Replies to '06/29 Husbands Ask Dr. Phil'

When I hear a person has a fear of germs coupled with behavoirs (avoidance, washing excessively, throwing things out which normally would not be thrown out, etc.) used to alleviate the fear of contamination, the first thing that comes to my mind is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

OCD is not a thought disorder but an anxiety disorder. While the person suffering from the disorder has intrusive and repetitive thoughts (obsessions) which cause increased levels of distress (fear, anxiety, guilt, depression), it's the persons reaction to the thoughts, the compulsion (ie. to wash, clean, avoid, ruminate in ones head excessively, etc.) that causes the problem, not the thoughts themselves.

The cure. Behavior and cognitive therapy coupled with medication (SSRI's). While there is no 100% cure for OCD, most types can be managed effectively especially those dealing with fear of germs.

The basis of all forms of OCD is anxiety, fear, guilt and depression. If an intrusive thought (one that just pops into your head unexpectedly) causes you to feel anxiety, fear, guilt, and depression, in the absence of a genuine reason to feel this way (ie. loss of a job, lied to a loved one, etc.) and you perform a compulsion to reduce the bad feeling (avoid situations, ruminate in your head to solve the problem, write things out on paper, touch things, say a prayer, feel compelled to become excessively responsible for the safety of others, etc.) and you do this continually in the face of the bad feelings, there is a good chance you may suffer from OCD.  

James