Rubens’ Blog: It’s Time To See If There’s Different Forms of OCD

Published on: 27 Jun, 2022
Updated on: 27 Jun, 2022

Rubens King works as an armed forces caseworker for young people, helping people find training, work experience, volunteering and paid work. He also writes giving advice on mental health issues to tackle stigma and make conversations about mental health normal. Here, he writes about whether there are different forms of obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD).

Obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD) may be seen as a obsession of cleanliness. However, the underlying factors like control, routine, and (psychological) safety warrant discussion. I’ve recently been diagnosed, and I celebrate this.

I feel it is important to appreciate that an individual’s neurodiversity is not the same, and in this piece I focus on OCD, personally echoing the piece by Rethink.

Across all walks of life we are accountable. One may be accountable to parents, a business, a degree, a landlord, the government, the bank, you name it.

However, in our minds this accountability is less clear, unless explicitly shared.

The issue being the authenticity of communicated intentions, the accuracy of interpreted information or quality of balanced thoughts.

OCD can be unsolicited. A thought can be invasive enough it is debilitating. For example, the thought of the oven been left on, the front door being left unlocked, or needing to be home to take an expected delivery.

Examples like these show how our thoughts can be paralysing when unbalanced. If these thoughts are more serious like wanting to harm yourself or others it may help to reach out for support.

Achieving this balance isn’t always possible alone in high stress situations, life circumstances or with neurodiversity (differences in levels of chemicals and quality of neurotransmitters or communication connections in the brain). Therefore, it is not weak to speak up.

OCD can be a tool. For example, a loud negative inner critic serves a purpose. This purpose could be to protect you. If your inner critic says you aren’t happy, this could be an indication to change jobs, spend more time with friends, or spend less time with people who are not energising.

OCD can be harnessed in a way which enhances one’s quality of life. OCD, diagnosed or not, is a form of neurodiversity. It means people think differently. This opens doors for support and connections in relationships through identifying with other people with OCD.

In conclusion, not everyone with OCD needs to clean. This is just one way it can manifest. It can be about obsessive thoughts, or behaviours. OCD can appear in various ways. It may help to talk about your situation if it is difficult to cope.

Bimonthly support group meetings in Guildford are available with OCD Anonymous Click here for details.

The Eaves offer a local counselling and ask for a trainee for a discounted rate. Click here for details.

OCD Action has more information about OCD, for support for the wider family and a helpline. Click here for details.

No Panic share some coping techniques that may be helpful. Click here for details.

Stay You, Stay Authentic.