Obsessions: We Ain’t Talking Wentworth Miller Here, Folks.

I Must Shave My Legs: The OCD Miniseries – Part 2

Earlier we discussed the definition, signs, and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Now, let’s dig a bit deeper into one of the main OCD signs and symptoms – the obsessions.

You probably have a pretty decent, working idea of what an obsession is. Many of us have been what we call “obsessed” with someone or something. Some obsessions are seemingly harmless (think of my obsession with Wentworth Miller), while other obsessions can take over your life and bring danger to both you and the object of your obsession (think my obsession with Wentworth Miller if I ever gave in, moved to California, hunted him down, and landed in jail).

However, when OCD is concerned, obsessions almost always significantly interfere with your life. These obsessions appear in the forms of repeated and persistent images, ideas, thoughts, and impulses and are normally unwanted.

Image credit.

OCD-related obsessions may revolve around:

• Intense fear of germs, dirt, contamination, and disease. Such obsessions may lead people to constantly wash their hands, take showers, and/or refuse to touch objects or other people.
• Persistent doubt. When a person with OCD has persistent doubts, s/he may always wonder whether or not the stove is turned off, the doors are locked, the car windows are rolled up, etc.
• The need to have everything orderly, symmetrical, and organized. People with these kinds of obsessions may not be able to function properly unless towels are folded a certain way, each car in the garage faces the same direction, and/or all of their socks are lined up according to color.
• Repeated, aggressive, horrific, and/or sexual impulses or images. Examples of such images and impulses include hurting a loved one, committing a violent act toward a stranger, replaying pornographic images in your head, etc.

As you read that list, you may have identified with one or more of the obsessions/examples of obsessions. Fret not – lots of people like to keep their hands clean, make sure their stoves are turned off, and experience the occasional dirty image when they think of God’s gift to women hotties like Wentworth Miller.

However, when it comes to OCD people engage in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors as a result of having such obsessions. These behaviors are called compulsions. But we’ll talk more about compulsions later as we continue I Must Shave My Legs: The OCD Miniseries here at Mental Health Notes.