Obsessive
Compulsive
Disorder
Not
too long ago I stood quietly in one of the major stores and watched, as
a lady who did not work there, methodically arranged the items on the
shelves. She began with the top shelf on the end, worked her way down to
the bottom shelf and then moved to the next group. Slowly making her
way down the aisle, lining the products up perfectly. I waited until she
was far enough away I could remove the three products I needed and run.
I knew the minute she noticed it would begin again. But the shelves
looked great, the items were presented perfectly, I could easily get
what I wanted, my eyes were drawn to the various products waiting my
selection, it was perfect, right up until I made me selection, and ran.
I
told that story once before and got into a lot of trouble with a friend
who is OCD. They felt as if I were ridiculing the lady and I wasn't.
They told me they were OCD and did not appreciate my sense of humor. I
tried to tell them honestly, that I too am OCD and the last thing I was
trying to do was make fun of the person. Did I smile and internally,
shake my head? Yes, I actually did. But not because I thought it
humorous, but because I could understand to a degree what she felt.
Being
OCD is not always a bad thing. Those with OCD, most likely have nice,
organized, and very clean homes. Their yards are probably immaculate,
their tools in perfect alignment. Their cars kept in mint condition and
parked perfectly.
When
an OCD person goes shopping, some are probably like the person in the
above story, others will place items in their cart just so, when it
comes time to pay the items go on the conveyor a certain way, in bags a
special way, and back in the cart in order according to preference.
Each
step done in order, each action a precision movement meant to
accomplish a task in a certain manner. Done in the exact same way, time
after time, after time.
Many
years ago my son was seeing a doctor, we thought he may have food
allergies so the doctor instructed me to write down everything he
consumed. when we returned for the next visit, I handed him the list. He
asked what it was. I told him that it was the list of everything he had
eaten. The doctor looked at the list, looked at me and asked if I ever
did anything more than once. I admitted to returning to assure myself I
had turned off the stove. That was when he diagnosed me as OCD. Okay
fine, tell me something I don't know. While my level of OCD isn't
debilitating, it can and does make things interesting- and frustrating-
from time to time.
Take
work. After twenty-five years on the job I know the procedures, the
rules and the expectations. After twenty-five years I have lost count of
how many times I've listened to the lectures on what is expected from
each employee. I will admit that watching people doing things that are
not following along with the set procedures makes me a varying level of
stressed. But I'm learning.
While
I obviously can only speak for myself, I'm realizing my that my level
of OCD also has its good points. I do- to the best of my ability-
everything in a certain order at work. When I do that, I accomplish more
as I can see what I have and haven't finished. My job is somewhat
organized and easily managed. I can do something there that I cannot do
at home- find things. I know easily the passage of time with limited
clock watching. I know what is going on so I can better explain to
others what they need to know. Just to name a few things.
I
have to admit that it took me a while to adjust to not being able to
park in the exact same place every day as I had been doing. Parking in
the same place, in the same direction, at the same time. Now I
deliberately park in different parts of the parking area, in different
directions. At first that ruined my days, now it stimulates the brain
and makes me think, trying to remember where I last left the car.
Obsessive,
Compulsive, Disorder.. is not always a bad thing. It can and does make
life interesting. It can and does make work a challenge but also and
adventure.
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