#WellnessWednesday: Disability and OCD

[BethIOCDF]

What does OCD have to do with Disability?

Click the link below to find out:

iocdf.org/blog/2023/07/17/w...

[brig1120]

What types of urges Friendlyperson Are you in therapy. Think that's a question for therapist

[brig1120 in reply to brig1120]

Try not to respond to them. I know it's much easier said than done

[Sallyskins]

This is such a difficult area! Are people with OCD disabled? I hesitate to describe myself as such, but yes, I am disabled, because my OCD restricts me.

No one would actually choose to have OCD - it's not something that we've brought on ourselves by bad lifestyle choices or chosen to have. It's difficult to treat, and managing to keep it in control takes up a lot of physical, emotional and mental energy.

Some people with physical disabilities don't understand - I remember hearing one man with limited mobility saying how hard his life is, and then adding that people with mental disorders aren't really disabled, don't deserve benefits and are basically malingering. He should try it! I don't make light of his disability - how dare he make light of mine!

I have problems getting out and about - one of my OCD things is retracing my steps, and crossing roads or going in or out of doorways is really difficult. I've often noticed someone on crutches swinging their way across the road and thought how easily they appear to do it. But I don't know what pain they're in, or what restrictions their disability has on their ability to do things.

Many people with disabilities would like to work, but employment practices make it difficult, and applications from disabled people often go straight in the trash can. It's a pity, because we have plenty to contribute. That so many conditions, OCD as well as others, fluctuate doesn't help, and part time work isn't always available. Just getting to work and home again can be a big problem.

I'm doubtful about the phrase 'Disability Pride' Having a disability is nothing to be either proud of or ashamed of. Disabled people often manage to do great things, and just being able to manage a difficult condition is often cause to be proud of yourself. But 'pride' suggests that disabilities need to be applauded and 'celebrated'. Surely that's just silly. In any case, we don't say things like 'Beethoven - marvellous how good a composer he was, considering he was deaf!' The third greatest classical composer there's been (that's my opinion, anyway) doesn't need patronizing.

Access to public places, suitable homes, decent benefits, appropriate employment opportunities and so on need to be built into society's infrastructure. That goes for disabilities that aren't obvious, too. Most of us don't want to be 'celebrated' for having a disability - just to be allowed to do as much as we can without discrimination.