What Is OCD?

What is OCD?

To be completely honest, I’m not sure. I’m not so sure anyone else really knows either. If you research OCD online, you find a host of people claiming all different things. It’s a disease, a brain disorder, a mental disorder, a mix of several different things…I get the impression nobody quite knows what to make of it. 

So, in my completely non-medical opinion, this is OCD:

A brain disorder that manifests itself in intrusive thoughts, excessive fears, and bad feelings that are appeased to a small extent by certain rituals, i.e. compulsions. 

There are many contributing factors believed to cause OCD, including:

-Genetic makeup

-Poor circuit function in a specific part of the brain

-Inflammation in certain areas of the brain

-Insufficient seratonin levels/hormone issues

OCD is believed to be triggered and/or influenced by environmental factors. 

It is said to be highly treatable, but incurable. 

OCD is said to be somewhat common, but not highly common. 

I personally believe OCD is a brain disorder predetermined by your genes. I think it can run in families and that having it or not having it is beyond your control. I do believe, to some extent, the degree of OCD is within your control. I believe OCD can be kept in check to the point of “*living in the background”. Most importantly, because of Christ, there is hope beyond just managing it. 

You can have a life beyond OCD. 

I can’t offer hope to you, because the power to overcome doesn’t lie within myself. But I can point you to the one who overcame all sin, including OCD. He offers hope beyond OCD, or whatever it is that plaques you. 

I can’t lie to you; I can’t say you’ll never deal with this issue again. You won’t forget about your struggles and never fight against them. But Christians are given the ability of self-control. We are able to choose to do the right thing, to the point where the right thing becomes our nature. We do have the power to put on the armor or God. And the best part? Victory is sure. 

Truthfully, I’ll probably battle OCD the rest of my life. I have this disorder and that isn’t something I would choose. Yet, it is something that God allowed me to have, and I do believe good comes of it. If I am diligent in the fight using the proper armor, I will not be overcome. Ever. 

If I lose some of the battles? Christ still has won the war. Full, complete victory is in view because Christ has defeated my enemies. I am an overcomer because Christ overcame. 

So whatever OCD may be defined as, it does not define me. I am defined by Christ’s righteousness, and that is enough. 

Enough to encourage me to press on, to keep fighting, to keep running the race. “Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NASB

Stay in the race. Run in such a way as to receive the prize. 

*to be discussed in an upcoming blog

Photo credit: Isabella Baeten