bit about "Aloneness" that she doesn't want to be alone, that's why she's obsessed with groups, things needing to be together.

I also told her a bit about Animism, that maybe on a spiritual level she's showing compassion for things that are seemingly inanimate because on a deeper level she's is connecting with the world on a level where she feels that these inanimate things may have a consciousness of their own.


She's a single mother. She said she loves to be alone. I then suggested maybe she does enjoy having alone time, but by choice, and at certain times, but not all the time.

We went on to talk about other cases of OCD that have gained attention in the media in the past.

We discussed the matter further and came to a possible explanation combining the elements of her desire to not be alone, and her compassion for others. Then she admitted that she seems to care more about the inanimate objects than she does for people. Possibly it could also have something to do with her need for control and balance in her life that her unconscious is expressing. With other people, she's been either hurt by in the past, or had experiences that weigh heavy on her mind, while objects have done nothing to her other than just be present, and with that she likely feels she has some sense of ability to control.

We'll likely talk more about this in the future, but didn't come to any authentic conclusions other than her looking into a possible deeper reason as to why she is presenting with OCD.

I think it's important to look deeper, at the root, to dig up the possible causes of behaviour and look at things from a spiritual perspective to become more of a balanced, whole person. Sometimes it takes a lot of work, so hopefully the next time we talk she has come up with some answers as she reflects on the issue.

[TheJedi]

I've had OCD for many years, my particular label is "a counter," and none of those sound like any of the classic symptoms I am familiar with. If it is OCD, it's a very mild case, to be sure. OCD is typically very life-invasive, meaning that the ritual or set of rituals one performs take up a lot of time, usually being performed several times a day, each and every day. The rituals have no particular meaning to the person, other than the extreme need to actually perform them in a particular fashion until it "feels right." It's very hard to explain to someone that doesn't have it, and usually the person is quite aware that these rituals have no actual affect on the "real" world," but it's simply a feeling that one can't shake until you actually perform the ritual and get it "just right."

Actually, I have number of mental disorders, but with proper medication and diet most are virtually non-existent now. I am also diagnosed with Bi-polar Disorder - Manic Excessive, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Tourette's Synrome.

BTW, I'm not a bit embarrassed or ashamed about my these diagnoses, in fact I'm quite open about them to people, so if anyone wants to ask questions, please feel to do so.

[StarFairy]

Hi
I have some symptoms of OCD, but my problem is Post traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia (fear of people), generalized anxiety disorder, and Lupus. These conditions affect my everyday life, and are sort of controlled by medication. However, I found meditation to be the most useful.

I started out by doing an experiment, I used guided imagery and now I feel alot lighter and more relaxed. I also keep a spiritual journal where I put my little nuggets of wisdom in. Some buddhism, hinduism, wiccan, and earth based religions. It is making me feel stronger inside. I am more sure of myself. This has worked for me....I am going through effexor withdrawals and even then, I kept meditating and learning and I am well. I believe I will only need a small dose from now on. So my experiment worked so well that I am making life changes to go with my spiritual life.

Namaste
StarFairy