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| Don't Touch My Glasses! |
This, in itself, is the very reason why mental illness should not be stigmatised and the reason why we should discuss it. For example, most people suffer from anxiety of sorts. It's just that it is on a spectrum, rising and falling along with the events of our daily life.
My own problem falls within, I believe, the area of an obsessive compulsive disorder. I cannot bear people touching my glasses. I know exactly what triggered this obsession. A very unpleasant break-up, combined with a miserable job situation led me to focus on making everything all right by having the nose pads of my glasses 'just so'. The fact that I can logically assess what started it, however, is no help whatsoever in dealing with it.
I went from compulsively checking the fit of my glasses to putting them on the tops of wardrobes in hotel rooms so that housekeeping staff would not accidentally touch them, thereby altering the fit. If relatives were visiting, I would make sure I had contact lenses in so that there was no chance of my glasses being knocked when they hugged and kissed me hello. If I went anywhere in a car, the glasses would have to travel in their special case in the glove pocket and the case had to be carried quite separately from my luggage so that they would not be knocked about in transit.
Today I have 4 or 5 pairs of glasses which sit on top of a chest of drawers, not in their cases because I cannot bear to fold the arms in case it alters the fit of the glasses. I rotate the various pairs throughout the day. I'm a lot better than I used to be. Having kids has helped me enormously. You can't be cross with a child who knocks your glasses when giving you a loving hug and kiss, can you? But the first few times it happened I used to feel shaky and even a bit sick.
The husband is resigned to this and is understanding - up to a point. My obsessions also extend to quite a bit of health related anxiety, extending to my teeth, jaw, back and any other bit which doesn't seem to be functioning quite right!
I tell you this because I want you to understand that it is OK to be like this. This is what happens to humans when they are under stress and need loving understanding.
Something interesting happened, however, when I asked my blogging friends to share the strange rituals and habits that they live with on a daily basis - so that I could share them with you and help you to feel better if you are like me.
Some reacted with quite a lot of anger. They objected to my using the word "quirk" to describe these behaviours. They wanted to make quite sure I was not going to encourage the use of the term OCD as an adjective (for example saying "oh that's so OCD" to describe somebody fussing) because it is unfair and disrespectful to those suffering from conditions like this.
Fair point, however, we have to talk about mental illness so we can understand mental health. We have to hold these conditions up to the clear light of day to educate and inform and to teach our family and friends to help us make our lives as rich and fruitful as possible. Make no mistake, they suffer along with us and they need coping strategies too.
And if we don't talk about things like OCD, how will we ever find the right words, the kind words to help people to deal with it? Nobody would expect a cancer sufferer to keep their feelings to themselves and not discuss their illness, would they? Our hospitals are not full of people stoically keeping their symptoms to themselves. Talking can be part of the cure - for the sufferer and their family.
What was incredibly reassuring to me was the number of bloggers who were kind enough to share their behaviours and I list some of them below so that you can see just how common it is to deal with anxiety by adopting certain rituals.
Gemma: "I have to walk on the left side of people otherwise I feel very uncomfortable, it's even caused me to have panic attacks in the past."
Jadine: "I cant leave the house without checking the door is closed/locked twice and the lights of off going round the place twice." [www.thepunkrockprincess.com]
Gillian: "I can't have people touch the insides of my tomatoes. Like in restaurants etc. Whole tomatoes are fine but if they touch the seeds,even with their gloves, I can't eat it."
Jade: "Everything has to be in its place and I know if someone has moved something also on days out I have to plan it right down to times I have anxiety attacks if we are not in the schedule that I have it drives me mad that I'm like this but I can't change it."
Sarah Louise: "My partner has bad OCD. He has to make sure every door, window etc is shut before we go out and he will stare at it talking to himself before he moves on to the next door or window. He takes absolutely ages to lock up but won't let anyone else do it. He will physically hurt his hands and fingers locking a door as he said he has to 'feel it locked when it can't turn anymore' until he can rest. He will stand turning a key in the door for ages and if you talk to him while he's locking up he has to do it all over again.
I have a lot of things. Dont like odd numbers... Won't let anyone else change my daughters nappy... It has to be a certain way right in the middle ( The fasten part from the side...its hard to explain). Matching socks. Things have to be central else I can't rest. My daughters cot canopy has to have no creases or bumps in it.... Clothes are to be hung on the line a certain way and folded a certain way. Whoo, could go on forever."
Natasha: "Mad 5 pieces of loo roll for me, wash hands 3 times. But it's mostly 5 times on most things."
Elyse: "I have to use the same numbers. Like my alarm is set for 08:08. If you head to my blog and blog page Sweet Elyse Blog I have to schedule them in for 13:13, 16:16 or 14:14 (at a push) and I can't attend appointments unless I have at least 7 days notice. That's just the start, I can live with these things and my friends and family have got used to my ''quirks''."
Charlotte: "this is so random but I can't sleep in a room without opening and checking every cupboard and wardrobe twice, I have no idea what I am checking for but if I haven't opened, checked and closed the doors twice I just lie awake until I finally do! (www.everinmay.com)."
Charlie: "I have lots. I eat a slice of bread from the bottom (the base of the loaf ) to the top. I can't bear uneven numbers when doing a workout, if something isn't balanced, I'll do more. I can't bear marks on a table in a restaurant, or crumbs if I've made the mess and will tidy it up. I always put shoes and socks etc on right foot first. Same if I'm shaving my legs" "
Nikki: "I eat all my food separately so if I have chicken peas and potatoes on my plate I eat the peas first then the chicken and finally the potatoes. I won't put ketchup on my plate until the food I need it for is about to be eaten."
Leslie: "My thing is straight lines. Two objects next to each other must be parallel or I am not happy. Posters or photo frames on the wall must be straight or I will move them - regardless of where I am. All of my furniture has to be parallel with my living room rug for me to be able to relax (or at a 45 degree diagonal). I also have to wash my hands hundreds of times a day after touching things. Even if I have just washed them. Oh and I absolutely refuse to touch public toilet door handles... I've been known to wait by the door for 20 minutes or more for someone to open it for me when they come in."
Tina: "I have to bleach my toilet three times a day, my rug has to line up with the sofa and the fire.".
As you can see, there are a myriad of ways in which our stress and anxiety can express itself through odd behaviours. Nobody could deny the misery of suffering from OCD at a level where it is interfering with everyday life but equally, I think it helps to acknowledge those of us at the lower end of the spectrum may be suffering too.
I think I have just about got my 'glasses thing' under control but I know I'm stressed because I start to slip into my old ways - checking that the nose pads sit equally on my nose, for example. Even my optician is used to my "glasses thing" and he tells me that he has other clients whose anxiety manifests itself in the fit of their glasses too!
So what exactly is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Much helpful information can be found on the website of OCD-UK and on the NHS's own website.
Current estimates for the UK population are that there are potentially around 741,504 people living with OCD at any one time. A disproportionately high number, 50% of all these cases, will fall into the severe category, with less than a quarter being classed as mild cases.
OCD presents itself in many guises. It is not just hand washing or checking light switches. OCD sufferers may experience obsessions "which take the form of persistent and uncontrollable thoughts, images, impulses, worries, fears or doubts.
These thoughts are often intrusive, unwanted, disturbing, significantly interfere with the ability to function on a day-to-day basis as they are incredibly difficult to ignore. People with OCD often realise that their obsessional thoughts are irrational, but they believe the only way to relieve the anxiety caused by them is to perform compulsive behaviours, often to prevent perceived harm happening to themselves or, more often than not, to a loved one.
Compulsions are repetitive physical behaviours and actions or mental thought rituals that are performed over and over again in an attempt to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsessional thoughts. Avoidance of places or situations to prevent triggering these obsessive thoughts is also considered to be a compulsion. But unfortunately, any relief that the compulsive behaviours provide is only temporary and short lived, and often reinforces the original obsession, creating a gradual worsening cycle of the OCD." [source: OCD-UK].
If you are suspect you are suffering from OCD or any other mental health related issue, please talk to your GP or visit the charity OCD-UK who have plenty of information about OCD and related disorders. Alternatively, there is the website of The Mental Health Foundation who are the organisers of Mental Health Awareness Week at www.mentalhealth.org.uk. For this year's campaign rather than asking why so many people are living with mental health problems, the goal is to seek to uncover why too few of us are thriving with good mental health.
If all this feels like too much, a starting point may be an honest chat with a trusted friend or family member.
And it doesn't matter which words you use to describe your anxieties. Actions always speak louder than words, I find and being kind to yourself by seeking help is the first crucial step.
