ocd play

[x hannah x]

Our class is putting on a play about what its like to have ocd and i don't have much first hand experience, I was wondering if someone here did?

[rubysoho120]

Do you not fear throwing up? Then that in itself is like an ocd...obsessive hand washing, fear of germs, extra precautions to prevent getting sick, like avoiding people??

[crimgoddess]

Well- I know from my psychology classes- Having OCD is like having a little voice inside your head telling you repeatedly to do something....you can try to resist, but it's hard and that voice gets louder, and it only stops once you actually do it. After awhile, you can just develop a pattern, and it no longer even seems strange that you are turning the lights on and off 13 times, or wash your hands 8 times before leaving the bathroom.


*amber*

[x hannah x]

Do you not fear throwing up? Then that in itself is like an ocd...obsessive hand washing, fear of germs, extra precautions to prevent getting sick, like avoiding people??


Well I don't fear myslef getting sick half as much so I don't really do that.


Crimgodess, we are actually having someone backstage yelling "The germs!" and stuff while the main character is onstage to kind of portray it.

[Babydoll]

Do you not fear throwing up? Then that in itself is like an ocd...obsessive hand washing, fear of germs, extra precautions to prevent getting sick, like avoiding people??

well, not really.


People with OCD have obsessions, compulsions, or both. "obsessions" are thoughts, mental pictures, or impulses that are upsetting, but that keep coming back. "compulsions" are actions that people feel they have to preform to keep from feeling anxious or to prevent something bad from happening. Most people with OCD suffer with both obsessions and compulsions.


Most people with OCD know their fears are not completely realistic. They also feel that their compulsions do not make sence. However, they find them seleves unable to stop.


OCD can cause serious problems. People with OCD often spend hours a day doing rituals. This makes it hard to work or take care of a family. Many people with OCD also aviod places or situations that make them anxious. Some become housebound.


OCD is not the same thing as a phobia. Although studies show that 90% of people have thoughts similar to those with OCD, people with OCD are much more upset and anxious thanpeople without OCD.


the treatment, however, is similar. Cognitive behavioral therapy,in which pscyhologiststry and "fix" the distortions in thinking. Drugs are used as well, such as SSRI's.

[liriodendron]

I agree with babydoll.



Just because we share some rituals with some people that have OCD doesn't mean we have OCD.

[meercat]

OCDs can be anything from having to count to a certain number over and over...checking things over and over, like to see if the stove is turned off, touching the burners over and over to make sure they aren't hot...making sure you don't step on any cracks in the sidewalks...cleaning excessively...washing your hands after you touch anything...making sure everything is in it's place, nothing can be askew at ALL!

Hope some of those examples can help you.

[ren2005]

I have been diagnosed with OCD almost 2 years ago, and it is not always a pleasant thing to have. I am on Zoloft, and seeing a therapist to help me out.


One of my biggest problems with OCD, is getting reassurance from people...to the point where it drives them crazy.[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img] I keep asking and asking.


Another big problem I had was hoarding and collecting things. I got rid of most of my stuff, but Im finding its happening again. I keep everything in my walk- in closet..if anyone ever went in there, I would be mortified.


I dont touch public door handles, Im an emet (obviously) if I see something like a tissue on the ground..I steer clear of it.


I check the lock on my cardoors a couple times, but it doesnt disrupt my life. I used to have alot of rituals growing up... I still do that at times in my head. For example..if I get done typing a sentence or something before the song is over..I will be OK.. if not.. something bad will happen. Hard to explain...


Anyway, there are a few other things...but I just thought I would let you know a few.

[rubysoho120]

The actions that people with ocd have are very similar to people with exreme emets. You should really read these peoples posts...hello! You are obssessed with not getting sick. Not throwing up. Which means you fear food poisioning, you fear stomach bugs. And we obessesivly think of how to avoid it. You can say what you want, I have been in many normal and abnormal psych classes. You know that this fear of vomiting is a irrational fear most of the time. Most of the time we dont have anything to fear and we are scared we are going to be sick. I guess no one will see my point...whatever I don't care. As an emet you should know how ocd people feel, its really similar, and infact some emets have ocds....And there are different kinds of ocd obsessions...what about anorexics? Are they not obsessed with food? Its is not an obsession to not eat?

[Babydoll]

Ruby, I see where you might think that... but anorexia is more about an unhealthy body image than it is about scared of eating.. actually, there are some anorexics that vomit to get rid of food.. and this is not the same as bulimia. the difference is the degree in which they are from a healthy body weight. So some aviod food, some don't. But the concept is that they have an unrealistic view of thier body and what it looks like.


with anorexia, you must be below 15% of your healthy body weight, and with bulemia, the criteria is only 10%.


If what you said is true, then everyone with emet would be diagnosed with OCD. While for many that is true, there is still alot that do not have OCD.


In the DSM they are catergorized as two different anxiety disorders. The biggest difference is that emet is more of a situational phobia, and very specific, where as OCD obsessions are more generalized and about many different things. A phobia is much easier to treat because of this.Edited by: Babydoll

[kel12347]

watch The Aviator, it may give you some ideas

[beadgirl]

About 12 years ago I was told by my doctor that I was anorexic. I originally weighed 110lbs and I was down to 85-90 lbs. I was not concerned about my body image at all! It was because I would not eat for fear of throwing it all up! I lived on a steady diet of tortilla chips and coke for anout 5 months. I wasn't doing this to be skinny or because I had a poor self image. I simply thought that minimal food in my tummy would keep me from getting sick (haha, dry heaving was not even part of my thought process then... how dumb!) I also knew a girl from school that had the same problem. I'm sure there are many different types of anorexia out there.

[x hannah x]

Ok thanks a lot guys this is all helpful, but Ruby like I said I'm not obsessed with not getting sick because I don't care much when it's me and I don't really obsess about other people doing it unless I think they will. It's not the same as ocd surely.

[Babydoll]

About 12 years ago I was told by my doctor that I was anorexic. I originally weighed 110lbs and I was down to 85-90 lbs. I was not concerned about my body image at all! It was because I would not eat for fear of throwing it all up! I lived on a steady diet of tortilla chips and coke for anout 5 months. I wasn't doing this to be skinny or because I had a poor self image. I simply thought that minimal food in my tummy would keep me from getting sick (haha, dry heaving was not even part of my thought process then... how dumb!) I also knew a girl from school that had the same problem. I'm sure there are many different types of anorexia out there.

In that case your doctor was wrong. you were not anorexic. You have a phobia. With the information that your telling me, I can be certain you were not anorexic.


Im looking in my university texbook, where is states the criteria for an eating disorder:





Anorexia Nervosa: Associated features:


-most show marked disturbance in body image, most are comorbid for other pyschological disorders ( meaning you can have more than one disorder at a time)


"Successful" weight loss is a hallmark of anorexia, which is defined at 15% below expected weight, intence fear of obesity and loosing control over eating. Anorexics show a relentless pursuit of thiness.


your doctor may have thought your fear of eating was due to a feear of being fat or obese.

[beadgirl]

Maybe.... It wasn't Anorexia Nervosa that I was diagnosed with it was rather a "form" of anorexia. My doc knew The reason that I didn't want to eat was because of my phobia... Like you said some anorexic people V*. Now some people would say that was bulimia... so why cant there be a form of anorexia that doesn't have to do with poor body image? Just something to think about.

[hippychick]

Anorexia as I understand it is not eating for whatever reason. Anorexia is simply not eating, Anorexia Nervosa is not eating because you have body image issues. Whatever the cause, if you are living on crisps and coke you have food issues and disordered eating.


As for OCD, my best friend has OCD, there is more to it than just germs and handwashing. People with OCD can have all sorts of obsessive thoughts, from the fear that they are going crazy to the fear they may harm themselves or others or are not in control. Numbers, counting rituals all come into play.


Emetophobia is not the same as having OCD though it can come into play and it's not unusual for many emets to have mild to strong OCD habits, I know I myself have suffered from mild OCD symptoms. Emetophobia and OCD are not the same thing but they can co-existEdited by: hippychick