It is estimated that between one to two per cent of the world’s overall population suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), which, at first glance, doesn’t necessarily sound a lot, but when analysed, actually accounts for one in every 100. Whereas we’ve probably all heard about OCD in some shape or form, we probably haven’t been as exposed or heard the term pure obsessional OCD (Pure-O) tossed around as much. In this blog post, more light will be shed on what exactly Pure-O OCD is, comparing it to OCD in its most known, traditional form so to speak.
The main difference between OCD and Pure Obsessional OCD
OCD is quite the serious condition that can detrimentally affect one’s mental well-being. It is experienced by millions worldwide, and is characterised by causing those affected to obsess over certain physical compulsions, such as having to turn a light switch on and off a specific number of times, or feeling as if they have to wash their hands a certain amount of times, in order to alleviate the crippling anxiety that has been built up due to the obsession.
When we talk about Pure-O OCD, on the other hand, we are just talking about the obsessions, and not the physical compulsions that people with traditional OCD feel they need to complete. When it comes to Pure-O, the individual does not focus on the physical compulsions, but rather obsesses over the troubling nature of their intrusive thoughts.
Pure-O OCD makes people who suffer from it obsess over the reasons why a possibly (and most commonly) disturbing intrusive thought popped into their head. “Why did I just imagine running over that person crossing the street? Am I a psychopath? What is wrong with me?” are just some of the questions that most sufferers will ask themselves over and over and over again, until they eventually get exhausted from their own obsessive self-analysis.
In simple terms, people who are affected by their intrusive thoughts suffer from Pure-O OCD. Although intrusive thoughts are almost impossible to avoid and affect pretty much every human being on planet Earth, not everyone will give too much of a second thought to the thought. These individuals are not troubled in the slightest by the random appearance of the mostly-disturbing-in-nature thoughts, and therefore, are considered to be Pure-O OCD-free.
What Pure O OCD feels like
Interestingly, in the majority of cases, the intrusive Pure-O OCD thoughts actually tend to go completely against what people themselves believe, whether it be morally, ethically, or religiously, also going against what their overall perception is of their own self. Pure-O makes its victims question their entire identity, and makes them obsess over whether they are a bad person or not. Needless to say, this leads to an intense amount of emotional upset and unrest.
These intrusive thoughts, which are normally either violent or sexual in nature, are so distressing to the person experiencing them due to the fact that these thoughts are ones that the individual could never possibly imagine themselves having or thinking, which leads to the person questioning their morality and good nature. They also then worry to no end about if they will, at some point in the future, feel compelled or have a sudden urge to actually physically do what they were thinking about doing.
Generally speaking, the three most common ways that Pure-O OCD expresses itself include the following:
- intrusive thoughts
- unwanted or inappropriate mental images
- frightening impulses that go against the person’s beliefs or nature
Cognitive compulsions of Pure-O OCD
Mental avoidant behaviour, or cognitive avoidance, is quite common in people who suffer from Pure-O OCD. Simply put, cognitive avoidance is actively and consciously turning one’s mental focus away from either distressing, triggering, or disturbing thoughts or memories. This active mental avoidant behaviour can take form in a variety of ways, and could range anywhere from the individual having the thoughts simply telling themselves not to think about the thought, to toxic positivity, fantasizing, or dissociation.
People troubled by Pure-O OCD will also typically excessively ruminate. This means that the person is stuck with that thought, finding it near impossible to escape from it, thinking about it over and over and over again. Imagine a horrifyingly gruesome thought or mental image quite literally being stuck in our head throughout the day, with no way of escape.
Everyday tasks that most people take for granted can become quite the challenge, and social interactions stressful. “Will they be able to read my mind? What if they found out I was having this thought?” are some spiralling questions that people experience on a regular basis. This can, inevitably, lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and panic disorder, but to mention a few.
George Ezra: ‘I’m not a freak, I’m not alone’.
Speaking candidly and openly on Elis James and John Robins’ award-winning BBC Radio 5 Live podcast ‘How Do You Cope’ in 2020, Brit-award winner and singer/songwriter George Ezra provided a personal insight into how he learned how to cope with Pure-O OCD. The Shotgun singer revealed that he would find himself feeling vacant to the world around him, and would obsess over his particular intrusive thought that day until he went to bed and fell asleep that night.
Cognitive behavioural therapy and how it can help
A highly recommended treatment option for individuals suffering from OCD or Pure-O OCD, cognitive behavioural therapy can effectively allow people experiencing distressing thoughts or emotions to identify them and take control of them so to speak instead of vice versa. The commonly practiced technique hones in on our thought patterns, analysing how these thoughts can affect our emotions and overall behaviour.
In the episode of the podcast mentioned above, George Ezra shared with the hosts that he was being exposed to the things and thoughts that worried him the most as he underwent cognitive behavioural therapy, which, although at the time, left him feeling emotionally exhausted, helped him confront the thoughts, not allowing them to negatively affect his emotional and mental well-being.
Acceptance
A cure for OCD and Pure-O OCD depends on the person suffering from it, really, and, in George Ezra’s case, he found the process of simply accepting that he would have to learn to live with Pure-O OCD to be quite “relaxing”, embracing the challenge of managing the mental illness. Patients might notice that the thoughts pop up during times of intense stress and anxiety, and may be triggered in certain scenarios, but Pure-O OCD can be effectively controlled through techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy or transcendental meditation, which Ezra also practiced during his initial management of Pure-O OCD.
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