A man I just met and immediately dislike has me feeling surprisingly tenacious. I’ll call him Bob. Bob tells me he has OCD because of organizational needs.
I feel baited and I take it.
Cutting into Bob with the verbal equivalent of a knife, I explain disabling fear and why it is not a joke to have the disorder he so flippantly identifies with. When I’m finished he simply smiles and walks away. I think of all of the sufferers – some whom I have worked with, others suffering in silence – and I feel like an advocate.
Non-clinical conversations about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder usually follow a script. The person I am speaking with is intrigued and will either tell me they know someone with OCD, or the phrase “I have OCD because …” arises. The sentence is almost always followed by a stereotypical explanation of the disorder.
Most of the time those with OCD let this sentence go unchecked.
I do not have OCD, but I have dedicated my work to helping those who do. This is a place of privilege. Shame, embarrassment, and stigma are non-threatening to me when correcting the misconceptions that follow OCD. When privilege is used as a force for good you become an ally.
I was stuck with Bob for hours. Thinking he brought out the worst in me, I did not give our conversation much attention. However; Bob helped cultivate the courage I needed to be bold, loud, and advocate for the community I serve.
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Our clinicians are OCD and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) specialists. We understand OCD as it manifests in the pediatric and adult populations, families, schools, and the workplace. We utilize ERP to break the cycle of OCD individually and systemically to help you achieve your goals. Read more about our services.
