BrentColey.com
  • Home
  • Book
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Videos
    • Video Tutorials: Google Forms
    • Video Tutorials: Google Documents
    • Video Tutorials: Audacity
    • Math Review Videos
  • Resources
    • Student Podcast
    • Literature Circles
    • Flowchart Notes
    • Classroom Income Tax
  • About Brent
  • Contact Info

Thoughts on Teaching, Leadership, and Educational Technology

That's Not OCD

10/8/2013

3 Comments

 
Tweet
Picture
Well, it’s been a while. With my new position, I’ve had little extra time to blog. Shoot, I’ve had little extra time, period. But that’s a post for another day. While I typically write about teaching and educational technology, this post will be a little different. Consider it my attempt to discuss something close to my heart, to inform others about a common misconception.

I like to be organized. For those who know me, that is not a surprising statement. A structured, organized environment contributes to my productiveness and peace of mind. My classroom was always this way. I didn’t like clutter, and everything had a spot. My bulletin boards and the student work displayed on them were always straight and level. I used to endure friendly ribbing for using a level to make sure my bulletin boards looked just right (which I thought was funny, because those who initially teased soon became the ones asking to borrow the level). Now that I’ve moved into administration, I like my office to be the same way – neat and organized, two things that help me be more productive.

Over the past several years, when commenting on my neat classroom or office, I’ve had many, many people say things to me like:

            “Yeah, I have to be neat too. I’m totally OCD that way.”
            “I need to clean off my desk. My OCD is kicking in.”

In our society, I think there’s a large misconception about OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). It’s a term that gets casually thrown around without much thought being given to what it actually is, because most people don’t know what it really is. On the other hand, consider mental retardation (now referred to as intellectual disability). That’s a term that doesn’t get thrown around too often, because most people have a general idea of what it means. Think of it this way…If you made a mistake while completing a task, would you say, “I’m so retarded” to those around you? I don’t think so. Why not? Because you know what intellectual disability/mental retardation is, and you know you’re not a person who has that impairment. Plus, you know (hopefully) this is a comment that would be highly offensive to those individuals who do have this impairment, as well as to their families. So why then do people off-handedly say they have OCD, when chances are, they don’t? Wouldn’t this be offensive to those affected by OCD?

So, what is OCD? Many use the term to describe people who like things neat and organized, but this is the misconception. Just because someone likes things to be tidy (even really, really tidy), it doesn’t mean he/she has OCD. OCD is an anxiety disorder. People who are affected by it are plagued by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry. They engage in repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated fear or anxiety, even when the fear, anxiety, or behavior is irrational. Having OCD means so much more than being a “neat freak.”

You see, I have a personal connection to this subject. I have a loved one who has been diagnosed with OCD. For several years, I have struggled to support this person who has suffered from crippling anxiety, fear, and worry. I’ve watched as the person’s mind gets “stuck,” obsessing about things that rationally don’t warrant that kind of worry, and feeling compelled to behave in ways that won’t take the worry away. I’ve seen how this disorder can absolutely paralyze a person. Thankfully, with prayer and the aide of family and an excellent therapist, my loved one has learned to manage OCD.

So why did I write this post? To make anyone who has ever incorrectly used the term OCD feel guilty? Absolutely not. I’ve put my foot in my mouth, made comments without having all the facts more times than I want to admit. No, my goal is simply to educate, to let others know that OCD is more than a propensity for order and neatness. It’s something individuals and their families all over the world struggle with on a daily basis. I ask simply that we grant the disorder and the people it affects the respect they deserve. 

3 Comments
Tory
10/9/2013 02:00:58 pm

I've been researching and learning about how brain neurochemistry, sensory processing in the brain and cognition and it's a fascinating and eyeopening subject! The types of sensory input that warrant OCD types of behavior are closely related to the problem-solution cognition complex. The really fascinating thing is WHAT triggers that obsessive need to solve or keep control of something so the stimulus doesn't trigger this dissonance like affect which in turn generates anxiety. It's fascinating!

Reply
Masako Kawase
10/10/2013 02:27:57 am

I remember entering your classroom at Sunset Lane and feeling comfortable because it was nicely organized. Interesting, thought-provoking but never overwhelming with stuff. Thanks for your blog on this topic - beautifully written and conveying your acceptance and support of all us. So very happy that you are now an administrator.

Reply
Brent link
10/11/2013 01:11:38 am

Thanks for the kind words, Masako! You were such an instrumental part of making me the educator I am today. Thank you! :-)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    About Brent

    Brent has worked in the field of education as a teacher and administrator for 25 years. He is currently Principal of Alta Murrieta Elementary School in Murrieta, California. Read more about Brent here.


    Brent on Twitter

    Tweets by @brentcoley
    Follow @brentcoley

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    November 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    December 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012


    Categories

    All
    Admin
    Android
    Assistant Principal
    Cell Phones
    Classroom Management
    Classroom Website
    Collaboration
    Cool Tool
    Copyright
    Creative Commons
    Ed Tech
    Eduinfluence
    Games
    General
    Google
    Ipad
    Iphone
    Ipod
    Language Arts
    Leadership
    Mac
    Mentor
    Organization
    Pe
    Plagiarism
    Plc
    Podcasting
    Productivity
    Self Care
    Story
    Studycast
    Teamwork
    Texting
    Vocabulary
    Whativelearned

Copyright (C) 2022 by Brent Coley





Photos used under Creative Commons from somegeekintn, woodleywonderworks, Joybot, British Council Singapore, jseliger2, berkuspic, toddwendy, Alexandra E Rust, skippyjon, crdotx, tharrin, roybuloy, .FuturePresent., Just some dust, frankpierson, Jair Alcon Photography, Luigi Mengato, Muffet, stevendepolo, Pilar Soro, Sander van der Wel, jblyberg, jonathangarcia, DraXus, angeloangelo, Sthetic
  • Home
  • Book
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Videos
    • Video Tutorials: Google Forms
    • Video Tutorials: Google Documents
    • Video Tutorials: Audacity
    • Math Review Videos
  • Resources
    • Student Podcast
    • Literature Circles
    • Flowchart Notes
    • Classroom Income Tax
  • About Brent
  • Contact Info