« Blog

OCD can destroy lives without proper treatment. But that’s okay because the acronym is funny, edgy, and makes for great jokes on silly and cute holiday sweaters.

Many individuals and organizations have shared their disappointment and frustration with a Christmas sweater available now in Target stores across the US that declares whoever wears it a sufferer of “OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder.”

But, why stop at OCD? Just think of all the funny holiday sweaters we could make out of other debilitating diseases and disorders.


Bipolar Disorder

When you can’t remember which pole you parked your sled on? “Hmmm, North or South?”

SARS
Santa And Reindeer Supporter

PTSD
Post-Turkey Snoozing Disorder

The last one is “especially appropriate” to sell today, on Veterans Day! Imagine a combat veteran coming home and being confronted by a sweater like this worn by loved ones.

Kidding aside, the International OCD Foundation receives emails all the time from our members and supporters asking us to respond to inappropriate uses of the term “OCD” on TV shows, by celebrities, in product names, but we generally do not respond. We do not want to be the word police, firstly because research has actually shown this type of response does not effectively combat stigma and secondly, responding negatively can actually have a rebound effect and create more instances of this type of misuse and misunderstanding.

But this is an opportunity for education and setting the record straight. We do not think the executives at Target (or anyone who misuses the term) are doing this out of malice for those with OCD. We truly believe this is more about a lack of understanding. OCD has unfortunately become synonymous with “anal-retentive,” “neat freak,” or “type A.” It seems most people who use the term that way actually have NO idea that OCD is a debilitating mental disorder that affects the ability to go to school, work, have relationships, or live a full life without proper treatment.

So let’s use a disorder that everyone better understands: Can you imagine walking into Target and seeing a Christmas sweater that made light of autism? Can you imagine Target apologizing for carrying the offensive autism sweater but saying they planned to continue selling it? So why is OCD different? OCD effects start in childhood, just like autism. OCD gets in the mind of children and causes extreme anxiety, worry, and obsessive intrusive thoughts that affect the ability to communicate, do schoolwork, and have fun with peers. Like autism, there is no cure for OCD, but there are therapies can help. Like autism, OCD is invisible.  For some reason, as a society we understand the severity of autism, the toll it takes on families and children, and have all decided it’s off limits.

But for some reason, it’s still open season for OCD.

Let’s help Target understand why this OCD sweater is more than just a silly joke. Continue messaging, tweeting, and emailing Target to let them know how their sweater furthers the stigma and obstacles OCD sufferers too often face in accessing treatment. Get in the holiday spirit by tweeting @Target with a photo of you in your favorite ugly Christmas sweater to show Target you’d rather your holiday spirit come dressed in hideous shades of red and green with way too many details and embellishments rather than an inaccurate and dismissive message about OCD.

Let Target know this holiday season, you’d rather wear ugly sweaters over lame ones.

25 Comments

  • Evangeline Arhontoulis

    People don’t make a mockery of cancer then why would they do it over a mental disorder???

    Reply
    • Jackie Wozniak

      This is the letter I attempted to send to Target on their website only to discover the Submit button did not submit. Grrrrr. I will call them today. Then I thought “I bet the OC Foundation will have something to say about it. Thank you for always being a beacon in the darkness of OCD.
      As the mother of a brave young man who was diagnosed with OCD at the age of 12, I am horrified at the insensitivity you have displayed by refusing to remove the OCD sweater from your shelves. I suggest that you learn about the disease and it’s devastating affects on it’s usually brighter than average sufferers. Just as the N word has been removed from our lexon, and the use of the word “retard” and “gay”, the use of an official psychiatric diagnosis as the butt of a joke is inappropriate. OCD is a neurological disease. Will you be sporting “funny” cancer, or blindness jokes on you sweaters? On behalf of the over 2 million people with this disease I would ask you to do a little research before you make jokes about any malady. This sweater trivializes what those afflicted by OCD have to battle daily.

      Reply
      • Jackie Wozniak

        I suggest that people call customer service 1-800-440-0680, since contacting Target via their website doesn’t always work. I spoke with a customer representative a few moments ago. I was polite and courteous and was able to express my displeasure at the frivolous and callous way in which OCD is being exploited. Wish I had thought to tell them that the proceeds from the sale of the sweater or a generous donation to the Foundation would make things a little better.

        Reply
    • Shiv

      totally agree!!!

      Reply
  • stuart

    Its one thing to make fun of a disease like SARS where it is past and over now; but its another thing to try and make humour out of OCD and PTSD when they both have not been ‘cured’ and lots and lots of people in the first world struggle with them. im sure people in 3rd world still deal with SARS but these sweaters are directed into the market of first world which is my point. Also, its not a matter of ‘lightening up’ to kinda laugh it off, its hard to laugh off a disease which causes so much anxiety to those who actually have OCD instead of the stereotyped ‘neatness = ocd’. its a simple market ploy by a company that is buying into stereotypical humour, its a silly way to make money and needs to stop!

    Reply
  • Sheila Cavanaugh

    I have found that talking to people about OCD is an eye opening experience. Many, many people truly believe that they HAVE OCD because they “have to” wipe down their shopping cart or they cannot leave the bathroom without washing their hands. THESE are the types of people who are wearing these sweatshirts and telling others , “It’s funny!”

    When I can get this type of person to slow down and really listen to what OCD did to MY life, sometimes 20 hours a a day of MY life they only start to understand. A moment’s discomfort of leaving a bathroom without having washed is nothing compared to being stuck, literally held in place by a thought, a simple chemical reaction instructing you to remain still or your child dies. They have never heard about people who experience overwhelming anxiety when they hear a certain word or see a number on a license plate. They don’t understand that those of us diagnosed by medical professionals as having OCD do not “giggle” about it later.

    Of course we get angry because in a fair world we would have the opportunity to be as oblivious to the disorder as the person laughing about these sweaters. But suffering through OCD not only means having a lot of really anxious days, it also means that we need to take some time and explain OCD to others so we can educate and make the world easier for the next person with OCD.

    We can take the opportunity Target has given us to explain what OCD means. We can describe why it’s hurtful to us sufferers. And we can maybe let another person know that there is a name for those thoughts going through their heads. They are not alone and there are thousands of us out here waiting to be supportive.

    Reply
  • Tamara Larlee

    If they only understood how much my son and so many others suffer from actual ocd, they would not find this funny or cute. Definitely makes me wonder why?

    Reply
  • Erin

    Kirklands, which is a home goods store has many Christmas items…among their selection is a wall hanging that says “I have O.C.D.: Obessive Christmas disorder”…let’s start boycotting these stores or at least write to their corporate offices from the ocdf to show that we are seriously offended…I’m glad this article was published because I have been infuriated by these items for quite some time!!!

    Reply
  • Mike Bratsch

    I have had OCD my whole life & it is a mental illness & Hell on earth for me with taking medication my whole life to try & control panic attacks , anxiety & anxiousness along with a mile long list of other tormenting things on a daily basis !! OCD is not to be made fun of or for profit !! Target might as well have other shirts making fun of people with Cancer & see how that plays out for them !!!

    Reply
  • Kai

    What has really bothered me about this whole Target sweater story is not so much the sweater,
    but the hostile, insensitive, and even abusive comments through the blogs from the general public
    to the people with OCD complaining about the sweater.
    I always knew there was a stigma about OCD within mainstream society, but not to the extent
    of of hateful comments. This is frightening.
    I suppose the best we can do, is seek support and comfort from others with ocd, and seek a good
    counselor, if possible.
    Most of the general public has heard of OCD, but that doesn’t mean they understand it – therefore,
    with the exception of people working in the medical field, I’m personally never again going to disclose
    to anyone that I have ocd, simply because I’m tired of being shunned, discriminated against,
    and ridiculed- (i.e. punished) for having OCD.
    Thanks for reading my two cents worth from the recent Target episode,
    and Good luck to you all.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      Agree with Kai. I am not as offended by a really lame joke on a Spencer’s Gifts quality sweater as I am shocked that this is the only place I have seen negative comments about it. The comments sections elsewhere are filled with “Get over it!!, ” “Stop whining – it’s a joke people!,” and “Isn’t there anything we can joke about anymore? Everyone is so ‘politically correct!'” If I were Target, and that’s all I was hearing, I wouldn’t pull the sweater either. And that’s too bad. I used to actually like Target and shopped there because of its social responsibility.

      So, this means either the world has become an extraordinarily cruel and insensitive place, or people just don’t know anything about OCD. I’m hoping for the latter, because then there’s hope to educate, and it looks like we need to do more than preach to the choir.

      Do most people know that OCD kills? OCD can make life not worth living? OCD destroys lives? Sweaters with with those messages wouldn’t be funny either. The same can be said about Depression but you don’t see many sweaters about that. (Although I’m sure tote bags with a hilarious “Christmas Hoarder” message are probably already in production…)

      We should take this as an opportunity to educate the public about OCD. So many amazingly creative people bravely suffer with OCD and remain hysterically funny. I’m sure some of them can beat Target at its own game. Use humor to educate – not to make money by making jokes about a widespread, life destroying disorder.

      I don’t know what can be done, but between Maria Bamford, Howie Mandel and hundreds of others, we should be able to come up with something that will raise awareness, actually be funny, and maybe make a little money. Or, maybe Target should go back to its old ways (when it was a successful company) and send this organization a nice big check to help us get the awareness ball rolling.

      Reply
      • Kai

        To Lisa, Thanks for your reply.
        Sorry to say, I’m not sure it’s entirely possible to educate people about OCD, due to the nature of the disease.
        I know two people who work in the medical field, ( both of them articulate and very smart ) who know me who has ocd, and tried my very best to explain to them about ocd and how it works with the thought process leading to the nature of our `odd behaviors’, and I could tell by their demeanor that they can’t understand, and don’t get it. Not sure if I can come across to anyone about this in the medical field, much less anyone else.

        I’ve contacted the OC foundation and shared my concerns about the sweater, and also suggested to them an idea to possibly changing the name of this ailment to obsessive compulsive disruption, or obsessive compulsive syndrome. That way, there would be a better chance of people knowing that it’s a more serious ailment to be stuck with – therefore, a starting point to possibly begin breaking the stigma of ocd. Calling this a disorder, in my opinion, has caused people to believe that were `choosing’ to act in odd behaviors, causing the general public and the media to look the other way and not take it seriously.

        So, let’s keep up the uproar, and as you mentioned – thanks to the sweater, use this as
        an opportunity to turn this long & ugly stigma around on ocd.

        Reply
        • Alan Landay

          This comment is very thought-provoking. I agree it is difficult to get people who do not have OCD to understand what it is like even with a direct one-on-one explanation. I can well believe this is true even for someone in the medical field. Perhaps changing the name would help. I will think about this some more. (But hopefully not obsess about it!!)

          Reply
          • Mike Bratsch

            Do you know if Target is going to remover the OCD sweaters from their stores ?? It is very upsetting to me & so many others who have suffered with real OCD our whole lives !! A lot of people think they have OCD because they are clean & organized people . They have no clue what it is like to suffer every day & take medication to manage the extreme anxiety, anxiousness & depression that me & so many others have to deal with every day !!!!

  • Laura Wood

    Thank you for your response to Target’s insensitive mockery of OCD. I just emailed Target and shared your post on my Facebook page. Thank you for all you do for all of us!

    Reply
  • Alan Landay

    I agree with those who state that there are not sweaters making fun of cancer sufferers (a bald head with a caption on the “advantages” of chemotherapy??), PTSD, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, etc. I think Target & other retailers don’t get this; they would scrupulously avoid making fun of people with those conditions. OCD is an easy target (no pun intended) because popular culture, in its ignorance, considers it something minor and “quirky”. I agree we should educate people on what OCD actually is. I am a staunch supporter of free speech and the first amendment. I try to avoid protests on “offensive” speech. However, ignorance can do a lot of harm.

    Reply
  • Brigit R

    Hi all, I will definitely be letting target know that this is inappropriate. It is inappropriate to poke fun at serious disorders. People struggle so much with anxiety disorders enough as it is. In my oppinion this is in very poor taste. Do not like at all..

    Reply
  • Brigit R

    Anxiety disorders should be treated equally as importantly as disease and illness with the same available care!

    Reply
  • I’m offended and offended for my clients, especially those in the very early stages of recovery. This is simply not funny and actually so many of the remarks on Facebook and Twitter are just reinforcing misinformation. I with the IOCDF would take a more direct approach on this one. It can be a “happy accident” if IOCDF can do some massive education here.

    Reply
  • Amber

    I have suffered from OCD my whole life and i can tell you one thing its no joke its not funny and it brings no cheer its opposite and its truly offensive to me that its used as a joke I dont care about ” everything offends everyone now and days ” well when it comes to making fun of a disorder that steals your life and joy away yeah thats not funny to me. It’s the extact thing if you where to make a sweater making light of Cancer or Autism. Show some compassion and respect to those who suffer and count your blessings you dont suffer from it. God bless

    Reply
  • Livy

    I agree that this sweater is completely insensitive, innapropiate, and rude. I definitely won’t be shopping at target until they agree to stop selling that sweater. People with OCD know that it is no joke. People don’t make fun of cancer so they shouldn’t make fun of OCD.

    Reply
  • Alan Landay

    Thanks to the person who posted the email address for Target. I finally got to direct my comment to an appropriate place. (The address I used was guest.service@target.com .)

    Reply
  • Shiv

    people who don’t have ocd don’t know how it is to live with ocd and how much people with ocd suffer!!!

    Reply
  • Zoe

    Thx for posting this-just saw it. Called my local Target who said they had been told to pull it from shelves & were going to double check that had been done. My husband called an Oregon store who is still carrying it & manager said he didn’t see anything offensive about it & that his nephew has OCD. Obviously that is either not the case or he has no clue about this terrible illness. We’ve been on hold for 20 min trying to reach Target at 1.800# and are also submitting complaint via their website. I posted on FB & Intagram. We can make our voice heard ! This illness is not funny-I hate how it’s affected our son and family.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *