• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not a serious mental Illness. In fact, all of us can be OCD about things
• It is not a big deal. If we ignore the thoughts and relax then there is nothing to worry about.
• OCD is only associated with cleanliness. It is only limited to cleaning, keeping the surroundings neat and washing one’s hand repeatedly.
• Once you are diagnosed with OCD there is no way that you can lead a normal functional life after.
• OCD only affects those who had childhood trauma or conflict.
• There are no symptoms of OCD. It can only be diagnosed with a scan.
• Every person who loves cleanliness has OCD.
• It can only affect adults. Children can never be diagnosed with OCD.
• Because OCD is all about cleanliness it is a disease which affects women. Men and children cannot be diagnosed with OCD.

• OCD is not a trait. It is not a part of someone’s personality. It is a serious mental Illness which is commonly seen. If it is a trait a person has control over it. He/ She can choose whether they want to do certain actions or not. With OCD there’s an unrelenting thought which causes anxiety and to lessen the impact of it, people engage in compulsive actions.
• A person diagnosed with OCD cannot simply block their thoughts.
• OCD is not extreme to stress. The stressful situation might cause distress to a person diagnosed with OCD, stress doesn’t cause it.
• OCD is not trying to help people to look at things logically, it is about working on their anxieties.
• OCD is not limited to cleanliness. Obsessions can vary from cleanliness to sexual thoughts which are unwanted, to hurt others etc. The anxiety led by these obsessions diminishes with compulsions of actions such as repeating an action, checking for things, counting and recounting of things etc.
• People with OCD can lead a healthy and functional life with treatment. Medication coupled with therapy helps in treating the illness.
• OCD can occur at any point from childhood to adulthood but most commonly between late teens to early stages of adulthood. OCD affects children, men and women equally. There is no distinction based on the gender of the person, financial background, ethnicity or religion of that person.
• For most of the patients, behavioural therapy and medication are effective as a treatment method.

OCD is an anxiety disorder, which requires a professional help. Ignoring or hiding it, will only worsen the situation. For OCD related counselling call 704115338.