October can be spooky with its ghosts and witches, but myths and misinformation can be spooky, as well. That is why the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) declared October as OCD Awareness Month back in 2009. The intention was, and continues to be, to dispel myths, provide education, and increase awareness.
OCD is a label that gets tossed around when someone around us seems to fear contamination or is excessively neat. But for those living with it, OCD is far more than a preference for cleanliness and order. It can be exhausting and consume all areas of life. OCD most often targets what one values most so it can often be painful and sad.
OCD has a myriad of sub-types that can manifest with “just right” feelings, unwelcome intrusive thoughts, and scrupulosity concerns, just to name a few. Compulsions ensue and hours upon hours can be lost to these rituals.Resisting compulsions can trigger spirals of worry, anxiety, and fear. And beneath it all, there is often shame or fear that others will notice the compulsions and pass judgment.
As an OCD therapist, I have sat with people as they describe the intensity of their obsessions and compulsions, and I have witnessed the powerful victories that may sound small but are, in fact, HUGE. These successes include taking the risk of not performing the compulsion, allowing the possibility of the feared outcome, and staying with the uncertainty until anxiety begins to ease. This is called courage.
OCD awareness isn’t just about reading statistics or learning definitions. It’s about realizing that while your friend’s compulsion to walk backwards 2 steps for every 5 steps forward looks funny, it is time consuming,embarrassing, and a constant struggle. It is such a value-targeted disorder. If you were to ask your friend why they must do that, you might get a surprising response along the lines of “I am protecting you because my brain is telling me if I don’t do the compulsion, you will get hurt.”
OCD awareness is about catching ourselves before we label someone as “so OCD” and remembering that words matter. It is holding space for the reality that OCD can look different for everyone and that recovery is about finding freedom and peace in everyday life.
This October, I invite you to reflect on:
October 12-18 is officially OCD Awareness Week so wear teal and be receptive to transitioning from myth to curiosity! October, itself, is a month of transition where summer is swept away by a cooler breath and green leaves morph into red, oranges, and yellows. With awareness, empathy, and honest conversation, we can create a world where people with OCD feel less alone and more supported. That is what this month is truly about.
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Call: 331-457-2020
Email: info@growwellnessgroup.com
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