Simply put, obsessive-compulsive disorder involves unwanted thoughts and fears that cause you to engage in repetitive behaviors and actions. To learn more about obsessive compulsive disorder, you can visit this link; Mind Games: Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

So, do we know obsessive-compulsive disorder correctly and clearly? If there was someone around us with OCD, would we notice it? In this article, we will discuss the misconceptions about OCD.

"Individuals with OCD are people who like to keep things neat and tidy."

Fact: You're likely to have heard someone jokingly say, "I'm obsessed with cleanliness" or "I'm tidy," while arranging a desk or cleaning a room. In fact, OCD is a major mental disorder accompanied by high anxiety and emotional distress. Individuals with OCD may have rituals related to cleaning. However, these rituals and repetitive behaviors are not enjoyable to them. They keep things clean and tidy because otherwise they experience anxiety.

"OCD is an obsession with cleanliness."

Fact: OCD is commonly known as an obsession with cleanliness. In fact, only a fraction of individuals with OCD are afraid of germs or dirt or have rituals associated with keeping themselves and their environment clean. OCD is a heterogeneous mental disorder. In other words, it can occur in different forms in different people.

The most common obsessions in OCD are fear of germs or contamination, fear of sinning, fear of harming oneself or others, and fear that someone will die.

Individuals diagnosed with OCD exhibit movements called compulsions to reduce the anxiety accompanying obsessions. The most common compulsions are repetitive washing or cleaning, checking, asking others and seeking reassurance, ordering objects, arranging, symmetry, and collecting objects.

"If a person has a diagnosis of OCD, it's immediately obvious."

Fact: It is possible that you have encountered many individuals with a diagnosis of OCD and did not realize it! Individuals with OCD often hide or suppress their symptoms. There are also individuals diagnosed with OCD who do not show any visible compulsions, even when they are alone. In the OCD type (pure obsessional OCD), in which only obsessions are present, compulsions consisting mostly of invisible mental rituals are accompanied. For example, seeking reassurance from a loved one is one of these compulsive behaviors.

"OCD is a mental disorder seen in women."

Fact: It can be thought that OCD is experienced mostly by women. However, this is not a purely female mental disorder. It is worth noting that although it is not as common in men as in women, it is seen at an earlier age in men. In addition, the incidence of OCD does not differ according to ethnicity, race, or socio-economic level.

"There is no cure for OCD."

Fact: Many individuals with a diagnosis of OCD do not engage in treatment-seeking behavior. Because they may feel ashamed of their condition and think that it cannot be cured. However, OCD is a mental disorder that can be treated. For its treatment, psychotherapy methods with proven effectiveness are often used. In many patients, both psychotherapy and drug therapy are applied in line with their needs.

Have some of the things you thought true about OCD turned out to be wrong? We have another article that will surprise you; "7 Misconceptions About Depression"