PSA: Being A Perfectionist Does Not Mean You Have OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations that make them feel driven to do something repetitively.
While most Malaysians would have heard of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many still have an incorrect understanding of what actions count as having OCD
In a recent Facebook post, Public Health Malaysia sought to dispel some common misconceptions about OCD.
"Maybe there are some people who like to claim they have 'OCD'. However, seeking perfectionism does not mean you have OCD," the post explained.
Actions such as cleaning your house until it's spotless or parking straight are merely signs of being a perfectionist and do not mean you have OCD
Other actions that do not count as OCD include:
- Washing your hands until they're clean before dinner,
- Examining your house keys every night, and
- Musicians who practise diligently for a perfect performance.
Unlike being a perfectionist, people who have OCD tend to feel driven to do something repetitively.
Sometimes, those actions can feel out of their control as well.
According to Psychiatry.org, OCD is "an anxiety disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions)".
Public Health Malaysia provided some examples of OCD compulsions:
- Washing your hands more than 100 times a day until they are red and swollen,
- Examining your house keys, unlocking and locking (the door) for half an hour each day,
- School students who knock on their class door 14 times a day, and
- Correcting your parking position by going in and out of the box for an hour.
"If you experience any of these symptoms, get an appointment with a psychiatry clinic through a health clinic or priavte clinic doctor's recommendation," the page advised.
