Being diagnosed with OCD was something I knew would happen. I have always been someone who sat on the edge of my seat, looking for answers to everything and checking everything over and over before going to bed.
People with OCD tend to ask for reassurance, repeat things, and check things. They can be obsessed with cleanliness and being tidy. They are also perfectionists and like to say certain things to themselves over and over again.
After my OCD diagnosis, self-acceptance was a big key for me, and this meant seeing the disorder as a blessing in disguise. Below, I’d like to share with you six more specific blessings I’ve experienced as a result of having OCD, and explore the positive aspects of the disorder in more detail.
OCD makes me more alert and cautious
As someone with OCD, I control several things at once. Checking again and again can be unhealthy if it never stops, but I’ve also realized that being alert and careful is still a good thing. I protect myself and others from harm, and by controlling things I also give myself the satisfaction that comes with knowing that I am safe and that everything will be okay. This makes me feel like I am a great blessing to those around me, which is always nice to remember.
However, it is better to check things once than to check things over and over again. Gradually, as I begin to limit the number of times I check, my well-being improves. I have to check things before I go to sleep, but I’m not going to drive myself crazy about it like I used to.
OCD has taught me the importance of learning to trust myself, and calming my mind is one thing that makes this easier. That’s why I practice meditation – to limit my obsessive compulsive disorder and reduce my symptoms. Now I’ve gotten to the point where I just check that the door is locked and the gas is turned off.
OCD makes me a great student
I have always been a perfectionist and that kept me from seeing the progress I was making. At school I did my best with my assignments by always giving 100 percent, and that only leads to progress, even if it is not immediately visible. I don’t settle for less than what I deserve and I work hard for what I want.
Being a perfectionist has consistently helped me become an honor roll student. It taught me the importance of hard work, dedication and discipline. I’m now more focused on progress and less on perfection than I used to be, but I still recognize that perfectionism can help me aim for the moon, even if it means landing among the stars. Even as you work to become better, rather than perfect, you will still learn the value of hard work, discipline, and dedication.
Fortunately, OCD has only helped me become a better student and has never negatively affected my academic performance.
OCD makes me cleaner and more hygienic
I can’t stand not doing any skin care or hair care. I feel out of place when I don’t, and doing these things makes me feel soothed and refreshed during the day. OCD makes me a cleaner person and helps me take care of my hygiene as best as possible.
OCD is tough, but it motivates me to be a decent and balanced person. I want to dress nicely, iron all my clothes, and have my hair cut nicely when I go out so that I generally look presentable. That’s the positive side of having OCD!
Moreover, I am always researching the right products for my skin: natural substances that can help revitalize and hydrate it. Even though it’s not necessary, it’s not such a bad idea for me to do this because it allows me to take care of myself and love myself more than I used to. I’ve never been a beauty guru, and I don’t do this research all day, but I like to do it when I get the chance because it feels so good.
OCD makes me more health conscious
Lately I have been looking a lot for tasty and healthy meals. Since my diagnosis, I have been researching brain-healthy foods that preserve and sharpen my memory and generally help my brain function properly; I also share my findings with others. OCD motivates me to take care of myself so that I can then take care of others.
In addition to improving your diet, brain-healthy foods can also help heal your OCD, and the same goes for other emotional disorders. Taking all the important vitamins and avoiding foods (like sugar) that can cause more symptoms of OCD or another mental disorder is something you should seriously consider.
OCD makes me neater
Often I write something in my journal, then tear it out and write it all over again. This can be frustrating because I have to crumple up the paper I don’t like and throw it away. But then I tell myself that at least I care how I write my friendly cards and letters, and what the format of my essay looks like. I tell myself that at least I have the desire to do my writing tasks decently.
That’s what OCD is like; you always want to erase and rewrite, and then erase and rewrite all over again. You don’t like to make mistakes and you want to do the right thing. Yet to make mistakes is human and inevitable. It’s okay not to be perfect as long as we do our best. However, OCD can help us work very neatly because we tend to complete tasks step by step when we have this disorder.
OCD makes me curious
I ask a lot of questions, and the questions sometimes seem endless. Although I don’t do this as often as I have in the past, I know it is due to my obsessive compulsive disorder. It can often feel like the more you ask, the more new questions come in. I try to remember that it’s okay to ask for help and reassurance sometimes, but there are times when I have to believe that I’m okay without asking others.
In the same sense, it’s okay to give yourself days and moments where you don’t have to worry at all and can just enjoy the day. All those questions you have will eventually resolve themselves, and you can even ask them at a later time if necessary. Give yourself a chance to figure things out on your own first, and if you’re still unsure, go for it.
OCD and the questioning habits that come with it can actually make us more intelligent than we realize, due to our constant curiosity and desire to learn and grow.
Mental health issues are not always limiting
Sometimes we think that our mental disorders limit us, but that is not always the case. Having a mental health disorder can be a blessing in disguise, and if you see it that way, you can use your disorder to improve your life. If you want to make the most of your disorder, think about your weaknesses and then think about how you can use them in different ways to turn them into strengths.
«RELATED READ» IN YOUR HEAD, ON HIS HEAD: The creative potential in health anxiety»
Pictures: Depositphotos
Reference By: www.themindfulword.org
