Serena Williams suffers from OCD
January 31, 2009 by gayla
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Serena Williams said Friday she suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Typically we think of athletes as having so much self control and mental toughness, but the reality is, many people suffer from mental illness. In fact, Serena shared her thoughts:
"I mean, I have mental issues too, so… I think everyone has mental issues”
Serena has not been formally diagnosed by a doctor but goes into detail on aspects of her life in which she must have order or areas that must be perfected.
I suppose a touch of OCD is a good thing for everyone to experience to some degree – but in those more severe cases when OCD interrupts a day or interferes with a persons life, it can be debilitating, frustrating and overwhelming.
Source: AFP Image credit: Bauer Griffin
I think a lot of athletes experience many OCD traits. Its said the quarterback of the Colts (Manning) has OCD.
OCD is so hard. It feels like my mind will break when I have those things come up. One thing I came to understand about my own OCD is that I have increased problems with it when I feel a decrease in personal control of my life. Once I feel powerless or less powerful my OCD issues go through the roof. I wonder if others see a correlation between control and their OCD issues.
Austin
Why do famous people decide to come out about their OCD? What good does it do? It just makes it worse for us who have OCD who see famous people, in spite of their supposed limitations, succeeding, while some of us are stuck in our own private hell we call home.
Thanks famous people, for rubbing our noses in the fact that not only are you richer, you apparenlty handle your OCD better too.
I’m not busting directly on Ms. Williams – several stars have come out and shared that they have OCD – I don’t know if they think that’ll get them sympathy or what – but all OCD has gotten me was poor, lonely and annoyed with people who show off that they have OCD. It’s NOT like a new fashion to show off. It’s debilitating for some of us. In fact, if they REALLY suffered, they wouldn’t have the time/energy to be famous – they’d be stuck like the rest of us doing/thinking stupid stuff 24/7.