"I'm so OCD": the reality of OCD | Jayde Edgren | TEDxUBC

Summary

This video script narrates the personal journey of an individual with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), detailing their experiences with intrusive thoughts and the impact on their life. From childhood habits to severe cases like Homosexual and Pedophilic OCD, the speaker candidly discusses their coping mechanisms, the role of reassurance, and the struggle to separate their identity from their thoughts. The narrative also touches on the support from family and the resilience developed through overcoming challenges, concluding with a message of hope and self-determination.

Takeaways

• 😔 OCD is often misunderstood as being about cleanliness or extreme organization, but it's much more complex and can manifest in various ways.
• 📚 The speaker's personal experiences with OCD began at a young age and involved compulsive behaviors and intrusive thoughts.
• 🤔 Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and distressing thoughts that can persist for a long time, causing significant anxiety for those with OCD.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The speaker developed HOCD (homosexual OCD), a fear of being gay, after a seemingly innocuous event, highlighting how specific triggers can lead to OCD obsessions.
• 🔁 The speaker's experience with HOCD involved taking online quizzes repeatedly, trying to find reassurance about their sexual orientation.
• 🏛️ The speaker identified as bisexual as a coping mechanism to deal with HOCD, illustrating one strategy to manage intrusive thoughts.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family support is crucial for individuals with OCD, and the speaker acknowledges the love and understanding of their family despite the challenges.
• 🧐 The speaker's OCD also led to POCD (pedophilic OCD), a fear of being a pedophile, showing how OCD can manifest in various forms of intrusive thoughts.
• 💪 Overcoming OCD requires learning to separate one's identity from intrusive thoughts and developing resilience against them.
• 👶 The speaker's OCD was triggered by a traumatic childhood incident, indicating that OCD can be activated by specific events in one's life.
• 🌈 The speaker emphasizes the importance of perseverance and self-belief in overcoming challenges, drawing on personal experiences to inspire others.

Q & A

What is the first misconception about OCD that the speaker mentions?

The first misconception mentioned is that people usually think of OCD as being a germaphobe or someone who is highly organized.

How does the speaker describe their experience with OCD in terms of daily life?

The speaker describes their experience as one where OCD manifests through intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, such as playing Russian Roulette with antidepressants and having a fear of lying.

What is an example of an intrusive thought the speaker experienced?

An example of an intrusive thought the speaker experienced is the fear of driving off a bridge into a river, which led to avoiding bridges, water bodies, and even placing paper towels in their mouth before sleeping to prevent drowning.

What is 'hocd' as described in the script?

Hocd, or homosexual OCD, is a type of OCD where the individual has intrusive thoughts and fears about the possibility of being gay, which is not something they desire.

How did the speaker initially cope with their hocd?

The speaker initially coped with their hocd by identifying as bisexual as a way to accept the intrusive thoughts as a possibility and to alleviate the discomfort caused by these thoughts.

What was the speaker's realization after moving to University and experimenting?

The speaker realized that they were not gay and that they had mistaken wanting to be someone with wanting to be with someone, leading to a better understanding of their own sexuality.

What is 'pocd' as described in the script?

Pocd, or pedophilic OCD, is a type of OCD where the individual has obsessive fears about the possibility of being a pedophile, often triggered by normal thoughts about children.

How did the speaker's family react to their OCD?

The speaker's family, especially the mother, was very supportive and understanding, despite the speaker saying hurtful things to them during their struggles with OCD.

What was the inciting incident that the speaker believes triggered their OCD?

The inciting incident was a misunderstanding when the speaker was five years old, where their father misheard them and accused them of having an inappropriate desire, causing a traumatic experience.

How does the speaker view their past struggles with OCD?

The speaker views their past struggles as a part of their life that has made them stronger and more appreciative of the good times, emphasizing that their experiences have shaped them into who they are today.

What advice does the speaker's economics professor give them?

The economics professor advises the speaker that 'life is what happens when you're busy making other plans,' a quote from John Lennon, to emphasize that one should not rely on others or external factors for success.