obsessed. but not with life.

obsessed. but not with life.

dealing and living with obsessive compulsive

disorder

dealing and living with obsessive compulsive

disorder

what is ocd…what is ocd…

obsessive compulsive disorder is what it stands for

anxiety disorder “traps people in endless

cycles of repetitive thoughts and actions”

need to adhere to certain routines

feels need to be “perfect”

obsessive compulsive disorder is what it stands for

anxiety disorder “traps people in endless

cycles of repetitive thoughts and actions”

need to adhere to certain routines

feels need to be “perfect”

symptoms..symptoms..

fear of dirt or contamination fear of making small

mistakes need for order, symmetry,

and exactness or being a perfectionist

excessive doubt and need for reassurance

fear of evil thinking and being impure

fear of dirt or contamination fear of making small

mistakes need for order, symmetry,

and exactness or being a perfectionist

excessive doubt and need for reassurance

fear of evil thinking and being impure

how do you get it…how do you get it…

runs mostly in families however connection unknown in

families passing down the gene there may be a potential connection

between immune system and ocd for example may be intensified after minor

illness

runs mostly in families however connection unknown in

families passing down the gene there may be a potential connection

between immune system and ocd for example may be intensified after minor

illness

categories of ocd…categories of ocd… washer: afraid of contamination

and constant washing hands and cleaning

checkers: constantly check things associated with danger or harm

doubters: afraid of imperfections arrangers: obsessed with order hoarders: feel as though they will

be punished if they throw unnecessary items away

washer: afraid of contamination and constant washing hands and cleaning

checkers: constantly check things associated with danger or harm

doubters: afraid of imperfections arrangers: obsessed with order hoarders: feel as though they will

be punished if they throw unnecessary items away

science behind it… science behind it…

problem in way the mind handles messages associated with fear and doubt

flows of brain receptors to nerve cells is blocked

problem in way the mind handles messages associated with fear and doubt

flows of brain receptors to nerve cells is blocked

treatment…treatment…

self-help medication cognitive-behavioral

therapy exposure and response

prevention cognitive therapy

self-help medication cognitive-behavioral

therapy exposure and response

prevention cognitive therapy

common compulsions…common compulsions…

collecting and hoarding items with little value

eating foods in specific orders refusing to touch commonly publicly

touched items; countertop, register, etc. counting to a certain number over and

over color coordinating items and organizing

excessively

collecting and hoarding items with little value

eating foods in specific orders refusing to touch commonly publicly

touched items; countertop, register, etc. counting to a certain number over and

over color coordinating items and organizing

excessively

facts…facts…

one out of fifty people may have ocd

one out of two hundred teens and children have it

many people will live their entire lives without being diagnosed with the ailment

one out of fifty people may have ocd

one out of two hundred teens and children have it

many people will live their entire lives without being diagnosed with the ailment

how it makes me feel different…

how it makes me feel different…

makes me feel alone and isolated from those around me

makes me feel paranoid that people are judging me constantly

makes me feel as though people do not want to get to know me and that i am different from them

makes me feel alone and isolated from those around me

makes me feel paranoid that people are judging me constantly

makes me feel as though people do not want to get to know me and that i am different from them

how it affects me… how it affects me…

causes me to feel antsy and uneasy causes me to have unnecessary fights

with my friends and family because i feel as though they will never fully understand what i am going through

it takes me an excessive amount of time to do everything because i feel the constant need and pressure of perfection

causes me to feel antsy and uneasy causes me to have unnecessary fights

with my friends and family because i feel as though they will never fully understand what i am going through

it takes me an excessive amount of time to do everything because i feel the constant need and pressure of perfection

who do i talk to about it… who do i talk to about it…

i met one of my best friends while in therapy and i am able to release my problems to her and have her relate to what i am feeling

i also am able to talk to my therapist about it and how it affects me and my daily routine

i met one of my best friends while in therapy and i am able to release my problems to her and have her relate to what i am feeling

i also am able to talk to my therapist about it and how it affects me and my daily routine

when did i find out… when did i find out…

i found out i suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder when i was years old in my third year of college

strep throat was going around campus and i unfortunately became sick

after being treated for the illness i became increasingly obsessive and panic when certain situations arose

i found out i suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder when i was years old in my third year of college

strep throat was going around campus and i unfortunately became sick

after being treated for the illness i became increasingly obsessive and panic when certain situations arose

my compulsions… my compulsions…

everything needs to be in first color order, followed by categorical, and followed by alphabetical if allowed

everything needs to have a label on it and have a specific place where it is meant to be located

things need to be planned and strictly kept to that time

everything needs to be in first color order, followed by categorical, and followed by alphabetical if allowed

everything needs to have a label on it and have a specific place where it is meant to be located

things need to be planned and strictly kept to that time

my compulsions continued…

my compulsions continued…

paranoia that people break into my house causing me to check the closets constantly

distant from family because of fear of hurting them or causing embarrassment

need to have things done prior to when they are actually needed

paranoia that people break into my house causing me to check the closets constantly

distant from family because of fear of hurting them or causing embarrassment

need to have things done prior to when they are actually needed

how my life is set up… how my life is set up…

i live my life on a routine and when something is altered i feel the need to know at LEAST two weeks prior

everything is in a specific order and i never am able to do things spur of the moment

i set up everything the night before work in order to have no problems awaiting me in the day time

i live my life on a routine and when something is altered i feel the need to know at LEAST two weeks prior

everything is in a specific order and i never am able to do things spur of the moment

i set up everything the night before work in order to have no problems awaiting me in the day time

how i get through the day…

how i get through the day…

i take each step and little problem at a time and try to stay relaxed

i keep things in order as they should be for example when cooking i clean up as i go along in order to make sure things do not become messed up

i call my therapist if i am feeling uneasy or i expect to be anxiety that day

i take each step and little problem at a time and try to stay relaxed

i keep things in order as they should be for example when cooking i clean up as i go along in order to make sure things do not become messed up

i call my therapist if i am feeling uneasy or i expect to be anxiety that day

how people around me deal with it…

how people around me deal with it…

i have a private office in order to not disturb those around me

my family makes a conscious effort to keep things in the specific order that i need them to be kept

my boyfriend keeps complaining to a minimum and color coordinates his closet when he expects me to come over

i have a private office in order to not disturb those around me

my family makes a conscious effort to keep things in the specific order that i need them to be kept

my boyfriend keeps complaining to a minimum and color coordinates his closet when he expects me to come over

how i treat it… how i treat it…

i go to therapy where my fears and compulsions are presented to me in a controlled setting where i am required to find a self-help outlet to let out my anxiety

i take daily medication in order to sedate my compulsions

i also take yoga to calm my nerves and make me more patient

i go to therapy where my fears and compulsions are presented to me in a controlled setting where i am required to find a self-help outlet to let out my anxiety

i take daily medication in order to sedate my compulsions

i also take yoga to calm my nerves and make me more patient

disclaimer…disclaimer…

This is a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher Chris Jocham: jocham@fultonschools.org 

This is a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher Chris Jocham: jocham@fultonschools.org