View Full Version : Is it OCD or OCPD?


Andi
07-28-05, 08:57 PM
Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is different from regular Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is characterized by bizarre and obsessive rituals, where an individual repeats an abnormal behavior over and over again. A common type of obsession is hand washing. The individual becomes so afraid of germs that he or she will run to wash his or her hands immediately upon touching something, and will wash for several minutes. The skin will become red and chapped from this kind of treatment.

OCPD is not nearly as severe, and does not involve these strange rituals. In OCPD, an individual will have an obsessive preoccupation with details, orderliness, perfection, and control. Many workaholics have this disorder. The individual will spend excessive time working (whether or not he or she is technically a workaholic), and take little time for recreation. He or she may feel that having any type of fun is a leisure activity that he or she cannot afford.

Obviously, these people are very rigid and closed-off. They want as little to do with others as possible (except maybe through business deals). They don’t usually have a sense of humor. Working is something they do often because they can completely control it, unlike with other people. It’s a form of escape from a painful situation, which the individual may not even be aware of.

Many people with this disorder are not seen as psychologically disturbed in any way. In our society, it is normal and even encouraged to be successful, and these people often are. However, this is not a healthy attitude towards life. Some of these people (after continuing this type of behavior for years) may end up with heart attacks or ulcers from stress they refused to admit they were under.

Though, arguably, there is a personality disorder for every type of person, some must be taken more seriously than others. It also depends on the severity of the symptoms. Anything that is limiting any aspect of an individual’s life must be dealt with, not pushed aside. Though this and other personality disorders are mild mental illnesses, they should be better known about, and some do require treatment.


http://ilil.essortment.com/obsessivecompul_rtyv.htm

Pigeon
07-28-05, 09:06 PM
I wonder about OCPD for other things besides "work-a-holics"???

Like the "perfect mother/wife/hostess"???

kaydog
10-25-05, 02:18 AM
I think that Andi, you have hit on some good points for both OCD and OCPD. But the dichotomy of the two is both more and less than what you've stated (or quoted?) here.

1. You have stated that OCPD is not nearly as severe. This is completely on an individual basis and as a general statement is more false than true. People with OCPD can suffer SEVERELY, especially in relationships. OCPD tends to deal more with the obsession of ones own life philosophy being "RIGHT" and finding ways to bring the world around them into balance with their version of "truth." This is different than a scenario often brought up in Spiritual circles "relativism vs. absolute truth." The type of absolute truth which is pitted against relativism is basing Truth on a source outside ones individual self. With OCPD sufferers truth is a construct made within themself and held RIGIDLY.

OCPD can involve rituals or better called compusions. However the compulsions do tend to take on a different nature and be motivated by different thought processes.

Examples:
Compulsion is: Straightening and restraightening the books on a shelf.
OCD Individual's possible obsessional thoughts: "I must continue restraightening these books until it FEELS just right." or "I must continue restraightening these books, in order to prevent some unrelated threat."
OCPD Individual's possible obsessional thoughts: "I must make these books perfect b/c all bookshelves should be neat and tidy without anything out of place, everyone knows that is the right thing to do and I don't want to be guilty of doing wrong."

Next: People who suffer from OCD also frequently have obsessions and compulsions related to orderliness, perfection and control and often can be hyperaware of details. The way the individuals mind fixates on these things is different in the mind of an OCD sufferer vs. an OCPD sufferer.

Just a few thoughts. Much more can be learned by visitting the obsessive compulsive foundation website.
kaydog