I've been looking into OCD details because I think I might have it, but I'm not really getting very far. My "obsession" is taking pictures and writing things down in journals so I don't forget the past. I NEED TO KNOW the things that happened in my past experiences or it doesn't feel right. I saw a post from someone who had the same problem, and they said their therapist said their obsession was that "need to know" problem, and that they had OCD. I never saw this type of OCD while researching it though, so I'm after verification.... Is this info right? Could I have OCD?
Answers (1)
People do often call it OCD but that's because OCD is very broad. I suppose everyone has that to a certain amount but no one that has what I have does not have OCD. I think what I have is a real illness as well as a disorder but it's easy to be disordered so it doesn't say much. There are many therapists that would diagnose it as OCD but that's because the line between OCD and not OCD is very fine. A brain scan could not detect that someone definately had that sort of OCD. The serious kinds can be diagnosed precisely and it wouldn't be enough for me to diagnose if I was a phycologist. A doctor once tried to diagnose me with I think it was Autism but I don't think I have it at all. Why care what they call it? Tell me if there's 'unlogical' worries so I can say if it's OCD or not.
I would call it illogical, since my fear is not remembering small details that wouldn't matter if I forgot them or not (who I was with, what exactly happened, what things looked like) and I know that everyone forgets things. I know it's normal not to remember some things and remember others, but forgetting worries me nonetheless. I have anxieties other than this particular one, but this one was the one I'm not sure about. Would you like me to elaborate on the others? Thank you for answering, by the way
Sure, I said illogical because of lack of a better word. what I meant was worries of like touching the colour red because blood is red. Red paint is not made of blood. A way of countering the disgust or fear of touching red is creating a new feeling associated with the colour red by switching the idea that if touching blood is bad then touching red is bad by thinking of what else is red like a poppy. I might call it fighting OCD with OCD but there's another way of fighting it and that's by exposure to the fear in attempt to gradually overcome it. Some people can get rid of mild fears by choosing to ignore them or by realizing that they aren't worth worrying about. Have any similar ones?
Alright, how to begin.. I'll make a list.
-This is a bit of a weird one. I have this fear that a demon is going to see me in my room, so I always close my curtains at night. When I think a demon is in my room, I think things like "If I open my eyes then I will be possessed" or "I have to get my head under the covers in 5 seconds a demon will attack me." I pray for God to protect me until I feel it's safe. That's the strangest worry.
-I don't throw that many things away. I mean, things like gum wrappers, etc I do get rid of, but things like old schoolwork, lotion bottles, lip gloss tubes, I keep, even though I know it's kind of dumb, but I always think I'm going to need/want them in the future.
-I make a lot of lists and reminders on my phone. I must have over 30 lists in my notes and set reminders like "make soup" "bake pizza" "do chemistry homework". I also quickly run out of sticky notes! I don't really know why I think I'll forget something do easy.
-I love organizing and reorganizing things. Not really a worry or fear, but if you ask me to clean your room I will gladly do it. The only things I don't know how to organize are the things I "collect".
Hope this helped a little.
The demon sort of thing is a paranormal worry that is common in humans. I have it but I don't mind it much because if there are demons there's got to be angels. It's the worries that do no good that are the evil. I know how difficult it is to not worry after watching a scary movie but if your mind stays at peace nothing can make you worry. Cats are my favourite animals and mine makes me feel safe at night when she's on my bed. I know she's nearby all the time so I don't worry about it. Hoarding can be a problem but therapy can really help with letting go of unneeded stuff. Being well organized is often a good thing to have. My mom cleans my room even when I ask her not to and takes a lot of notes and she does not have OCD. From what I heard it doesn't sound too much like OCD but whatever they call it it might be a good idea to get someone to sort out what's worth keeping and what's not. If it is OCD then it would probably be a mild case of it.
It doesn't matter what they call it, what matters is how to deal with it. It's a label and is a lazy way of evaluating someone.
I understand all this a lot better now. Thanks for your help!
It's fine.
The brain scan comment I typed is misleading so let me explain what I meant. Everyone has a bit of that sort of obsessions and compulsions so how much of it is enough to diagnose someone ith OCD? There wasn't enough information for me to call it OCD.