Recently, I have done a post about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If you have not checked it out, please do, it’s a great read! In that entry I briefly mentioned OCPD. Not that many people know about OCPD. Many people are familiar with its “sister” OCD. These two are extremely similar. It’s so similar that they are people who would get a misdiagnosis. They will first get diagnosis with OCD, just to come to find out they really have OCPD. Sometimes, it happens vice versa. This is why it’s important to get the word out. It’s to make people aware of this mental disorder and to prevent more misdiagnosis.

What does OCPD stands for? Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder! That one letter/word is what really helps to differentiate the two, because OCPD is a personality disorder like Borderline PERSONALITY Disorder (BPD). A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time. OCD is an obsession/compulsion.

So why is there a constant confusion between the two? Because on the surface, it looks the same. If you see someone being neat and extremely organize, yes… you would think OCD. The key question to tell them apart is, why is this person doing it? If the person is doing it out of fear or something triggered inside their brain, it’s OCD. If the person is doing it, because that’s the “right way of doing things” then it’s OCPD. Someone with OCD is fully aware what is going on in that moment of repetition or cleaning. In that moment they will do anything to fight or escape the obsession.

However, people with OCPD are fixated with following set procedures or routines in their work or daily living, even when these routines are inefficient. In the moment, they are not fully aware of what they’re doing because what they’re doing is the “best way” to do things. These individuals tend to be overly controlling of their environments or relationships, wanting others to conform to the strict rules they set.

The traits and behavior of someone with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder is perfectionism that interferes with completing tasks, rigid following of moral or ethical codes, hoarding behaviors, and an excessive fixation with lists and rules. A person with OCPD has an overwhelming need for order, a strong sense of “how things should be done,” and a rigidity when it comes to following rules. The person believes there is a certain right way of doing things, and that is how things should be done even at the expense of relationships. These individuals excel at their work, but can be difficult to work and live with. They are so preoccupied with perfectionism that they are not really open, flexible, and efficient.

I will have to admit, as I was typing this all out, I felt some type of way. I have mentioned that I have Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. I have always thought I wasn’t too bad, but typing those traits up has me recalling so many times when I have behaved that way. The fact I still have people that loves me, amazes me… lol!

I strive for perfection because that what was expected of me as a child and I carried it into adulthood. Hoard things out of fear about my future and not wanting to let go, because I usually regret what I let go. I’m all about lists because I have a million thoughts running every second. Lists lessens the anxious feelings I get from my head. Lists only become an anxiety once my depression kicks in and I don’t manage to get not ONE thing done on it.

I need order because it feels like a nice hug. Any changes that have occurred in my life were chaotic and took a toll on me. Order was like math. I excelled at math. Two plus two equals four. That’s the rules. I loved it! Unfortunately, in life it’s not like that. And due to my traumas, it’s hard for me to manage that. Notice I say mange, not accept? I do accept life is full of dysfunction. How to go about it in a healthy manner? Not my thing. The best way I knew how to handle it is through control and order.

I have gotten better at the whole concept of my way isn’t always the best way or the only way of doing things. I had to for the sake of my career. If I don’t I will have another breakdown and I don’t want that. Lol! Having OCPD is challenging, and what makes it more difficult is trying to explain it to other people. It gets exhausting and annoying, because people either don’t get it or can’t tell the difference from OCD. I hoping after this is published I no longer have to explain it. Wishful thinking, I know…

That conclude my entry on Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). Hope you have learned some information. Do you know there was something called OCPD? Do you have it or ever been misdiagnosed with OCD? If so, please comment people. As always, please like and share this entry. Thanks for reading and keep adulting one day at a time. xoxo

Follow Me On The Following Platforms:

https://twitter.com/Only__michy

https://www.facebook.com/onlymichy

https://www.instagram.com/onlymichy/