Thinking too much

OBSESSIVE Compulsive Disorder generally makes us think about compulsive behaviour like hand-washing, arranging items neatly, or checking over and over that things have been unplugged.

So much so that daily living becomes an endless round of obsessive thinking followed by compulsive actions. It’s exhausting, little understood, anxiety-ridden, and not much fun for either the sufferer or those around them.

A friend of mine, J, has the kind of ‘classic’ OCD outlined in Dr Judith Rapoport’s book The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing. J is a washer and checker; her OCD flares up in response to difficult situations (a miscarriage, a relationship break up), and manifests itself by making her feel that she is ‘contaminated’. During an episode, which can last weeks or even months, she won’t share her drinking bottles with anyone, or touch anyone unless she has washed her hands raw in antibacterial gel.