What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) is a psychiatric anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by a subject’s obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or “rituals”) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.

Is it "Okay" to have O.C.D.?

If you have it, it is “okay”, because you can’t help that you have it, you just do and you live with it.

Personally, I think it all depends on how you view it and deal with it. Some people need psychological or prescribed help, while others live with it and like it.

For those that need help and haven’t received medical attention (you know who you are), I suggest you see your medical practitioner.

Please note that I am NOT a doctor and I am NOT giving medical advise! I am an artist and I am giving you my perspective as an Artist with O.C.D.

Now if you are like me…let me give you an example…do you twirl your hair without being conscious of it? Oh I know, maybe you pick at things, or maybe you see a spot on your wall and can’t relax until you’ve cleaned it, or maybe you stop what you’re currently doing to fix something that is bugging you, or maybe you are so detailed at doing your job or other item of interest that you can’t finish your project until it is absolutely 100% perfect? Maybe you plan organizing one file, but end up organizing the whole filing cabinet, or maybe you even see a stain on your butcher block island and try to clean it, but it won’t come clean, so you are left with no alternative but to whip out the sander and sand the whole island and refinish it just to get rid of the little stain….These are some of those little quirks that someone with O.C.C. lives with on a daily basis.

Of course, there are those poor souls that have the kind of O.C.D. that completely makes them unable to function or cope in normal society…but hey, what is normal anyway? As long as you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else, then you are normal in your world. If you know something is wrong with you…get help. It won’t be that bad…really! If you think something is wrong with you but don’t want to admit it and won’t get help, then you have a serious problem!!

Seriously though (and that what this guide is for), O.C.D. can be a blessing in disguise. Just imagine all the things you accomplish because that little voice in your head won’t stop until you’ve completed or finished something….other people may have a thought in passing and keep on moving with their life and never ever follow through on that thought. So you see, people like me, get a whole hell of a lot of crap done…maybe much to the dismay of their spouse when they come home and find the garage ripped apart…only temporarily though, as it is so much nicer when it is put back together the correct way! 

Are you kind of maybe getting a little glimpse into the mind of an O.C.D. person? I would hope so. Now here is the scary thing…if you are totally getting this and it all makes sense to you…well welcome to OCD-hood!

O.C.D. vs Creativity!

Yeah baby…come on now…think about it! Obsessive, compulsive…this just screams “CREATIVITY”! Get real! How many so called “normal” artist do you know? Do you think that the resulting art of an artist comes out of a mind that is not creative? Do you have to be compulsive to create art…um yeah!!! How about obsessive? What do you think drives us…our lack of initiative? I think not!

O.C.D. and art go hand in hand…in my book and in my world. My world is a great and happy place to be! :)

Typical O.C.D. Day!

Ok, so let’s say you have a list of items to do when you get home that includes emptying the dish washer, doing a load of laundry and making dinner. Simple right? Not if you have O.C.D. If you don’t, I assume you go home and get those 3 things done and then sit down to relax. If you do…your day will go something like this:

You walk in the door and head for the kitchen, but you see that a glass has been left on the coffee table, so you go pick it up to carry it into the kitchen, but while you pick up the glass you have to move the tv remote to its proper spot and adjust the candle holder and sofa cushions. While doing so you notice a spill on the leather of the sofa, so you go to the kitchen set down the glass, open the dishwasher, grab a rag and cleaner and head back to the sofa to clean the spill but on your way you see trash that needs to be thrown out, so you pick that up and toss it and while you’re at it you see that the trash needs emptying so you grab the bag and head for the back door with the rag and cleaner and trash bag in your hand. You proceed to set down the cleaner and rag on the coffee table and take out the trash. On the way back in you notice the dog dishes are a bit dirty so you pick those up and carry them to the sink in the kitchen and forget about the sofa. You start to empty the dishwasher and notice that the cabinet is in disarray so you of course have to organize it while putting the dishes away. You turn back to the sink, wash the dog bowls and while doing so, you see the plant by the sink needs water, so you water that and then you see the window is dirty and clean that, then you finally take the dog dishes back out and when you set them down you glance at the cute dog who is trying to lick your face and think…she could use a bath, so up you both go to the bathroom, you give her a quick bath and a cookie, then you run the towels down to the wash and remember the laundry you were going to do. You start the laundry and see dust on the washer and dryer so you start cleaning those and then you think “crap…I need to start dinner”, so you leave the laundry room and head to the kitchen, you take out food and start it cooking, but of course when you opened the fridge you see left overs that no one will eat, so that starts the whole procession of cleaning out the fridge and wiping it down with disinfectant, then you think “what else am I suppose to be doing”, so you grab your list and think “sweet, got those done”, but as you are pleased with yourself you set down the piece of paper and see your car keys so you grab those to go get the mail, but on the way out you pass your car and think “that could use a bath too”, so you move the car, wash it…and the water plants while you’re at it, oh and might as well pull those few weeds you see while you are out there. Finally you head back in and remember the laundry, so you swap the towels to the dryer and run up to get the “real” laundry you wanted to do in the first place. You grab the clothes that need to go in the wash but as you pass the bathroom sinks you see that they could use a little cleaning themselves, so you set the pile of clothes down and start cleaning the sinks, which includes the counter and every little thing on it and while finishing up, you think “crap…I need to get those clothes in the wash” so you grab the clothes, head to the laundry room and throw them in and oh…you finish cleaning the laundry room that you started hours ago. Now you head back to the kitchen to check on the food and remember the mail.

Typical O.C.D. Day cont...

You start to head out to the mailbox
again and while opening the front door you see fingerprints on the
glass so you swear and set the keys down and run for the windex, but
on the way you trip on a dog toy…you pick it up and take it to the
dog toy basket by the dog bed and think that the bed could use a
little fresh air so you pick up the bed and take it outside, you turn
to go back in and remember the glass door, so you proceed to clean
not just the glass on the door but end up getting more cleaners and
wipe down the WHOLE door, and while you’re at it, you keep going and
wipe down all the adjoining walls, which inevitably leads to another
room that needs dusting or cleaning which leads to more and more and
more and more. Pretty soon, kids and spouses are home which just
leads to still more and more. The mail? What about the mail, and oh damn, you forgot about the coffee table..you’ll eventually get around to them…no worries…that’s
a whole other story.

Now are you getting a little more insight
into the wonderful world of O.C.D.? And I kid you not…this is just a
little tiny baby glimpse of maybe a 2 hour period. Can you imagine
just how much us awesome people get done? Like I said before…a crap
load!!

So you see, it all depends on your perspective and if you use your O.C.D. to your benefit or not. Don’t get me started on all those run-on sentences in this story…remember…you’ve stepped into the world of O.C.D. whew!!!!!!