Defining O.C.D.

What is O.C.D. ?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Ok, well, duh! Everyone knows that already. But what is it, really?

Have you ever tried to pedal your bicycle down a steep hill? Here is what happens: at the top of the hill, you begin applying force to the pedals, rotating faster and faster towards the hill. Once you begin pedaling down the hill, the pedals began to rotate so rapidly that your feet can’t keep up with the pace. You’re forced to hold your feet away from the pedals, allowing them to spin frantically on their own. Once you reach the bottom of the hill, and began leveling out, the speed eventually reduces, allowing your feet to safely take control of the pedals again.

That, my friends, is what O.C.D. is like, only add in a glitch in the gear shifting ability of the bike, preventing the part where the rotations slow down.

This mental disorder affects a few areas of the brain ( the orbital cortex, putamen, caudate nucleus, cingulate gyrus, striatum, etc) that all essentially work together much like a pedal, gear shift, and wheel of a bicycle. In essence, when force is applied to the pedal of your brain, aka an intrusive thought, irrational fear, uncomfortable experience, or trigger conversation, a glitch in the gear shifting ability of the brain causes a rapid and vicious over firing/misfiring of chemicals that get trapped in a dangerous repetitious cycle.

The caudate nucleus in the front half of the brain—responsible for transmitting thoughts throughout the brain—fails to transmit thoughts, holding them hostage in a repetitive misfire. In return, the putamen area of the brain, which is in charge of the brain signaling the body to carry out various movements, begins to over fire as well, which leads to compulsive behaviors. The result? The wheel (thoughts, compulsive behaviors, repetitive motions, irrational fears/images, etc) becomes locked in a viscous motion, spinning out of control.

UCLA once did a study on an O.C.D. affected brain compared to a non O.C.D. affected brain, by way of a PET scan, which displays imaging of energy in the brain. As expected, the O.C.D. affected brain lit up like a Christmas tree, where as the non O.C.D. brain presented with a balanced emission of energy. It wasn’t until nearly 10 weeks of behavioral and cognitive therapy, and at times medication therapy, that this over firing in the glitched, O.C.D. affected brain, began to balance out to more closely replicate the non O.C.D. affected brain.

The same group of doctors who ran this study, also discuss in their book “Brain Lock”, that the striatum area of the brain that is responsible for the shaking that accompanies Parkinson’s disease, is also largely responsible for the compulsive behaviors associated with O.C.D.

This information blew my mind. I mean, who would tell someone with Parkinson’s disease that they are faking their shake? Who would tell someone with Parkinson’s disease, “Just stop shaking! Just stop and be still!”. No one. Yet so often that’s how those of us with O.C.D. are treated. “Just stop thinking about it”, “Just stop scrubbing everything”, “Just get over it and move on”, etc. Get my point?

I cannot tell you how learning this information has helped me personally deal with my O.C.D.. My brain has a glitch. The chemicals and signals in my brain do not appropriately fire or transmit. Because of this information, I now can call out my O.C.D., recognizing what thoughts and actions are my O.C.D., versus what thoughts and actions are my true character and person. And this, is the best freedom I’ve ever been given! Which is why I want to pass this information on to as many as possible.

Over the next 12 months, we will learn together, how to safely approach the glitched pedals, gears, and wheels of the brain that are malfunctioning.

I know some of you must be thinking, “But Jen, I don’t have O.C.D., this doesn’t relate to me.” Ok. But what if you become best friends with someone who does? Or birth a child who is misdiagnosed for years, and actually has O.C.D. ? Or marry the love of your life who has O.C.D.? See where I am going? This information is important for all to understand, because chances are, we will all be affected by O.C.D. in some way.

I hope you will stay on this journey with me through out 2020. The posts will become less scientific over the next 2 months, and more personal, filled with practical advice and personal stories of my own. My hope is that you’ll follow along and grow your own understanding of this disorder, while also sharing this resource to any who might also be affected by this mental disorder.

Let’s walk on this journey towards mental peace together, because together we can help others feel safe, loved, and capable.

*This blog makes reference to theories and studies discussed in the book, “Brain Lock” written by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D. and Beverly Beyette. I have attached a link to purchase this book from amazon, below.