DEAR DR. GOTT: I belonged to a little writing group for a couple of years. The leader was an elderly lady who motivated us all to write our memoirs. She had written a couple of books herself.
I loved her dearly but one day when I was having lunch at her home, I noticed that a book lying on a table had some of the pages up in the air, so I suddenly got up to fix it. “You are obsessive-compulsive”, she said knowingly. It was a shock to me. Perhaps she is right but I never thought of it before.
What do you think is at play here? She also told me that I had a big ego. In the past she told me that she loved me so her criticism was hard to take.
Can she be right? Where would I find information on the subject? Are there various types of obsessions? I am not keen on taking medications. However, I will say that I am a widow and very often I feel depressed since I tend to be a loner. I do find that “doing my own thing” and not having to report to anyone else is very satisfying for me.
I love to write and am thinking of going back to my memoir and continuing it where I left off. I welcome anything you may offer. Thank you very much.
DEAR READER: Without knowing more about your behavior and any compulsions you may have, I cannot say whether or not you have obsessive compulsive behavior. Everyone has something that drives them a little nutty from time to time. For example, there is the (perhaps not) age old battle of over or under when it comes to toilet paper and paper towels. I know many people who, if they see it one way but prefer it the other, will swap the paper around, regardless of where they may be or if it is appropriate. Some people can’t stand a crooked shirt collar, leaving books open, or a host of other things. This doesn’t mean you have OCD, simply a strong pet peeve. When the obsessions and compulsions interfere with normal life, prevent normal interactions, and decrease quality of life, there may be a problem.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is relatively common and can often begin during childhood or teen years with the average age if diagnosis being about 19. Upbringing or parenting styles do not appear to be a causative factor in OCD. This is an anxiety/behavior disorder. Diagnosis can only be made by a psychiatrist or trained therapist who will determine if a person has obsessions and compulsions. If so, medication and counseling is available.
Complications associated with OCD include depression, anxiety, the excessive use of alcohol or drugs, suicidal thoughts, troubled relationships, and a great deal more.
Symptoms can wax and wane and be better or worse at different times and under different circumstances. Individuals with OCD commonly perform procedures or rituals over and over again, such as locking and unlocking doors, counting items and washing hands. Those rituals appear to take on a theme, such as a fear of contamination, having aggressive impulses, wanting things perfect and orderly, or having sexual thoughts. With contamination, the process forces the individual to wash his or her hands again and again and may not even want to shake hands with another individual. He or she may meticulously arrange books on a shelf and then pull them down, only to arrange them again and again. There may be an impulse to count the number of steps in a staircase and he or she will spend an inordinate amount of time counting the treads again and again. Thus, in its most severe stages, the disorder is quite disabling. The symptoms create persistent ideas that likely make no sense at all to anyone other than the individual with OCD who feels compelled to perform them.
Most of us want to live in a clean home, drive a clean car and want the dishes washed and in the drainer following dinner. That does not constitute being OCD. There is definitely a difference between this behavior and having obsessive compulsive disorder. If an individual’s life is affected or more and more time is spent each day with a disabling situation in an attempt to gain control because of obsessions and compulsions, he or she should speak with a physician or mental health provider.
One of the possibilities for OCD is an inadequate level of a chemical in the brain known as serotonin. Should this be the case, medication is available that may reduce a patient’s symptoms. Then there is always the possibility of a genetic component leading to OCD; however, at this writing specific genes have yet to be identified. What is known is that having a family member with the disorder can increase the risk for development, as can stress.
In order to be diagnosed with the disorder, a person must meet the criteria set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder’s fourth edition as published by the American Psychiatric Association. Essentially, they state a person must have either obsessions or compulsions; he or she must realize those obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable and excessive; and lastly that they interfere with normal daily living. Obsession criteria implies the person has thoughts, images and impulses that are a product of his or her own mind; the person attempts to ignore or suppress those thoughts or images; the thoughts aren’t real-life problems causing excessive worries; and lastly that those thoughts are intrusive and cause distress in daily living. Compulsions cause repetitive behavior the person deems forced to perform; and the behavior exhibited is meant to prevent or reduce distress regarding unrealistic obsessions. Diagnosis can be difficult because the disorder can mimic schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and other forms of mental illness.
You certainly meant no harm in adjusting your friend’s book. The simple gesture was likely done in kindness. Put it out of your mind and get on with your memoirs that might be a great read!
