Obsessed with extreme cleanliness? Get a mental check
OBSESSIVE compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety that occurs in some people whose brain function is not capable of dealing with normal anxieties. As a result, they become obsessed with or are compulsive about certain things.
Do you always clean the door knob before turning it, or scrub the bathroom before a bath? You might be suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, a form of mental illness called. Ahumuza Muhumuza explores the condition
OBSESSIVE compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety that occurs in some people whose brain function is not capable of dealing with normal anxieties. As a result, they become obsessed with or are compulsive about certain things.
A person with this disorder generally exhibits mild to moderate signs that sometimes or frequently interfere with day-to-day activities. An individual with severe obsessive compulsive disorder may exhibit extreme signs that constantly interfere with normal day to day activity.
Obsessions
The type of anxiety that affects people with obsessive compulsive disorder relates to an inability to deal with common worries. Germs, illness, death, unfortunate events, injury and similar worries are normal to an extent.
However, in a person with obsessive compulsive disorder, the brain cannot move past these worries or anxieties and often resorts to uncontrollable compulsions or behaviours that they perform as a way to prevent their anxiety and ward off horrible, often unrelated consequences, for example, counting the number of stairs while climbing, or washing a soda bottle before drinking the content, citing fear for contamination.
It becomes a vicious cycle for people with the disorder, and can severely interfere with daily life. Other obsessions include preoccupation with sexual, religious, or aggressive impulses. In the 19th century, obsessive compulsive disorder was known as “the doubting sicknessâ€.
The pathological doubt that accompanies obsessive compulsive disorder can make it harder for a person with the condition to distinguish normal intrusive thoughts as experienced by most people, causing them to suffer in silence, or feeling so embarrassed or worried that they will be thought crazy.
Compulsions
While there is no known specific cause for the disorder, family history and chemical imbalances in the brain are thought to contribute to the development of the illness.
According to psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Tugumisirize, a person with obsessive compulsive disorder generally exhibits compulsive behaviours such as obsessively washing their hands, counting items, extensive hoarding, repeating a particular phrase over and over again and refusing to touch public door handles or use any item that is not their direct property.
One might check and recheck the locks on the house several times each hour, or feels compelled to perform these actions over and over. Even when one knows these actions are illogical, irrational and serve no purpose, they still cause a lot of anxiety if not completed.
Whatever compulsive behaviour one demonstrates, an individual with obsessive compulsive disorder finds it impossible to stop and will not always know why.
Obsessive thoughts of contracting a serious disease may trigger compulsive hand washing or an irrational fear of falling may result in the tying and re-tying of shoes.
One is generally driven to be compulsive by their thoughts and what might happen if they stopped. Perfection is often an achievement that an obsessive compulsive disorder individual cannot help but try to attain.
In its uncontrolled form, the condition can be monstrous, with the intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and the actions undertaken to relieve anxiety (compulsions) unleashing hell on sufferers’ work and personal lives.
Accordingly, obsessive compulsive disorder is listed by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 10 most disabling illnesses in terms of lost income and reduced quality of life.
You might have the condition to some degree if you find yourself having recurring thoughts or worries playing over and over in your mind. If you find it difficult to complete everyday tasks because your obsessive thoughts are compelling you to perform compulsive behaviours, you might be exhibiting signs of the disorder. Many people with mild obsessive compulsive disorder do not realise it for what it really is.
According to Dr. David Basangwa, the deputy director of Butabika Hospital, people with obsessive compulsive disorder fear to seek treatment because of the obvious stigma that surrounds mental disorders.
He explains that those who turn up at the hospital, come when the condition has become severe which, he explains, like most medical conditions, only makes it harder to treat.
Treatment
Tugumisirize says although it is a chronic condition, one can be helped to cope with specialised treatment; psychological intervention and psychiatric care.
The nature of obsessive compulsive disorder may be delusional, even psychotic (deeply steeped in false beliefs) and this can be treated with behavioural therapy. If you believe you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of the disorder, seek professional help.
Basangwa says early intervention helps to manage mild obsessive compulsive disorder on an outpatient basis with medication and regular therapy.
Famous People with OCD
Howie Mandel
Host of popular show Deal or No Deal is afflicted with absessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Mandel is obsessed with cleanliness. While in the hospital in early 2009, he even refused to put on a hospital gown for fear of germs.
He does not shake hands with anyone, including contestants on Deal or No Deal, unless he is wearing latex gloves. He revealed that his shaved head is not related to natural hair loss, but to his disorder.
The lack of hair makes him feel cleaner. He is also not only afraid of public bathrooms, but he is unable to use any bathroom other than his own.
Natalie Appleton, a Canadian pop singer and actress
Natalie is obsessed with cleaning. She uses toilet roll or tissue to open doors, turn on tapes and flush the toilet.
Alec Baldwin, American actor
He admits that he has OCD. He is always over cleaning things at his home and elsewhere. He says that even when a book is moved, it comes to his notice and an action has to be taken immediately. Even if he is late for a flight or train, he feels like rinsing the glasses and utensils first despite having a house-keeper for doing these jobs.
Donald Trump
The property tycoon has a fear of shaking hands due to germ phobia. He admits having a borderline OCD and being terrified by thought of germs. He even refuses to touch ground floor lift button and also avoids handshakes with people, especially teachers.
Donatella’s story
I am a second year university student. I always find myself handing in my course-work late and arriving late for classes. Though I am extremely brilliant, studies are becoming a burden and stress is killing me. I spend hours before the lecture, not poring through my course-work, but in the bathroom going through intense detailed and exhaustive cleaning and washing.
I wash until I am raw and pale and my skin has peeled. After washing, I can only use a particular towel, of a particular colour. I count my steps, all the way from my hall of residence to the lecture room, and they must end in an even number, otherwise the detailed process would have to be repeated (I pretend I have forgotten a pen or book).
I can only enter the classroom with my right leg because I believe the left would bring bad luck. I cannot touch the toilet seat or door knob for fear of picking infections.
And when I pore over my course work, I do not scrutinise the content, but cross out words which are wrongly spelt. I avoid shaking hands for fear of contracting bacteria. My friends and relatives sometimes think I am just being unreasonable.
I am going through an internal battle. Sometimes I feel like I am trying so hard to stay afloat, struggling not to drown in insanity. Recently, a doctor told me I am struggling with a mental disorder called obsessive compulsive disorder.
OBSESSIVE compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety that occurs in some people whose brain function is not capable of dealing with normal anxieties. As a result, they become obsessed with or are compulsive about certain things.
A person with this disorder generally exhibits mild to moderate signs that sometimes or frequently interfere with day-to-day activities. An individual with severe obsessive compulsive disorder may exhibit extreme signs that constantly interfere with normal day to day activity.
Obsessions
The type of anxiety that affects people with obsessive compulsive disorder relates to an inability to deal with common worries. Germs, illness, death, unfortunate events, injury and similar worries are normal to an extent.
However, in a person with obsessive compulsive disorder, the brain cannot move past these worries or anxieties and often resorts to uncontrollable compulsions or behaviours that they perform as a way to prevent their anxiety and ward off horrible, often unrelated consequences, for example, counting the number of stairs while climbing, or washing a soda bottle before drinking the content, citing fear for contamination.
It becomes a vicious cycle for people with the disorder, and can severely interfere with daily life. Other obsessions include preoccupation with sexual, religious, or aggressive impulses. In the 19th century, obsessive compulsive disorder was known as “the doubting sicknessâ€.
The pathological doubt that accompanies obsessive compulsive disorder can make it harder for a person with the condition to distinguish normal intrusive thoughts as experienced by most people, causing them to suffer in silence, or feeling so embarrassed or worried that they will be thought crazy.
Compulsions
While there is no known specific cause for the disorder, family history and chemical imbalances in the brain are thought to contribute to the development of the illness.
According to psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Tugumisirize, a person with obsessive compulsive disorder generally exhibits compulsive behaviours such as obsessively washing their hands, counting items, extensive hoarding, repeating a particular phrase over and over again and refusing to touch public door handles or use any item that is not their direct property.
One might check and recheck the locks on the house several times each hour, or feels compelled to perform these actions over and over. Even when one knows these actions are illogical, irrational and serve no purpose, they still cause a lot of anxiety if not completed.
Whatever compulsive behaviour one demonstrates, an individual with obsessive compulsive disorder finds it impossible to stop and will not always know why.
Obsessive thoughts of contracting a serious disease may trigger compulsive hand washing or an irrational fear of falling may result in the tying and re-tying of shoes.
One is generally driven to be compulsive by their thoughts and what might happen if they stopped. Perfection is often an achievement that an obsessive compulsive disorder individual cannot help but try to attain.
In its uncontrolled form, the condition can be monstrous, with the intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and the actions undertaken to relieve anxiety (compulsions) unleashing hell on sufferers’ work and personal lives.
Accordingly, obsessive compulsive disorder is listed by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 10 most disabling illnesses in terms of lost income and reduced quality of life.
You might have the condition to some degree if you find yourself having recurring thoughts or worries playing over and over in your mind. If you find it difficult to complete everyday tasks because your obsessive thoughts are compelling you to perform compulsive behaviours, you might be exhibiting signs of the disorder. Many people with mild obsessive compulsive disorder do not realise it for what it really is.
According to Dr. David Basangwa, the deputy director of Butabika Hospital, people with obsessive compulsive disorder fear to seek treatment because of the obvious stigma that surrounds mental disorders.
He explains that those who turn up at the hospital, come when the condition has become severe which, he explains, like most medical conditions, only makes it harder to treat.
Treatment
Tugumisirize says although it is a chronic condition, one can be helped to cope with specialised treatment; psychological intervention and psychiatric care.
The nature of obsessive compulsive disorder may be delusional, even psychotic (deeply steeped in false beliefs) and this can be treated with behavioural therapy. If you believe you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of the disorder, seek professional help.
Basangwa says early intervention helps to manage mild obsessive compulsive disorder on an outpatient basis with medication and regular therapy.
Famous People with OCD
Howie Mandel
Host of popular show Deal or No Deal is afflicted with absessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Mandel is obsessed with cleanliness. While in the hospital in early 2009, he even refused to put on a hospital gown for fear of germs.
He does not shake hands with anyone, including contestants on Deal or No Deal, unless he is wearing latex gloves. He revealed that his shaved head is not related to natural hair loss, but to his disorder.
The lack of hair makes him feel cleaner. He is also not only afraid of public bathrooms, but he is unable to use any bathroom other than his own.
Natalie Appleton, a Canadian pop singer and actress
Natalie is obsessed with cleaning. She uses toilet roll or tissue to open doors, turn on tapes and flush the toilet.
Alec Baldwin, American actor
He admits that he has OCD. He is always over cleaning things at his home and elsewhere. He says that even when a book is moved, it comes to his notice and an action has to be taken immediately. Even if he is late for a flight or train, he feels like rinsing the glasses and utensils first despite having a house-keeper for doing these jobs.
Donald Trump
The property tycoon has a fear of shaking hands due to germ phobia. He admits having a borderline OCD and being terrified by thought of germs. He even refuses to touch ground floor lift button and also avoids handshakes with people, especially teachers.
Donatella’s story
I am a second year university student. I always find myself handing in my course-work late and arriving late for classes. Though I am extremely brilliant, studies are becoming a burden and stress is killing me. I spend hours before the lecture, not poring through my course-work, but in the bathroom going through intense detailed and exhaustive cleaning and washing.
I wash until I am raw and pale and my skin has peeled. After washing, I can only use a particular towel, of a particular colour. I count my steps, all the way from my hall of residence to the lecture room, and they must end in an even number, otherwise the detailed process would have to be repeated (I pretend I have forgotten a pen or book).
I can only enter the classroom with my right leg because I believe the left would bring bad luck. I cannot touch the toilet seat or door knob for fear of picking infections.
And when I pore over my course work, I do not scrutinise the content, but cross out words which are wrongly spelt. I avoid shaking hands for fear of contracting bacteria. My friends and relatives sometimes think I am just being unreasonable.
I am going through an internal battle. Sometimes I feel like I am trying so hard to stay afloat, struggling not to drown in insanity. Recently, a doctor told me I am struggling with a mental disorder called obsessive compulsive disorder.