The media have got to stop dressing OCD up as a hero, when if we were really going to personify it, it’s the devil in disguise.
People and companies with big platforms have been trivialising OCD.
I’ve seen so much stigma in the media lately surrounding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Whilst it’s usually water off a ducks back, the pandemic has unravelled some hard stigma busting work. People and companies with big platforms have been trivialising OCD. Thousands of people are reaching their platforms which means thousands of people are reading something very damaging. I won’t be naming them, and I’m not shaming them or blaming them, neither is it their fault that they think the way they do about it. But to get rid of stigma, we need to call it out, or we will be stuck in this vicious loop forever.
To be 100% clear, OCD isn’t beneficial. It’s not a good thing to have and nothing good comes of it.
Lately OCD has been described in the media as ‘beneficial’ and ‘a blessing’. To be 100% clear, OCD isn’t beneficial. It’s not a good thing to have and nothing good comes of it. It’s a mental health illness which has previously been ranked as one of the top 10 most disabling illnesses of all time by the WHO.
It is common for people to think that OCD is the reason that an individual has become successful, paid attention to detail, given them highly competent organisation skills or made them careful. But the truth is, it’s who you are as a person that brings positive things. OCD is a painful illness dressed up as a sufferers best friend – not a personality trait. The media have got to stop dressing OCD up as a hero, when if we were really going to personify it, it’s the devil in disguise.
We all have mental health. We all get anxious, we all get nervous and we all deal with things differently. But mental health is very different to mental illness, and you can’t be ‘a bit OCD’.
Children, Young People and Parents lead. Blog written as somebody with lived experience of OCD.
If you are reading this and you have seen OCD being trivialised before, but you aren’t sure how to respond to it. I totally understand. The word snowflake is tossed around whenever anyone ever tries to call out stigma, it isn’t easy. Boston Neurobehavioral Associates. are currently working on a generic response message which could help people to know what to say, and how to address it carefully and respectfully. I’m happy for anyone to drop me a message if they ever need help with how to respond.
What Does Not Cause OCD?
It is really important for you to understand what “does not” cause OCD. Otherwise, you might fall for the myths that float regarding the disease.
Poor Parenting
OCD is not caused by poor parenting, personal weakness, or lack of discipline. It’s a recognized mental health disorder with biological underpinnings, not a character flaw.
Being Tidy, Organized, or Detail-Oriented
Liking order or having high standards is not OCD. OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts and compulsions that cause distress.
Bad Parenting or Family Style
There’s no evidence that parenting approaches “cause” OCD. Family environment can affect coping and stress levels, but OCD is not the result of how someone was raised.
Lack of Willpower or Self-Control
People with OCD cannot simply “stop” their obsessions or compulsions. The disorder reflects differences in brain threat-detection and habit circuits, not weakness or poor discipline.
Moral Character or “What Your Thoughts Say About You”
Intrusive thoughts in OCD are ego-dystonic (against a person’s values) and do not reflect true desires or character.
How OCD Typically Starts and Why Onset Timing Matters
OCD often begins in two distinct windows: late childhood to early adolescence, and the late teens to early twenties. These periods are marked by significant neurological change and social stress, both of which can activate underlying vulnerabilities.
In children, symptoms sometimes look different than in adults. A child might insist on a specific bedtime ritual or repeatedly ask a parent for reassurance. In adolescents, the content of obsessions often shifts toward themes of harm.
Contact Boston Neurobehavioral Associates for OCD Treatment
OCD is a clinically complex condition. It is necessary for everyone suffering from the condition to get proper therapy treatment from healthcare professionals. BNBA brings the depth of expertise that OCD and other mental health conditions genuinely require.
Book a consultation with our experts and take the first step to treat OCD.
Reducing stigma means less people suffering in silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is OCD Caused by Bad Parenting?
A1: No. OCD is a brain-based condition shaped by genetics, brain circuitry, and environment. Parenting style does not cause OCD.
Q2: Can OCD Develop Suddenly?
A2: It can. While OCD usually builds gradually, some people experience a rapid onset.
Q3: Is There a Single Root Cause of OCD?
A3: No, there is no single root cause of OCD. It comes from the interaction of many genetic variants, differences in brain function, and environmental experiences.