OCD Facts: What OCD Isn't
What OCD Isn’t
As education and public awareness about OCD have grown, so has the use of the term “OCD” as a description of some kinds of behaviors that are not OCD.
When people use the terms ”obsessed,” “obsessive” and “compulsive” incorrectly, it leads to misunderstanding about OCD. You may have even heard someone say, “That person (or child) must have OCD” when describing someone who is preoccupied with orderliness, has a strong interest in a subject or ardently performs an activity. As all educators know, labeling anyone, especially a child, can be misleading and even harmful. Incorrectly labeling a child can have an even more serious impact.
OCPD - Easily Confused With OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is sometimes mistaken for OCD. While the names are confusingly similar, the disorders are quite different. OCD is an anxiety disorder; OCPD is a personality disorder.
Usually identified in early adulthood, OCPD involves a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and control in virtually every part of an individual’s life. People with OCPD may spend an extreme amount of time cleaning their homes because they want it to be immaculate. They may want their closets to be particularly orderly and aligned, and they may become annoyed if their orderliness is disturbed. But rather than being anxious about this, they see their behavior and thoughts as being OK.
While this OCPD behavior may seem “odd” or be frustrating to others, it is not OCD. Individuals with OCPD like the world the way they shape it. In contrast, people with OCD do not like what is happening to them and are overwhelmed with the thoughts and fears that intrude into their minds. They want their obsessive thoughts, fears, doubts, and urges to perform compulsive acts to stop, but they don’t know how to stop “the monster” in their head.
Age-Appropriate Routines and Games
It’s important to note that most, if not all, children exhibit developmentally normal repetitive behaviors or routines. Superstitions, ritualistic games, and repetitive play are characteristic of normal child development. In fact, many childhood behaviors enhance socialization and advance development. These activities are not indicative of OCD. For example:
- Morning or evening routines or rituals: Younger children may have regular routines they follow, or want their parents to participate in with them. The child may choose to get dressed in the morning in a certain order (shirt first, then pants, then socks, as an example). They may want to eat breakfast in a certain order (a spoon of cereal followed by a sip of juice until the breakfast is completed). Or, they may want the parent to read them a particular story over and over, or sing a particular song at bedtime. This is comforting to the child and, as long as it is age-appropriate, is not a cause for concern and does not usually signify OCD
However, a 14-year old who still feels compelled to perform these routines or rituals in order to get dressed, eat breakfast or go to sleep at night, becomes highly agitated if the routine is interrupted or changed, and cannot stop performing the routine, is exhibiting worrisome behavior.
- Childhood games: Children may engage in repetitive word games or songs, which are normal. For example, youngsters who enjoy playing the game “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back” and avoid walking on cracks are exhibiting normal development.
By contrast, a child who has OCD might not be able to engage in this game, believing that by stepping on a crack, he or she could cause serious harm to his or her mother. The child could have great anxiety and distress over this.
Other Non-OCD Behaviors
OCD does not include having a strong interest in collecting items or in being drawn to a particular subject. Children often collect stuffed animals, dolls or cartoon memorabilia; they enjoy receiving or acquiring items they are interested in and are happy to talk about their collections or show them to others. Similarly, a young person who is interested in a sport may talk about his or her favorite sport or team players and may be able to remember a wealth of sports statistics. Normal age-appropriate interests in a subject do not indicate the presence of OCD.
School personnel need to be able to distinguish normal, age-appropriate interests not only from OCD but also from the unusual patterns of interest exhibited by children with Asperger disorder. In these cases, children have an all-encompassing preoccupation with a narrow, restricted interest that is either abnormal in intensity or focus (such as a consuming interest in train schedules).
In older children, teens and adults, OCD is not characterized by stalkers or fans who are reportedly “obsessed” with celebrities, including television or movie stars, popular singers or professional sports team members.
Children or teens who have a “crush” on another person (especially a celebrity) do not have the crush because of OCD -- even if they seem to be “obsessed” with wanting to read every magazine article about their “idol,” collecting fan memorabilia, reading and contributing to online blogs and wanting to buy every CD, MP3, DVD or video download of their favorite personality. In addition, OCD is not characterized by compulsive lying, shopping, or gambling or other behaviors that exhibit difficulties with impulse control.
It’s important for all school personnel to know the difference between what is “normal” childhood and adolescent behavior and that which is potentially OCD. Getting familiar with the symptoms is a good start.