Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, often referred to as OCD, is not something to take lightly; it is something that is an issue for those who suffer from it and those related to the sufferers. While I do not suffer from OCD, I do experience what is known as Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), and I have had first-hand experience of being raised by someone with OCD.

OCD and OCPD are on very different sides of the spectrum and are not to be considered the same in any way. While the two disorders may sound similar, they differ greatly. OCD can be developed over time, even going as far as changing someone’s personality and lifestyle. It is a disorder that can cause people to carry out certain routines repetitively or to check on things multiple times. Common activities include hand washing, counting things, and checking to see if a door is locked. These activities are so severe that a person’s daily life can be negatively affected by the disorder.

It can be difficult at times to live with someone who has OCD, as I have learned from living with my mother – but it is manageable. When I look back on my years growing up, I remember that my mom always had to have her towels folded and arranged in certain patterns. She had to have themes and color schemes that matched with what she preferred. I have had the same three words stuck into my head since about the age of 6: “Live, Laugh, Love.” The feeling of having to tiptoe around certain things to not trigger her had became my sense of normality. Nowadays, the feeling is not as strong and my mom is more relaxed with chores and organization. However, the towels still have to be folded just right and arranged to how she prefers.

OCPD is a disorder where one feels the need to control one’s environment at the expense of flexibility, openness to experience and efficiency. Being a workaholic and portraying a sense of miserliness are also seen often in those with this personality disorder. This disorder, however, is not as severe as OCD. It is a personal preference as to how one would like things done, but without the repetitive routines that OCD requires. I have been lucky to not suffer from OCD, but rather, OCPD. It does not change the way I think about what I have planned out for the next five minutes and whether or not I’ve turned the door knob three times.

To further explain how OCPD affects my life, just the smallest nuisances can make an impact. It would probably bother most people if I were to open a chip bag from the bottom instead of from the top, but that is just one of the weird quirks that make up my OCPD. I prefer to also color coordinate my closet, decorate my room according to the next holiday no matter how big or small the holiday may be, and separate my food so that it does not touch. All of these things being of my own accord, if I was unable to do any of these said things, it would not mentally or emotionally cripple me like it would someone with OCD.

It would not be right to sit here and type out all of the problems that pertain to OCD specifically, because I wouldn’t know firsthand what happens and how it affects someone with said disorder. I can just tell of my experience on witnessing it firsthand with a loved one. There are many different things that OCD can affect. For example, it could affect your eating, social life/relationships, personal life, and even the way you think on a daily basis. It is a difficult disorder to have to deal with and is not something to be thrown about lightly by saying, “I have OCD because…” One does not simply have OCD because you color coordinate your candy and like your clothes to match your sneakers. It is a serious mental illness that can wear away at someone’s mental well-being.

Someone with OCD would handle something completely differently, compared to someone with OCPD. I could step out of my comfort zone and not separate my food and never be strongly bothered by it, but if a person with OCD was to step out of their daily schedule and routine, it would have a strong impact on him or her and mentally hurt that person until things got back to the way he or she liked them. My mom would handle things differently than me because of the OCD. Even though she has a mild case of OCD, it is still OCD and can still affect her just as much as it affects others. If I was to fold her towels right in front of her, it would bother her to such a degree she would have to redo and refold all of them.

Through my experience with suffering from OCPD, I have learned various ways to cope with the disorder and to have patience with anyone who suffers from OCD. I can now say that I know and have seen first hand how OCD and OCPD affect people, and therefore I know how to handle certain situations when they arise.