OCD and Perfectionism are one of the two most common types of psychological orientations being talked about in recent times. With the COVID-19 pandemic not having a finite end soon, people are urged to stay indoors for longer periods of time. This is also one of the reasons that people are developing OCD and Perfectionism disorders.
What is OCD?
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a term which is used playfully in many discussions
or light hearted conversations. But the noteworthy fact is that OCD is not a light term to be
thrown around heartily in conversations.
OCD is a mental health disorder that involves repeated, unwanted thoughts or urges which are the reasons for a person’s anxiety. In order to scale down that anxiety, the individual performs a compulsive action or ritual – sometimes one that isn’t necessarily related to the fear or anxiety that they’re trying to overcome. While they are themselves aware that what they are doing is illogical, they still spend a lot of time of the day doing the same thing.
For example, A person is always afraid of germs, therefore, he/she might spend a lot of time
washing and cleaning their hands. Even if their own skin gets rough or develops allergies,
they just can’t stop these obsessive compulsive thoughts of getting infected with a disease if
their hands are not properly washed and cleaned.
As psychiatrist Dr. John Baskin puts it, “They know that they shouldn’t have to do it, but they
must do it, because to not do it means to have an increase in their level of anxiety that’s
intolerable. The whole process is very bothersome to the individual.”
A Common Misconception
There are certain misconceptions regarding OCD. The term is often used in casual
conversation to label someone who may be extremely detailed with specific tasks or their
daily routines. We all have our own individual preferences such as avoiding bath sponges,
organising our closet by colour and pattern, or abstaining from touching the public restroom
door , but these habits are not to be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is
often misunderstood as a disorder that simply means being overly detailed or perfectionistic.
What exactly is Perfectionism then?
Perfectionism refers to refusing to accept any standard of something short of perfection. This
is a personality trait distinguished by a person aiming best for flawlessness and setting
excessively high performance standards, often followed by overly critical self-evaluations
and concerns regarding the opinions of others. Anything less than spot on perfection is often unacceptable to a perfectionist.
When we call someone a perfectionist, what it really means is that they have no room for
mistakes and miscalculations. They have a very determined and specific manner in which
things should be done. They may be excessively preoccupied with: past mistakes, fears about making new mistakes, or doubts about whether they are doing something correctly. With an all-or-nothing approach, they can be extremely hard on themselves whenever something goes wrong or even become depressed when they don’t achieve their extremely high standards.
Major Differences Between OCD and Perfectionism
OCD is an ultimate form of Perfectionism where even a small thing can cause fear, distress
and anxiety . The major differentiation between both of them is the level of logical reasoning
used in the situation. For example, if you are cleaning the dishes, then cleaning until they are
not dirty is a good habit of maintaining hygiene. However, if you are still cleaning them even
if they are clean, that is OCD. While perfectionism is a controlled concept, OCD is a
controlling disorder. Perfectionism is a personality trait where one strives for flawlessness; it
becomes OCD when those efforts cause disorder in one’s life.
Helpful Measures to Combat OCD and Perfectionism
Obsessive compulsive disorder is usually treated with a combination of psychotherapy and
medication, Dr. Baskin says.The focus of therapy might be on “Radical Acceptance”. The
objective of this approach is to aid people in preventing them from fighting the reality and
letting go of the things beyond their control.
Sometimes psychotherapy can be helpful for people following extreme perfectionism but it is not easy to get them to take help from it as they think that there is nothing wrong with them. If people are around someone who is getting mentally affected by OCD or perfectionism, they should note the immediate symptoms and placate the person falling prey to these psychological disorders. They should be reassured that they are not going to be benefitted by extreme behaviours in any way and medical help should be sought if required.
Written by Simran Mudgal
Designed by Janet Miduk Lady Nababan
Sources used for Research:
● https://health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-the-difference-between-perfectionism-and-oc
d/
● https://moderntherapy.online/blog-2/ocd-and-perfectionism#:~:text=OCD%20can%20
even%20be%20characterised,cause%20disorder%20in%20one's%20life
Comments