All I can say is wow! Prior to this reading, I was only aware of a few compulsions and rituals people with OCD dealt with. Thanks to True Life: I Have OCD, I gained some knowledge about the washing, the checking, the ordering, the repeating, and the rubbing, touching, and tapping issues these people suffer with. I now have a whole new outlook on people with OCD and I have to say that I give them a lot of credit. Obsessive-compulsive disorder actually turns out to be the most common of all mental illnesses out there. Surprisingly, many people suffering with this disease stay in silence. The Filth, Harm, Lust, and Blasphemy Chapter helped me to better understand the severity of this disorder. Never having suffered from the negative effects of obsessions and compulsions, the clinical cases really opened my eyes to the torment that OCDers thoughts put them through on a day to day basis. Sherry’s personal account about her obsessions with harm made me realize why these people sometimes keep their torture a secret. It’s as if a monster was growing inside of her, feeding her these terrifying and disturbing thoughts. I totally understand why she became so overwhelmed, nervous, and exhausted. I honestly would not know how to fight thoughts about “throwing my daughter in a microwave.” How can someone live like this? Imagine not being able to run away from your own thoughts! What I found to be the most crazy about all of this was how if she tried to fight her thoughts, they would become worse. I guess it is relieving to learn that OCD is treatable.
It's really scary to think that your thoughts could one day take over your life isn't it? I thought the same and I definitely agree that OCDer's deserve their pat on the shoulder because dealing with a normal life is hard enough sometimes, imagine living with OCD on top of that. I can understand why many would keep this part of their life hidden, how do you explain to someone that your thoughts are taking over and you can't control them, I feel this is one of the reasons he is writing this book to EDUCATE
ReplyDeleteYou expressed some very relatable thoughts. I agree in that I too gained a better understanding of the disorder. I had a very one sided description of OCD. After reading the article I learned that it can happen to anyone. Sherry's story also hit me in a soft spot because it showed me that OCD can hit very close to home. It is good to now know more about the disorder because it will help others stop judging the victims of OCD. I think that Osborns main goal was to do just that, stop the discrimination and mistreatment of all sufferers of OCD by informing the non sufferers about the disorder.
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