Letter re: OCD + Hill Family Reunion Feature

mental health Monday

This morning's letter

Dear Friends, I've previously revealed * that one of my diagnosed issues is an obsessive-computer disorder (OCD). Although it's on the lower end of the spectrum, it's very real & at times very annoying to myself & others. I'm writing to you again today in case you {a} think you might be troubled by this affliction; {b} are very confident that you are troubled by this affliction; and/or {c} suspect that someone you know is afflicted with this affliction. **
      Maybe you'll see something you can relate to . . . Maybe you'll find something helpful . . . Maybe this is a good time to move on . . . 
      
DISCLAIMERS:  > I am not a mental health professional > Only a mental health professional is capable of providing you with a helpful diagnosis. > Only a mental health provider should be consulted re:  bona fide  treatment options. > OCD is very treatable. > As I've previously shared re my other:  other mood disorders, its's easy to become comfortably wrapped in the skin of OCD & use it as a crutch to excuse boorish & self-defeating behaviors. I'm just sayin'. 
* Both for the sake of transparency & self-therapy
** Dept. of Redundancy is at work.

A WORD ABOUT MY PRIMARY SOURCE:  Once again, I am choosing to use the Mayo Clinic's web site (mayoclinic.org). There are many other on-line resources. I will be using links which, unfortunately for those of you using the link from the Norfolk Daily News web site, you will NOT be able to automatically follow. However, you can still go to this source by:

1. Googling: mayoclinic.org
2. Typing "obsessive-computer disorder" into the search box.
3. Following the links on the site.

DEFINITION

      Here is a helpful definition of OCD, found on the mayo clinic web site:  "OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts & fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). It's also possible to have only obsessions or only compulsions & still have OCD. With OCD, you may or may not realize that your obsessions aren't reasonable, & you may try to ignore them or stop them. But that only increases your distresses & anxiety. Ultimately, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts in an effort to ease your stressful feelings."

OBESSSION

      A more comprehensive list of common themes & symptoms of obsession & obsessive behaviors can be found by checking out this mayo clinic OCD link. I'm going to limit myself to the ones that have typically plagued me.

• "Fear of contamination or dirt."
• "Having things orderly & symmetrical." [A shock to those who've seen my dining room table or remember my office desk at home]
• "Doubts that you've locked the door or turned off the stove." [In my case, doubts that I've remembered to put my keys or wallet or pill box in my pockets, leading to repeatedly checking throughout the day.]
• "Intense stress when objects aren't orderly or facing a facing way." [Again, this would surprise those who remember what my desk looked like in my office at school, but it explains why, despite repeated offers by others to help straighten up my desk, I demurred . . . because I was the only one who knew exactly where everything was supposed to face!]
• "Thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriately." [Shouting obscenities . . . no . . . Thoughts about picking up objects & hurling them through windows or glass doors when I'm overcome w/frustration . . . yes. *] * Note: I haven't acted on this obsession yet.

COMPULSION

      And here is an explanation of compulsion symptoms, also helpfully provided by the Mayo Clinic web site. ". . . Repetitive behaviors that you feel driven to perform. These repetitive behaviors are meant to prevent or reduce anxiety related to your obsessions or prevent something bad from happening. However, engaging in the compulsions bring no pleasure & may offer only a temporary relief from anxiety.
      "You may also make up rule or rituals to follow that help control your anxiety when you're having obsessive thoughts. These compulsions are often not rationally connected to preventing the featured event."

Typical themes & symptoms

      Once again, I've chosen to go with those that have more commonly afflicted me. You can use this mayoclinic.org link to OCD for a more comprehensive link.

• "Counting." [In my case especially, counting & recounting things . . . making budget development an ordeal.]
• "Checking." [Ditto]
• "Demanding reassurances." [Ask my spouse how many times I've asked her to repeat something that she's already told me . . . It may be--as she often suspects & rightfully so--that I wasn't listening to her the first time . . . It also may be that I DID hear her the first time, but I need reassurance{s}.]
• "Checking doors . . . stove repeatedly." [SEE comments above re: keys, wallet, pill box.]
• "Following a strict routine." [This played itself out at school with my routine when arriving at the office. I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say that if I was NOT able to follow my routine, it caused me distress & fed my OCD. There was also a time when I HAD to have all my dress shirts & slacks arranged in the correct order, MON-FRI, hanging on my side of the closet, by SUN night, prior to the school week. I have {mostly} broken myself of that compulsion.]
• "Silently repeating a prayer, word, phrase." [I've blogged before about the comfort I've found in my daily "quiet time." Having said that, I have to constantly be on my guard re: my prayer list. {1} That I don't turn it into an obsessively long list. {2} That I don't revert to compulsively prayer-phrases in my mind, turning my prayers into empty, ritualistic babble.]

Bringing this letter to a merciful end

1. Remember . . . I blog for self-therapy. At this point, I have to stop. There's a fine line between blogging for self-therapy & blogging that becomes OCD.
2. Maybe . . . just maybe . . . you find something in this letter that strikes a chord . . . leading you to do some more digging . . . resulting in some good that will benefit you.
3. This will make me feel that my mental health MON entries are more than just self-absorbed ramblings meant only for my own comfort.

Exclusive Hill Family                                    Summer Reunion 2016 Factoids

• The countdown continues . . . only ten {10} calendar days remaining until this familial & camp follower extravaganza begins in the Twin Cities on 6/30/16!
• From Omaha World Herald (6/20):  "Nurses start strike at 5 Twin Cities hospitals. About 4,800 nurses at 5 Minneapolis-area hospitals began a weeklong strike SUN over a contract impasses. [Why I'm not worried! The strike will theoretically be over before our reunion begins. Nothing is mentioned about ST. PAUL-area hospitals. We have RN's who are part of the Hill Family Entourage.]