Unless you have, or live with someone who has this disorder, you don't know or understand what it's like.
On a day to day basis it can be a struggle to deal with it. For people who don't know what it is here's the definition.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
My mother struggles with it. When you live with someone who has this disorder, it can wear on you. It can make you sad, and even angry. I don't understand why she has to do the things she does.
The twist is, growing up she didn't have it. When she was about 45 she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, and even though it wasn't cancerous it still grew. Her doctor suggested chemo, and radiation.
After that she was a different person. It was hard, and only gets harder.
Growing up she was literally the perfect stay at home mom, when I say perfect, I mean she did everything she could to make sure I was fed, clean, had toys, and talked to me as a mom and best friend.
I miss those days. The days I took for granted. Now everything's different, she's different.
I love her just the same, if not more.
Her OCD consists of non stop talking and asking questions. You can tell her to stop but she literally can't.
It's frustrating, and I try to keep my patience.
Not all rituals or habits are compulsions. Everyone double checks things sometimes. But a person with OCD generally:
-Can't control his or her thoughts or behaviors, even when those thoughts or behaviors are recognized as excessive
-Spends at least 1 hour a day on these thoughts or behaviors
-Doesn’t get pleasure when performing the behaviors or rituals, but may feel brief relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause
-Experiences significant problems in their daily life due to these thoughts or behaviors
For people who don't know what it is, it's hard to understand or grasp completely.
For people who know what it is, it's still hard to grasp and understand.
I love my mom. I always will, and I'll always stand by her side.