Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
A.
Background of the
Study
Oftentimes,
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is connoted as a hindrance. Because it is an anxiety
disorder in which the sufferer is somewhat bothered and forced by unwelcome
thoughts that produce uneasiness, fear, or worry. Therefore, sufferers of OCD
are often seen as people who are forced to repetitively wash their hands, check
the door locks and others by intrusive thoughts. (http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd)
People
with this disorder are bothered with uncontrollable thoughts. They are driven
to perform repetitive acts to relieve the stress they’re feeling. An obsession
is an unpleasant, unwelcome thought, urge or image that keeps entering the
person's mind, eventually causing severe anxiety. While a compulsion is a
repetitive behavior carried out by the person with the obsessive thought as a
means of preventing that obsession from occurring, or relieving the anxiety it
causes. (http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/DS00189.html)
Sufferers,
mostly children are being bullied because of their OCD. Children like Alissa,
17, and Mystery, 10 who both suffer from OCD have had feelings of needing to
act in certain ways that are out of the ordinary, as well as intense fears.
Mystery said,
"Sometimes I feel like, with my OCD,
I feel sad. It feels like a
darkness
has overtaken me. It's a real bad feeling"
She says this so because she always get
picked on by her schoolmates whenever she would suggest to other students that
they also wash their hands before eating meals and some also say OCD interferes
with schoolwork. (http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/11/health/ocd-kids-website)
They
develop unusual behavior which later on becomes habits. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a
psychological/neurological condition which alters the living of a normal,
everyday life of a person. It takes on many forms such as even number of steps,
stepping in line with certain objects, taking a bath every single time in the
bathroom, checking to make sure no murder, and perfect sex. Many may think they have the weirdest habit,
but the truth is, we all have OCD behavior that only comes in different forms.
So keep your head up and know that you are not alone. (http://voices.yahoo.com/5-most-unusual-ocd-behaviors-6366188.html?cat=5)
Most
OCD sufferers complain because they finish less work for they have to do it
repetitively. It is given that the
sufferers develop their routine or ritual in which they have series of
movements that they have to do repetitively to ease their uncontrollable
thoughts. Therefore, they are not able to be that productive because they will
not move on unless they become satisfied with their first work. Studies also
show that sufferers most especially children, share the same behavior of
repetitive movements in the clinical groups with children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD), although children with OCD engaged in more repetitive behavior
focused around routines and rituals. It is relevant for they share same
behavior and children with ASD often are less productive. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16865546)
OCD
is often associated with anxiety. It is a given that obsessive-compulsive
disorder is often associated with anxiety and it often strikes 1-2% of the
population. Anxiety is an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied
by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints and
rumination. It is a feeling of fear, uneasiness and worry, usually generalized
as an overreaction to something that is seen as menacing. (http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/ocd.php)
These
are some of the main reasons why OCD is seen as a disorder which does you no
good. Consider first its name, it is
called a disorder, that’s why it’s always given a negative view. And the major
criticisms come from the negative effects when it is not properly controlled.
But this paper attempts to present some
advantages of having an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Their habit becomes discipline and training.
Also, because sufferers think too much, they can easily adapt to sudden change
of situations for they have anticipated it already. So instead of having the
mentality to completely get rid of OCD, this paper focuses on how to turn it
around and make it as an advantage.
B.
Statement of the
Problem
This study aims to answer this question:
1.
What
are the advantages of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
C.
Significance of
the Study
People with OCD. The researcher would be able to help people
who are suffering with OCD in a way that if they do not know yet how to take
control or manage their disorder properly, they would be able to gain knowledge
on how they could turn their OCD to an advantage. This paper aims to lessen the
negative connotation about OCD, and sufferers could benefit in that. The
methods can be a good practice for them so it would lessen their stress because
of having OCD and can make the best out of them.
Parents of sufferers especially children.
Parents, most especially parents of children who already suffer from OCD would
also benefit from this study because they could understand better and they
understand the condition of their children completely. They could act as a
guide for them to be optimistic about their OCD and eventually introduce them
onto how they can make OCD a beneficiary in some ways for them. In this way,
their children could later manage their disorder and they would get bullied
less and their “hindrance” will slowly transform into their advantage.
Future Researchers. This study is helpful
for future researchers to make similar study because there is a need to instill
into our society that people with OCD should not be discriminated. The hope for
the impression with OCD sufferers wait to be changed and the researcher
believes that if further studies will be made, there might be an improvement in
treating well the sufferers of the obsessive-compulsive disorder most
especially for the sake of the children being bullied for this disorder.
D.
Scope and
Delimitation
This paper
focuses on the advantages and benefits of having Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It aims to help people suffering from this disorder.
Due to the
broadness of the topic, the study will no longer discuss the different
categories of OCD such as; Washers who are afraid of contamination, Checkers
who repeatedly check things, Doubters and sinners who are afraid if everything
isn’t perfect, Counters and arrangers who are obsessed with symmetry, and Hoarders
who fear something bad might happen if they throw a certain thing away. The
benefits to be discussed are generalized and applicable to all categories of
OCD therefore there is no need for further discussion for there will be no
categorizing in presenting the benefits of OCD.
E.
Materials and
Methods
This study uses a
descriptive method for the researcher aims to answer and present what are the
benefits and advantages of having and OCD. This method is defined as a study in
which one collects information without changing the environment like
manipulating.
Information that will be
used for this paper will be properly referenced and will be gathered from
various sources such as different journal articles.
F.
Definition of
Terms
o
Checkers
- people who repeatedly check things that they associate with harm or danger.
o
Compulsion
- an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (2012 Merriam-Webster
Dictionary, Inc.)
o Hoarding - a form
of mental illness, where the perceived importance of the hoarded items far
exceeds their true value. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding)
o Ritual - A
detailed method of procedure faithfully or regularly followed. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ritual)
o Washers - are
afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing
compulsions. (http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm)
Chapter 2
DISCUSSION
What are the advantages of
obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Definition of
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder which is characterized with compulsive
actions such as hoarding, counting, checking and cleaning, and obsessive
thoughts. Examples of these are repetitively checking if the door is locked and
repetitive hand-washing. An obsession is an unpleasant, unwelcome thought, urge
or image that keeps entering the person's mind, eventually causing severe
anxiety. While a compulsion is a repetitive behavior carried out by the person
with the obsessive thought as a means of preventing that obsession from
occurring, or relieving the anxiety it causes. People with obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) feel the need to check things repeatedly, or have certain
thoughts or perform routines and rituals over and over. They are also
encouraged or driven to perform certain tasks. The thoughts and rituals
associated with OCD cause distress and get in the way of daily life. (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml)
Anxiety is your brain’s warning
system. Whenever you feel anxious, it
feels like you are in danger. Anxiety is
an emotion that tells you to respond, react, protect yourself, do something! But there are times that you confuse whether
the fear you sense is irrelevant and doesn’t make sense. Then you would come to
thinking whether the brain or do feelings lie? Unfortunately, if you have OCD,
they do lie at times. If you have OCD,
the warning system in your brain is not working correctly. Your brain is telling you that you are in
danger when you are not. When scientists compare pictures of the brains of
groups of people with OCD, they can see that some areas of the brain are different
than the brains of people who don’t have OCD this is why the warning system
part of the brain with the people having OCD does not function properly. Those
tortured with OCD are desperately trying to get away from paralyzing, unending
anxiety. (http://www.ocfoundation.org/whatisocd.aspx)
Yes, most people
who have OCD are aware of their condition that they have obsessions and
compulsions which are irrational, yet they feel powerless to stop them. They
would have a hard time curing the disorder, have tried different kinds of
treatments to make them go away but it just doesn’t simply work. What if
they’re not meant to be cured? What if you just have to learn to realize that
all you needed to do is to cope with it? You just needed to learn how to adapt
with it, control it and turn it to your advantage. That’s why the researcher
came to researching how and what the OCD offers for benefits. But the benefits
of it are conditional; it won’t be able to cover all the aspects of your life,
only some. You may be able to use OCD as an advantage in your study or career
life but may not serve you well in your social or romantic relationships. You
just need to balance it so you may not struggle with the different aspects in
your life. (http://www.examiner.com/article/ocd-to-your-advantage)
However,
obsessive-compulsive disorder can’t be all bad, even with all the negative
connotations, there can still be hope by dealing with the core symptoms of OCD.
There are several therapies and medication to cure this disorder and there are
also different ways to prevent, like learning how to face your fears can
gradually prevent development of OCD, but there is also another choice. You
could choose to develop it and learn to control it. OCD can be viewed from a
“disorder” into a “special skill” wherein some people having OCD learned to direct
it for it to become their advantage if there would be proper direction and
control. They’ve adapted and learned that OCD helps them in certain ways, that
some even choose not to have their disorder cured. (http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/7246_how_i_used_ocd_to_my_advantage_despite_its_debilitating_effects)
Advantages of
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
A.
Gives you the
extra drive to get things done
OCD
can have different kinds of compulsion and it takes on many forms. One of which
is it gives you the extra drive to get things done. You won’t be able to stop
unless you complete your task for you will be bothered by thoughts to fulfill
these tasks. This, for normal people may be seen as a compulsion but for people
having OCD, it is just a form of their habit in which they are encouraged to do
so. This is considered to be one of the upside effects of obsessive-compulsive
disorder.
For
most people, they will be contented with just finishing the job or even halfway
through it, but for people with OCD, they are perfectionists and they won’t
rest until it’s completely done. One even stated “I also have a touch of
perfectionism, which means that 100% for me is probably 120-150% for most
everybody else.” (http://www.rebeccamorn.com/mind/?p=661) Becca, the
author, stated that once started on a certain project, it is very difficult to
stop until it’s completely finished. And by finished, for some people, it may
be too much for they are perfectionists. It is a compulsion of someone who has
an OCD. But it evolved and later turned into a habit which makes it good
because it turns into a ritual or a daily routine.
“Without
the drive of obsession I would never have had all the memorabilia of my life, I
would not have had the urge to keep writing, I would not have been a
perfectionist to learn how to write better and make it the best it could be. And now the obsession that has dominated my
life for all these years has been put to rest.”
-Amanda (http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/7246_how_i_used_ocd_to_my_advantage_despite_its_debilitating_effects) OCD causes
these uncontrollable thoughts and with proper control, they learned how to
manage it and turned it into their advantage.
By developing
this kind of habit, it is not difficult for them anymore to perform such tasks.
It became a disciplinary training, therefore, difficult tasks like these are
now part of their daily routine.
B. B. Give you more focus
Nikola Tesla invented fluorescent
lighting, the Tesla induction motor, the Tesla coil, and developed the alternating
current (AC) electrical supply system that included a motor and transformer,
and 3-phase electricity. (http://www.schoolpsychologistfiles.com/10-most-extreme-cases-of-ocd-in-history) He is
recognized as one of the greatest inventors of the 20th century. The
foundations of modern electrical engineering, x-rays, radar and radio all came
from his remarkable brain.
But what is known to only a few is that
Tesla also had an obsessive mind. He
showed signs and symptoms he is suffering from OCD. Tesla has germ phobia, obsessed with the
number three, and before entering a building he would often feel the urge to
walk around the block three times. He would disconcert guests by estimating the
mass of his meal before taking a bite and counting jaw movements while he was
eating. What’s more, he always used 18 napkins and would not eat alone in the
company of a woman. Tesla also developed a phobia of round objects, particularly
women’s earrings and jewelry in general, and would refuse to shake hands upon
meeting people. He also couldn’t bear to touch hair.
Despite his obsessive mind, Tesla managed
to control his OCD and claimed that it helped him to be more concentrated and
focused on his experiments. Similar to Howard Hughes who also had germ phobia,
they turned out to be successful and earned more focus because of OCD. (http://www.schoolpsychologistfiles.com/10-most-extreme-cases-of-ocd-in-history)
C.
Easily adapt to
sudden change of situation
“In general, when
real life delivers a crisis, persons with anxiety disorders, and specifically
those with OCD, tend to manage these crises somewhat more effectively than the
population at large. The very nature of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the mind's
relentless and endless effort to process and prepare for the most extreme
nightmarish scenarios. The anxious mind compels people to mentally anticipate
the worst possible scenario and not the negative outcomes which life typically
delivers. Our usual world predominantly delivers circumstances to us which
don't come close to matching the level of negativity that people with OCD
consistently prepare themselves for.” -Steven Phillipson, Ph.D. (http://www.ocdonline.com/articlephillsept11.php)
It is stated in
the article that people without OCD have the tendency to overreact and perform
less appropriate reactions than those with OCD. This is because people having
OCD already anticipated the possible events that might occur and have already
prepared for it. This is due to their compulsion and anxiety which causes them
to think more frequently and driven to perform such tasks that may seem
excessive but are actually necessary.
“Persons with OCD
who suffer from contamination concerns are going to be more prone to cleaning
off all dust particles or to hyper-vigilance about hand washing, and might
consider buying protective devices such as gas masks or antibiotics. Persons
who have a fear of flying will tend to have their condition exacerbated by the
ambiguities of those who are concerned about crashing, as opposed to those who
are more concerned about having panic attacks on board in flight.” -Steven
Phillipson, Ph.D. (http://www.ocdonline.com/articlephillsept11.php) People with OCD
will extend their preparations and preventions just because they are driven to
by their anxiety. This is how they easily adapt to sudden change of situations.
D.
One of the things
that make you unique
Having OCD,
notice how the researcher chose the term “having” instead of “suffering from”,
because it immediately gives a negative impression, you may be very careful, organized,
and detail-oriented. You're unlikely to make many mistakes, miss a deadline. Your
inclination to pore over details will probably ensure that all angles will be
covered. You value certainty, sameness and predictability in life. You can make
a terrific partner or employee, someone who is reliable and dependable. You
will persevere at a task for minutes, hours, even days to get it done
"just right". You are the last person to bend or break the rules. You
are probably smart. It takes serious mental horsepower to anticipate real or
imagined dangers many steps in advance. This is a summary of the benefits
of having OCD. (http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder_OCD/forum/4803483-benefits-ocd/page-2)
Obsessive-compulsive
disorder may be majorly inclined into a negative view, but with proper control
and if learned how to adapt with it, upside effects may show. Coping with OCD
helps the person not suffer, instead, helps them to accept living with it and
actually get better by it.
E.
Community Benefits
“It
has been proposed that OCD could reflect an ancient form of behavior specialization
and originated as a group selected adaptive trait in traditional societies.
Individuals with specialist OCD behaviors in hunting and gathering cultures
could have provided an advantage to the group as a whole. Society could have
benefited from containing individuals that possessed compulsions such as
checking, counting, hoarding, requiring precision and washing. According to
this group selection theory OCD may be a disadvantage for the individual;
however it is adaptable for the survival of the group.” (http://ocdworld.weebly.com/5/post/2013/03/benefits-of-ocd.html) It proves that
OCD doesn’t affect all aspects of your life. It might not even affect part of
yours at all, but it becomes a benefit for the group who has people with OCD
for specific reasons.
Group selection
in this sense is often called multi-level
selection, because it posits social organization with a complexity above
dyadic interactions of individuals. It is often maintained by critics of the
notion that group selection asserts that a behavior can spread in a population
because of the benefits they bestow on groups even though they cause the
individuals who exhibit this behavior, as a whole, sacrifice fitness by aiding
the group. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_selection) It originated
from the idea of Wynne-Edwards, the idea was started as an argument "for
the good of the species" G.C. Williams responded with an emphasis on a
genetic perspective of natural selection in opposition to the idea of group
selection. The idea has been altered for so many times that’s why its
contributions to biology are no longer visible. (http://ib.berkeley.edu/courses/ib160/past_papers/beroukhim.html) In relation to
OCD advantages, it is said that because of this group selection, symptoms of
OCD are based on behaviors which are by themselves advantageous helping
individuals to survive and replicate.
F.
Detail Oriented
People
with OCD are very careful when it comes to details, this is because of the
unusual behaviors that they develop and then evolved to habits. Their practice
harnesses their behavior, that’s why they hardly miss deadlines, remember where
things have been left because they normally do it and it’s not hard for them
anymore to look for it or to maintain things. This is because the condition
gives one an inclination to go over details several times ensuring that all the
angles are well covered. (http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-live-with-ocd-and-use-it-to-your-advantage)
Example
of it is the keys to your front door or car, for most people, after using it;
they would just simply put it somewhere near where they had rested. Then when
the time comes that they would need it again, they would have a hard time
searching for it. That’s because they don’t practice into putting it in one
place so that they would know where to look for it, which is what people with
OCD do. They try to keep things in perspective and maintain the way it is
that’s why they’d know where to look whenever time of need arises.
G.
Develop Practices
and Routines
"It
causes you to focus on things that most people don't care about" basketball
coach Albert Holley said. He developed a routine and some rituals which
allow him to do certain things: The clothes are washed and neatly folded. The
dishes are clean, and the kitchen's granite countertop is free of fingerprint
smudges. The rest of the house is just as spotless. Because of his OCD, he
became very detailed with his tasks and he created order and disciplined
himself to follow these certain orders, mainly because his compulsions
encouraged him so. Some question how he manages to do these with all his work.
Some says, probably, he wakes up an extra hour or two earlier than he needs to
in order to do the stuff so that he can leave. He does his job and he functions
adequately. Whether he is imposing himself or not, it seems to serve him well.
And this is how creating an order makes a difference. (http://www.winninghoops.com/pages/Breaking-News---Coach-Uses-OCD-Symptoms-To-His-Advantage.php)
Chapter
3
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
This
paper attempted to present the benefits of having the obsessive-compulsive
disorder.
The research
method used in this study is the descriptive method wherein the datum gathered
are from various documents and articles to answer the research question posed.
The research findings are the following:
1.
People having OCD are driven by
anxiety to get things done, which makes them very productive and
perfectionists. They aren’t able to rest
unless the task is fulfilled, rather, they are encouraged to complete the task
until their mind and body can rest.
2.
OCD gives us more focus. Despite
the negative effects of the disorder, some people having OCD claims it helps
them be better because of it.
3.
The obsessive-compulsive disorder
helps people by letting them easily adapt to sudden change of situations. The
reason for this is because people with OCD tend to over think and it helps them
anticipate possible events that might occur.
4.
OCD makes you unique. If proper
control is established, you may be able to develop certain skills that are only
limited and attained by people with OCD.
5.
OCD sufferers are very organized, and
detail oriented. It is very unlikely to find a person with OCD missing a
deadline or making any errors. This is because the condition gives one an
inclination to go over details several times ensuring that all the angles are
well covered.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on
the findings of the study, the following conclusions are drawn:
1.
Only few learn to adapt and cope
with the disorder therefore OCD as an upside effect is not widely known and
still given a negative view by majority.
2.
People with OCD are not well
educated with the benefits they might obtain, therefore, most choose to cure it
rather than to leave it untreated.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After
drawing the conclusions of the study, the researcher hereby make the following
suggestions/recommendations:
1.
As someone having OCD, you have
the freewill with what to do with the disorder, but having the disorder cured
is not always the best solution. Learn to adapt to it and discover how it may
benefit you according to your situation because there are positive effects that
the OCD might bring, it only waits for you to discover it.
2.
Family, relatives or friends of
someone with OCD may also help the person with the disorder by educating them
and guiding them along the way until the person would adapt completely and
learn how to be better by the disorder.
References:
Electronic Media
“10 Most Extreme Cases of OCD in History” Retrieved August 21, 2013 from http://www.schoolpsychologistfiles.com/10-most-extreme-cases-of-ocd-in-history
“Benefits of OCD?” Retrieved August 27, 2013 from
Beroukhim, Rebecca (1995) “Group Selection” Retrieved August 27, 2013
from
Graham , Glenn “Coach Uses OCD Symptoms To His Advantage” Retrieved
August 27, 2013 from http://www.winninghoops.com/pages/Breaking-News---Coach-Uses-OCD-Symptoms-To-His-Advantage.php
“Group Selection” Retrieved August 27, 2013 from
“How I used OCD to my advantage, despite its debilitating effects”
Retrieved August 20, 2013 from http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/7246_how_i_used_ocd_to_my_advantage_despite_its_debilitating_effects
“How to live with mild OCD and use it to your advantage” Retrieved August
27, 2013 from http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-live-with-ocd-and-use-it-to-your-advantage
Jan, Rita (2010) “5 Most Unusual
OCD Behaviors” Retrieved August 19, 2013 from http://voices.yahoo.com/5-most-unusual-ocd-behaviors-6366188.html?cat=5
Landau, Elizabeth
(2011) “OCD in children: 'A darkness has
overtaken me'” Retrieved August 19, 2013 from http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/11/health/ocd-kids-website
“Obsessive-compulsive disorder “ Retrieved August 18, 2013 from http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/DS00189.html
“Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD)” Retrieved August 18, 2013 from
http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group” Retrieved August 21, 2013
from http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder_OCD/forum/4803483-benefits-ocd/page-2
“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD” Retrieved August 19, 2013 from
Phillipson, Steven “OCD
and Reflections on September 11th” Retrieved August 21, 2013
from http://www.ocdonline.com/articlephillsept11.php
“Repetitive behavior in children with high functioning autism and
obsessive compulsive disorder” Retrieved August 19, 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16865546
“What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?”
Retrieved August 19, 2013 from http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/ocd.php
“What is OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?” Retrieved August 19,
2013 from http://www.ocfoundation.org/whatisocd.aspx
.jpg)
