A Conversation With Journalist and Author David Adam About OCD
I spoke with journalist and author David Adam over Zoom about the hurdles to OCD treatment, depictions of the disorder in the media, and how people experiencing it can feel less alone. David Adam is an award-winning freelance journalist and author of the best-selling book about OCD, The Man Who Couldn’t Stop. I’ve had OCD since […]
Comparing Addiction and Obsession
Obsession and addiction share a lot of similarities, but they are not the same thing. Obsessions are intrusive and persistent thoughts. In addiction, the brain learns to crave the addictive substance or behavior. The two are closely linked, because in substance use disorders, drugs or alcohol become like an obsession. It starts to feel difficult […]
Maria Bamford
For years, comedian Maria Bamford has been making comedy about her mental health struggles. She has a (very funny) song about her compulsions, which are part of OCD. She has a whole YouTube series about living in her parents’ attic after a nervous breakdown.[1] She’s made comedy about her multiple stays in mental health treatment, […]
Don’t Use OCD or Other Mental Health Disorder Terms Lightly
It’s become part of our lexicon for people to use the names of mental health disorders when describing typical habits or behaviors. For instance, neat people might say “I’m so OCD,” or people in a confusing circumstance might say it’s “schizo” or “bipolar.” This seems particularly common for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), where anyone who […]