Do You See Positive Sides to OCD Behaviour?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is a term that many of us flippantly use to describe ourselves or others who are anal about details and unyielding. The phrase, “I’m a dog with a bone!” aptly describes those in that definitive mindset. It typically carries negative connotations. Here is an overview from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health that describes the disorder.

This disorder that can be debilitating and difficult to deal with in others has strengths. It is our choice to see, celebrate and support those strengths. In doing so the negative sides of OCD are tempered.

A friend of mine, a Glasser Choice Theory accredited counsellor, shared that one day she was coaching someone who happened to describe their struggles with OCD behaviours. The person gave my friend great details as to their OCD struggles. Their focus was exclusively on the weaknesses. My friend paused then said to them “geez, then you must be exceptionally good at tracking details, precision, and follow-through.” She continued to highlight the positive sides to their OCD behaviour. What my friend found interesting was that this person looked at her as if a light bulb went off, saying, “Geez, I never thought of it that way!”

There are many leaders and professionals in this world that exhibit OCD behaviours. How have they succeeded? They have worked through allowing the strengths of this disorder to shine while learning to tone down or harness the negative extreme behaviours. As this testimonial shares,

“Believe me, living with this and having a name to call it is both a blessing and a curse. It’s like I could get treatment, but it would mean lobotomizing a part of my personality. I just couldn’t imagine a day where I was carefree and free from worry ALL THE TIME. It’s ironic, I know. The prison is also my key to freedom because of precision.”

Maybe we all need to be more aware of whether we use a negative veil when we use the term to describe someone presenting OCD behaviour? Let’s consider that it is a blessing that we have people in our world who have the strength of seeing those infinite details and follow-through that aren’t on the radar for many of us.