YD News|Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients
COVID-19 pandemic: We are in a middle of a health crisis. Everybody knows that if precautions are not taken, bitter end is near.
Following all the precautionary measures includes washing hands frequently, keeping the surfaces clean, avoiding handshakes, not touching dirty surfaces, etc.
There is a constant fear in our minds of getting infected.
Now think about the people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). What would be their mental condition during the coronavirus pandemic?
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD)?
For the people who don’t know about OCD, there is a brief explanation.
OCD is a mental disorder in which peoe have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, and behaviours (obsessions) that drive them to do things again and again (compulsions).
In some cases, the patients know that the thoughts they are having are illogical. But still, in order to satisfy their obsession, their mind compels them to do the things.
For example, one think that they might get infection, they repeatedly was their hands, even after touching clean surfaces.
Now, you can have an idea that how this mental disease can affect the people during coronavirus pandemic.
How are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients feeling?
Let us give you some more details about the disease so that you can get some idea that how are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients going through it right now.
• It can cause anxiety
• One knows about the obsessions
• More stress, more you get into the disease
As per reports by BBC, Peter Goffin is a patient of Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. He had shared his experience of the COVID-19 pandemic with BBC.
For Peter Goffin, living all his life under the shadow of germs meant getting prepared for the coronavirus pandemic.
He knew how to obey the rules of hygiene and he also had the necessary skills to prevent their discomfort from going uncontrolled.
“Spent 20 years of my life preparing for the coronavirus – a personal story of a patient”
I was sitting on the floor of my kitchen and was wiping the packet of grains with the disinfectant. That’s when I understood, I spent nearly 20 years of my life preparing for the coronavirus.
I was avoiding contact with people outside my house, washing hands after touching anything that anyone else has touched, things like getting the infection-free after bringing it from the supermarket were part of my life. And I had become proficient in these things.
- Various prevalent factors during the present pandemic can play a role in worsening the symptoms of those already affected by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- The increased demand for washing of hands and following proper steps for a minimum time.
- The need to keep the hands clean every time a person comes from outside
- Family provoking to maintain proper hygiene and vice versa
- The constant gathering of information about the virus
- Avoiding touching different surfaces and continuous usage of masks and sanitizers
Also read: School after a lockdown in France: Kids made to sit in a chalk square