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This story is part of our blog series called “Stories from the OCD Community.”  Stories from the community are collected and edited by Toni Palombi. If you are interested in sharing your story you can view submission details at www.iocdf.org/ocd-stories.

A lot of people claim to have “OCD” without really understanding what it is. Because of that it took me a while to accept that I had obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The symptoms at first started to appear slowly, but eventually they became overwhelming.

It began when I was in college. I had a pen that I placed on my keyboard and it had to face a certain way, otherwise I was sure something bad would happen, like failing a test or a quiz. This behavior continued after I graduated. By then, I was a substitute teacher and I was afraid I would get a bad class or have a really difficult day. I recognized this as a compulsion and wondered if it was OCD, but since it was just the one compulsion, I figured I was safe.

I moved into my own apartment and began working as a teacher full-time.  After that, things slowly got worse. More intrusive thoughts and symptoms began to emerge. The picture on my glass had to face a certain direction in the cupboard. The items on my bathroom sink had to be arranged in a particular way. The towel in my bathroom had to be folded a certain way on the towel rack. My teeth had to be brushed a certain way otherwise I would have to brush them again. I had a routine for the shower, and if it was not followed then I would have to shower again.

I was no longer afraid of failing a quiz or a test. I was now afraid that I would be fired or that my class would act up and misbehave; these fears persisted despite being told by the principal and other teachers that I was good with the students.

I was still in denial about having OCD. I did some research and found that none of the information I read matched my symptoms. To me, OCD mostly meant extreme handwashing. There was information about people that needed to repeatedly check on things. But there was no information about people that liked to have things arranged a certain way or who had several rules regarding simple routines. Additionally, there was no mention of any obsessions regarding getting fired from a job.

During the summer, my symptoms would disappear for a few days when I would go to live with my aunt and uncle, and work at an amusement park operating rides. On first arrival, I had no set rules for how things were to be arranged. I loved these few days that I was free from OCD. However, after a while, new rules would emerge about how things needed to be arranged, and I continued to be afraid of being fired.

I continued my research and I learned about another condition affecting many people that suffer from OCD: an impulsive control disorder called trichotillomania. The disorder involves people pulling out their hair, consciously and unconsciously, resulting in bald spots. I had always thought that it was odd that I pulled out my eyebrows, but I only now understood the connections between this and my OCD.

After accepting the fact that I had trichotillomania, I did more research about OCD. When the compulsions and obsessions became worse, I told my doctor and she prescribed me a medication that was to help with the symptoms. The medication did not help. It only made it harder to sleep. I eventually stopped taking it because I valued my sleep and did not find it effective at relieving my symptoms.

In fact, the symptoms only became worse. During the summer, I returned to work at the amusement park. I loved the job but people became angry when their child was not permitted to get on a ride (as they were too short or too tall, or not dressed appropriately). Guests blew up at me just for telling them no. After one of these incidents, not only was I still having compulsions of getting fired, but I was afraid of guests becoming angry with me. It became difficult to get ready in the morning because I had so many rules for brushing my hair and teeth and putting on deodorant. It all became so much that I did not want to go to work, and looked forward to my days off.

I was in counseling that summer because I also suffer from depression. During one session, I told my counselor how much my OCD was affecting me. She encouraged me to slowly start doing some of my compulsions in a different order or way. It was extremely difficult, but I managed to turn the towel a different way. I then managed to change a few other behaviors. Unfortunately, these new changes just led to new compulsions.

OCD has made it difficult to live my life. Next summer, I will no longer be able to work rides at the amusement park because I am tired of going to work feeling afraid. I will have to switch departments and work in retail despite loving the rides. OCD has also made it difficult to be a teacher because I am so afraid of what the day will bring. That said I continue to teach and have not given up on getting better.

A lot of people claim that they are ‘OCD’ about things. However, nobody can be OCD about something. In addition, having to do things a particular way does not necessarily mean you have OCD. Some people are just perfectionists. I would like people to realize that there is so much more to OCD than just a few compulsions, it is a serious disorder that greatly impacts the lives of those affected.

Jennifer Parr is a third and fourth-grade teacher. In her free time, she likes to read and write.

4 Comments

  • Elizabeth Conaway

    I cried ! So brave for sharing ❤️ we are not alone!!

    Reply
  • Steve

    Having suffered with, been medicated for, and seen therapists for a number of years for this debilitating condition, I contend that there isn’t nearly enough understanding or publicity around ocd!
    It is a lifelong battle, against intrusive negative automatic thoughts, warped beliefs, and fear of bad things, either against the self, or loved ones.
    Ironically most sufferers are reasonably intelligent, and know that it is often an illogical illness! Yet the strength of the obsessional, followed by compulsive behaviour doing weird ritualistic tasks is usually very powerful, if not overwhelming.
    The electrical activity in the frontal cortex of a sufferers brain is generally higher than usual because the invasive thoughts, and subsequent thoughts to conjure a behaviour that will alleviate distress are almost omnipresent.
    Medication, such as SSRIs, and CBT, along with counselling, are the tried treatment routes…but, because of various factors, eg, genetics, upbringing, beliefs, and social contexts, these are not necessarily curative.
    Realistically, the best a long term sufferer can expect is to develop tools to keep it in check, or in its box, as much as possible.
    One of the best pieces of armour for me against this came when a highly regarded psychological therapist sat back in his chair and gesticulated with two fingers, saying tell your ocd to ‘ sod it, do your worst’….
    Brutal but very true….

    Reply
  • Laraida Melendez

    totally understood I have OCD since 1995 we don’t need to suffer alone and CBT really helps drink your meds and do CBT it will really help improve OCD.

    Reply
  • Holly

    Yes. Become quite angry especially at celebrities who like a quirky label, so because they dont like mess or touching restaurant cutlery they are suffering OCD. I am very aware of the contamination fears of some OCD sufferers. I feel odd saying sufferers so I apologize if its not PC. But anyone with OCD knows that its not just a single “not touching doorknobs or restaurant cutlery” . It can become debilitating. Im new to these Facebook forums as after some years in remission I thought it was gone. Bring on stress and lifestyle challenges and its back in control and I think I may have to go on meds again. Thanks for the site

    Reply

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