You Keep Using That Word… Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Lisa Rowbottom

Part 3 in the “Pop Psychology Misused Terms” Series

By Lisa Rowbottom | Sojourn Psychology | Sherwood Park & Edmonton Psychology Services

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

In our last blogs, we discussed the terms gaslighting and psychotic, and how the popularization of those terms has distorted their meaning and minimized how serious the experience of these things are. The next term in our series is obsessive compulsive disorder or, more commonly OCD.

OCD

You have likely heard this phrase many times, to describe a number of situations in which an individual is organized, particular, or detail-orientated:

• “I’m so OCD about that.”
• “My OCD is acting up.”
• “My OCD will not let me leave the house until it is clean.”

This is not what OCD is and, as with other psychological terms that are commonly misused, misunderstanding it can minimize a very real, serious and distressing condition.

What Does OCD Actually Mean?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the diagnosis given when an individual experiences unwanted, distressing thoughts that may or may not drive a person to repeat certain behaviours or mental rituals, even when they don’t want to. It has two primary characteristics that may occur together, or individually. Those are:

Obsessions

• Unwanted thoughts, images or urges
• Cause distress and anxiety
• Not aligned with a person’s values

Compulsions

• Repetitive mental acts or behaviours
• Carried out to reduce anxiety to avoid something bad
• Excessive and not realistically connected to the feared outcome

Simple definition:
OCD is a highly distressing and involuntary condition that is not about preference. It is about the pressure of intrusive thoughts or urges and the persistent anxiety driven need to neutralize them.

It is a desperate need to resolve anxiety in very particular ways, however the relief is temporary and the cycle begins again.

What OCD Is NOT

In everyday language, OCD is often used to describe:

• A strong preference for things to be tidy and organized
• Perfectionism
• A personality quirk
• Mild discomfort at things not being completely straight
• Preferring structure or routine

None of these are OCD.

A person can:

• Count the number of steps in a staircase
• Prefer predictability
• Want something to be done just right
• Enjoy decluttering or organizing

…and be able to carry on with life even if they cannot achieve these things.

Key distinction:
Strong preferences ≠ anxiety driven cycles

Why the Misuse of “OCD” Matters

Using psychological terms inaccurately directly impacts the treatment and expectations of other people.

1. It Makes OCD Seem Like a Minor, Common or Easily Manageable Condition

If most people claim meet the criteria of OCD and are able to function normally it means:

• That failure to manage the symptoms without help or medication is a failure of willpower
• People struggling with OCD receive less empathy from those around them
• People with OCD can just stop when they want to

2. It Increases Shame and Silence

Many forms of OCD involve a person having unwanted thoughts that feel disturbing, taboo or out of character.  When OCD is trivialized, this can lead to:

• Reluctance to talk about symptoms
• Fear of judgment
• An internal belief that a person’s thoughts represent their character

3. It Reinforces Inaccurate Stereotypes

Mos people feel better in spaces that are clean and organized

• Being detail-orientated or wanting things done right is not OCD
• Preferring an ordered environment is not OCD
• Liking order and structure is not OCD

When we label these as “OCD,” we risk:

• Minimizing the seriousness of the disorder
• Increases the shame experienced by those with the disorder
• Delaying treatment for those with the disorder by treating their experiences as normal

What to Say Instead

Depending on what you commonly use OCD to refer to, use these instead

Meaning:

• “I like things organized”

Instead of:

• “I’m so OCD about that”

Try:

• “I prefer things tidy”
• “I’m pretty organized”
• “I like to have things in order”

 

Meaning:

• “I’m Detail-Orientated”

Instead of:

• “Sorry, I’m a bit OCD, I need things neat”

Try

• “I have a preference for how this looks”
• “I like things consistent”
• “I like it when everything lines up”

Meaning:

• “I want it done perfectly” or “I want it done well”

Instead of:

• “My OCD won’t let me leave until this looks perfect”

Try:

• “I’m a bit of a perfectionist”
• “I like things done properly”
• “I can be pretty precise about this”

Meaning:

• “I like routine or structure”

Instead of:

• “I get really OCD about my schedule”

Try

• “I like having a routine”
• “I do better with structure”
• “I’m a creature of habit”

Meaning:

• “I double-check things”

Instead of:

• “My OCD makes me check that twice”

Try:

• “I like to double-check”
• “I just want to make sure everything is right”
• “I tend to be careful”

Developing a broader vocabulary to express emotional experiences allows for better communication to and understanding of others.

The problem with stereotypes is that they make experiences that are very complex look quite simple. OCD is not a preference or a personality, it is an anxiety driven pattern of thoughts and actions that cycle and can be very hard to escape.  OCD is a mental heath condition that significantly impacts a person’s ability to function day to day and lowers their quality of life.

When Might Someone have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a serious mental illness that usually requires professional intervention, which may include psychiatric evaluation, medication, psychological treatment, or potentially more cutting-edge treatments. Given how common it is to misuse the term OCD to describe a number of minor experiences, it is important to know what to watch for to determine if someone is actually experiencing OCD.

It is beneficial to seek out professional support if you or someone you know is experiencing:

• Thoughts, images, and urges that are unwanted and distressing
• Intense feelings of doubt and uncertainty or unable to feel “certain enough”
• The need to take physical or mental actions to reduce feelings of anxiety or to stop something bad from happening
• Behaviours that feel driven, but not chosen
• A brief reduction of anxiety when performing specific behaviours
• The drive to engage in specific behaviours for a significantly long amount of time that interferes with daily functioning
• The drive to avoid situations that may trigger distressing thoughts
• Feeling embarrassed about thoughts or behaviours or worrying that the thoughts mean something about who a person is

Suggest someone you know consider seeking professional support of you observe them:

• Appearing tense, preoccupied or on edge, and/or showing sudden spikes of anxiety without an obvious external trigger
• Asking you the same or similar questions over and over, often wanting certainty about things that are very unlikely
• Long pauses before responding, looking distracted or focused internally, needing extra time to finish simple tasks
• Repetitive behaviours that may or may not fit the situation, but are done an unusual number of times
• Getting stuck on certain topics and struggling to move on, or going back to the same concern over and over
• Avoiding specific situations that might trigger intrusive thoughts, such as sharp objects, being along with others, physical touch, decision-making
• Being vague or embarrassed about what is bothering them

Early support matters. With the right treatment, OCD is highly manageable. When it goes unrecognized, symptoms can get more intense over time.

The Bigger Picture: Why Language Matters

This blog is part of Sojourn’s ongoing series on misused psychology terms in everyday language

When we use terms like gaslighting, psychotic, or OCD are used inaccurately:

• We lose clarity
• We increase stigma
• We make it harder to understand real experiences

At Sojourn Psychology, we believe:

Clear language supports better mental health.

A Final Thought

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder does not mean organized.
It does not mean tidy.
It does not mean particular.

It describes a specific experience involving intrusive, unwanted thoughts and the urges to behave in certain ways to relieve the thoughts and urges cause.

So, the next time you hear the word or feel tempted to use it, pause.

And you might hear that familiar voice:

“You keep using that word…”

Looking for Support?

If you’re overwhelmed, stuck, or concerned about your mental health, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Sojourn Psychology offers evidence-based therapy in Sherwood Park and the Edmonton area.