Far from being a behavioural quirk, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a debilitating condition with complex causes that we're just beginning to understand. We should treat it as such, and stop with the misguided quips
We have probably all heard someone say they are “a little bit OCD”, perhaps jokily or as a matter of pride, in reference to their meticulous rearrangement of their bookshelves or habit of spending rather too long cleaning their bathroom.
Most of us have a rough idea of what obsessive-compulsive disorder is, but it tends to be viewed as a behavioural quirk. In fact, this condition – characterised by intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions that you can’t stop – is debilitating for the 1 to 3 per cent of the global population it affects.
In this light, quips about being “a little bit OCD” risk trivialising a condition that can be every bit as serious as schizophrenia orAdvertisement It is true that a degree of obsessiveness and compulsive behaviour is present in all of us. We go back to check that we locked the front door, and we can’t stop our mind wandering to a looming stressful event. In fact, many OCD symptoms seem to represent distortions of useful behaviours. But imagine if the intrusive thoughts and urges to take action didn’t stop? That is what characterises OCD.
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