I recently read an article explaining different forms of “mental illness”. It described a myriad of conditions from schizophrenia, to major depression, to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD for short).
My one concern was the author’s use of the word “illness”. On the medical side, that term implies “pathology”, which describes something you catch through germs, bacteria, or bad lifestyle choices.
But many mental health conditions, like OCD (which I happen to have), are biopsychosocial in their origins. In other words, those of us who have it were probably born with the tendency to develop it. And social and psychological influences contributed to its emergence. OCD, along with bipolar disorder, clinical depression, chronic anxiety and a host of other conditions, fit these criteria. They are largely manageable with proper treatment and self-care, depending, of course, on level of severity and other factors.
I’ll focus on OCD here, only because I’m personally as well as clinically knowledgeable about it. OCD generally involves ritualistic behaviors one engages in to quiet or quash disturbing—and often irrational—thoughts. An example: Someone who compulsively arranges all the coffee cups with the handles pointing to the right (yep, that’s me). The irrational hope is to offset an obsessive feeling of impending doom.
In some ways, OCD is similar to developmental challenges like the Autism Spectrum or Down’s Syndrome. Those, like OCD, have genetic origins. I say challenges because those are obstacles we’re meant to overcome. Let me illustrate:
Years ago, before becoming a Professional Counselor, I worked with a woman, Teresa, who had Down’s. In 20 or so years of working for the same organization, Teresa never once called out sick or was late. She always had a smile for everyone, and as a worker she was the best. She also lived in her own apartment during the week and spent weekends with her mom.
Teresa and her mom visited my wife and me one summer. That evening we all were having a good conversation about life. I asked Teresa (because we had a relationship in which we were comfortable asking each other almost anything):
“Teresa, if you could be born again, would it be with or without Down’s?”
Without hesitation, she answered, “WITH it!”
“Why?”, I asked.
“Because it’s part of who I am, and I LOVE who I am!”
Her simple but profound answer deeply resonated with me. It inspired me to accept and celebrate the OCD that for so long I’d hidden in shame, afraid that I must be crazy. I got into therapy, where I learned how to more effectively manage my OCD. And even to appreciate how it has contributed to my completeness as a human being.
That’s right, I said appreciate. For example, I keep a neat office and most of the time can find anything. Why? Because I super-categorize all my files. And my wife loves how I leave the kitchen spotless after I’ve cooked.
OCD also makes me, I think, a better clinician. Psychotherapy is as much about empathy as it is about technique and scientific know-how. OCD has given me a greater appreciation and understanding of my clients who also struggle with such challenges.
“Challenge”….Yes, I like that much better than “illness”. Maybe that term should be adopted into our lexicon describing what so many mental health conditions are…and are not. It’s sure more effective to talk about overcoming a challenge, than it is to talk about living with an illness.
Care to chat about this? Give me a call!
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