Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

and

 Hypersensitivity

Welcome back Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors!

If you were here for our last few Blog Sessions, then you will have a Journal full of great notes.  We have been adding new Followers to our Blog with each new Session, which leads us all to believe that there are more people who have others in their life that have the issues that we have been discussing.

If you have not already done so, please Bookmark our exciting Blog, and add your email address over in the far right-hand column where it says, "Follow by Email".  That way, you won't miss a thing!

We are writing in our Journals, and learning lots about Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD).  What we are here to talk about today is this . . .

How people with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) have the capacity to experience great emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity.  Interesting right?

YES!

So get your Journal and your ink pen, because you are going to find this discussion to be fascinating.

"Oh boy, here we go!"

What is Hypersensitivity?

Hypersensitivity is not a disease, nor an illness.  It is a measurement on your body’s sensitivity scale that is in the category of undesirable reactions in your body and mind. Your current sensitivity is based on how your body is currently wired i.e. life experiences to date, in combination with your current reaction to external stimuli.

However when you are in the hypersensitivity range on the scale, your body, mind and energy system cannot function effectively as your system is out of sync, and therefore more vulnerable to being affected or influenced by outside stimuli.

Let's talk about "hypersensitivities" . . .

In response to your body being hypersensitive it goes into overdrive, your immune system becomes compromised, your coping mechanism and ability to adapt become less resilient.  With it comes a range of symptoms on varying levels including – emotional, psychological, energetic, physiological and behavioural.

If you are fortunate your symptoms pass by without causing much disturbance.  However in the high percentage of cases of people (maybe like yourself or someone you know) where your body is hyper-sensitive, and not functioning to its full potential, you can’t make that long-term or speedy recovery.  So the hyper-sensitivity is your body’s reaction to how it is currently wired and your symptoms are the result of being hypersensitive.  Then there is the realisation that you are no longer able to cope or integrate in to the environment that you work or live in.

Now, let's turn the page to the question of how OCPD comes into the picture...

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a condition characterized by the anxiety of one’s own emotions and addiction to negativity.

Do you have an addiction to negativity?  Do you know someone who has an addiction to negativity?  If so, not a pretty sight or "feeling" for you, or anyone around you ~ right?  Who wants to be around a negative person on a long-term basis?   "Not I."

If you are interested in gaining an understanding, then you may ask, "What is the cause of OCPD?"

CAUSE

Some people (the highly sensitive and gifted) are born with a highly sensitive nervous system – there is nothing wrong or abnormal about this.  They most likely inherited their high sensitivity from their parents (one or both may be highly sensitive).  Those with a highly sensitive nervous system are predisposed to feeling their emotions intensely (emotional overexcitability).  This intensity makes it more challenging to accept, endure, and recover from uncomfortable life experiences, hurt, and disappointments.  While undergoing emotional pain, it is not so uncommon for people to come to conclusions that draw out a response, both emotional and behavioural, that adds to the human experience of melancholy.  For the sake of simplicity, these conclusions shall be referred to as “negative” thoughts. Although it may be normal, even human, to have a negative thought in difficult times, highly sensitive people who feel their emotions intensely are often driven by their emotions to replay their thoughts in their head in frequencies that cause problems in the long run.  This replaying of thoughts is what the clinical world of psychology calls “obsessions.”  After some time has passed, during which repeated thoughts and responses have strengthened neural connections within the brain, the highly sensitive person then becomes addicted to his or her many ways of thinking and coping.

Please Note:  The main difference between OCD and OCPD is that OCD is characterized by the anxiety of one’s own imagination while OCPD is characterized by the anxiety of one’s own emotions.

NOTES FOR YOUR JOURNAL:

SYMPTOMS

(The Gift Of OCPD Criteria – not all symptoms have to be present)

1. Thinkaholism
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “I need to figure out how to be ok or else I will not be ok.”
2. Workaholism
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “I am not good enough as a person.” “I need to create my value.”  “My value comes from what I do.”  “I am on my own in the pursuit of feeling good about who I am as a person.” “My future will not be ok unless I work as hard as I can now.”  “Things will not be ok unless I use my time perfectly.”
3. Perfectionism, Anger, Guilt
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “My high standards must be met or else things will not be ok.”  “I will be rejected by others if I am not perfect.”
4. Regret, Restlessness, Indecisiveness
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “I am worse off because of the things that I have and have not chosen to do.”  “Unless I make up for my lost time and choose perfectly, I will always remain in regret.”
5. Resentment, Unforgiveness
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “I am worse off because of the way he/she/they treated me.”  “He/she/they do not care.”  “The world would be a better place without him/her/them.”  “I expect him/her/them to fail and disappoint me.”
6. Isolation, Inability to Delegate
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “It is better to be safe by myself than to get hurt and rejected by others.”  “Doing things on my own is the only way to get things done right.”
7. Miserliness, Hoarding
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “I will not have enough for myself in the future unless I save now.”  “Others will just take advantage of my generosity.”
8. Purposelessness, Idleness (for the more severe case of OCPD)
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “There is no purpose/point in life.” “We are merely like the animals on the earth with no greater purpose than to go along with this perpetual pointless cycle we call life.” “There is nothing more.”
9. Hopelessness (for the more severe case of OCPD)
   • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “There is nothing that I can do.”  “I am powerless.”  “I cannot bring any sort of positive change to my condition/the world.”
10. Antinatalism (for the more severe case of OCPD)
    • UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “Life sucks.”  Life is not worth living.” “I rather have not been born into this world.”  “It would be cruel to bring children into this unfair wretched world.”  “I rather not have children so that I do not pass down my illness to them.”
11. Misotheism (for the more severe case of OCPD)
• UNDERLYING NEGATIVE BELIEF: “There is no such thing as good.” “There is no God.” “If there is a God, God does not care.”

We have much more to cover!

UP NEXT:

More on how people with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) have the capacity to experience great emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity.

and

The difference between Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

~ See you in our next Blog Session dear Friends ~

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

© Copyright - René Allen - JUNE 2017 - All Rights Reserved

  

Dealing with OCPD

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

If you have ever read an article on-line, and then suddenly realized that you need help ~ This just might be one of those articles!

You'll need your Journal to take notes for this Blog Session. This may be a good time for you to get a Journal strictly dedicated to OCPD or OCD. [Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder].

Welcome back Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors. We were last here discussing OCPD ~ Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.  We are back to follow up, and to put forth information regarding two distinct conditions that you may find it helpful to make a note of . . .

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Versus

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Personality disorders are a distinct category of psychiatric disorders.  Personality disorders refer to a chronic, inflexible, and maladaptive pattern of relating to the world.  This maladaptive pattern is evident in the way the person thinks, feels, behaves, and most importantly, how they relate interpersonally to other people.  All of us (including those of us who may have a personality disorder), knows someone who has a personality disorder of some kind.

Understanding personality disorders is a matter of course depending on who you are.  Some of the readers here have family members, friends, or loved ones who have personality disorders.  In fact, some of the readers here may have become use to the personality disorder to the point where in their mind it is a normal order of the day.  But is it?

"No."

Let's just stop here for a minute and get into what a Personality Disorder is . . .

The term “Personality Disorder” implies there is something not-quite-right about someone’s personality. However, the term “personality disorder” simply refers to a diagnostic category of psychiatric disorders characterized by a chronic, inflexible, and maladaptive pattern of relating to the world.  This maladaptive pattern is evident in the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves.  The most noticeable and significant feature of these disorders is their negative effect on interpersonal relationships.  A person with an untreated personality disorder is rarely able to enjoy sustained, meaningful, and rewarding relationships with others, and any relationships they do form are often fraught with problems and difficulties.

Do you know someone like this?  Do you believe you may have a personality disorder? 

It is quite possible to have both a personality disorder and an obsessive-compulsive or related disorder.  However, one personality disorder in particular appears to be most similar to the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  It even shares a similar name: obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).  Therefore, it is important to distinguish between these two disorders...

Despite the similarity in names, the connection between OCD and OCPD is not as strong as one would think.  OCPD is defined as the preoccupation with perfectionism, orderliness, and control.  Individuals with OCPD tend to be inflexible and rigid.  They pay extreme attention to details and rules so much so that it can interfere with their ability to complete a task.  They become so excessively devoted to work and being 'productive,' that they neglect their friends and family.  Their preoccupation leaves little room for recreational or leisurely pursuits.

OCPD affects people's functioning in many ways.  First, OCPD can negatively affect someone's performance at work. They frequently do not complete projects because they get lost in the details.  Similarly, their futile attempts to achieve perfection cause them to miss important deadlines.  OCPD also affects the person's social functioning.  Because of their excessive devotion to work and 'productivity,' they do not form, and/or maintain, meaningful social relationships.

Although OCD and OCPD share some related features, they are two different disorders.  As such, it is possible for a person to have both disorders.  The primary distinction between these two disorders is the presence of obsessions and compulsions, as with OCD; or the absence of them, as with OCPD.  Research indicates that most individuals with OCD do not have OCPD (Baer & Jenike, 1992).

Is it possible to live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Diagnosis: The Signs And Symptoms Of

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

As the name implies, the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the kingpin of the entire category of disorders called obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.  Obsessions are repetitive and distressing thoughts, urges, or imagery that are experienced as uncontrollable.  Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to obsessions.  These obsessions and compulsions are at times consuming (an hour or more per day).  They create significant distress and/or interfere with a person's functioning.

Ordinarily, obsessional thoughts, images, or impulses are not about typical, everyday things. Common obsessional themes are:

• extreme and unrealistic concerns about contamination, and/or need for cleanliness;
• repeated and excessive doubts, such as wondering if a door was left unlocked, or if a coffee pot was turned off;
• the need to have things in a precise and particular order or arrangement (with intense distress or distractions if this order or arrangement is disturbed);
• aggressive or horrific impulses, such as a desire to harm one's child; and
• disturbing sexual imagery, such as intrusive pornographic imagery.

These are the most common types of obsessions.  However, any distressing, repetitive, uncontrollable, and unwanted thought can form an obsession.

Obsessions are not the same as hallucinations, which are a hallmark symptom of several other, rather severe, mental disorders (psychotic disorders).  When someone is experiencing a hallucination, they are unaware that what they are experiencing is not real and a creation of their own mind. In contrast, people who experience obsessions recognize that the obsessions are generated by their own mind.  This is true, even for people with limited insight.

People with OCD try to ignore or neutralize these intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses.  In other words, they attempt to counteract or block these distressing and repetitive thoughts.  One way people try to block or neutralize obsessions is with compulsions.  Compulsions are recurring behaviors (such as repeatedly checking appliances or repeatedly washing hands) or repetitive mental acts (such as counting or praying) that an individual feels they must do in response to an obsession.

Compulsions serve to avoid or reduce distress.  In some cases, a person may believe they must perform compulsive acts in order to prevent something terrible from happening. For example, a person may touch things only after they have all been bleached.  They believe they must perform this act in order to prevent disease.

PLEASE NOTE:  Children's OCD symptoms are similar to adults.  However, children may not ask for help.  Therefore, it becomes their caregivers' responsibility to identify these symptoms and seek treatment.  While an adult may be able to tell you their rationale for the compulsive act ("I'm washing my hands so I don't contract HIV"), a child may not be able to articulate this.  Even though children may be unable explain the reason for their compulsive behavior, they may still try to minimize their compulsions in front of others.

The diagnosis of OCD includes an insight specifier to further refine the diagnosis.  While it is true that obsessions and compulsions are based on inaccurate or irrational beliefs, people differ in terms of whether they recognize this fact.  In other words, some people readily recognize and accept that obsessions and are not sensible.  Nonetheless, this insight is insufficient to prevent the obsessions and compulsions.

Other people lack this insight.  They firmly cling to their distorted beliefs, despite evidence that refutes the validity of such beliefs.  This lack of insight is important with respect to treatment.  In general, people with poor or absent insight have a poorer prognosis for a full and complete recovery. However, the degree of insight can be quite variable.  In one moment, a person may be well aware their beliefs are irrational.  Later, when directly faced with a fearful situation, this insight may vanish completely.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR YOUR JOURNAL:

Insight Specifiers

There are three insight specifiers:

1)  good/fair,

2)  poor, or

3)  absent/delusional.

An insight specifier rates a person's degree of insight about their disorder-related beliefs.  For instance, some people realize that checking the locks, dozens of times throughout the day, is unlikely to affect whether or not a burglary occurs. This indicates good/fair insight.  Someone else may believe that without this degree of vigilance a burglary is nearly certain to occur.  This indicates poor insight.  A small minority of people are absolutely convinced a burglary is certain to occur without rigorous checking of locks.  These people demonstrate absent/delusional insight.

QUESTION:  

How Are Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRDs) Diagnosed?

The presence of absent/delusional insight requires very careful diagnostic evaluation.  Delusional thoughts are also a symptom of another category of rather severe disorders, called psychotic disorders.  Therefore, it is very important that the absent/delusional insight in an OCRD is not misdiagnosed as psychotic disorder merely because of delusional beliefs.  Proper diagnosis is essential to receiving the right treatment.  For example, the medications used to treat psychotic disorders are very different than for OCRDs. If the symptoms of OCRDs are misdiagnosed as a psychotic disorder, a person might receive the wrong kind of medication.

Make sure you have all of these important insights written down in your Journal for future reference.  We'll be back to continue our conversation.  And, now that you know more about OCD and OCPD, as well as OCRDs, you be better able to understand our upcoming discussion about how people with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) have the capacity to experience great emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity.  You'll find that discussion very interesting!

Tune in back here for our next Blog Session for all of the above, as well as our discussion about the difference between Empaths and Highly Sensitive People.

~ See you in the morning Friends ~

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

© Copyright - René Allen - JUNE 2017 - All Rights Reserved