Key Takeaways:
- The article Extreme OCD ‘Misdiagnosed’ As Paedophilia was published on Sky News (UK) in 2016 and is supported by a series of insightful videos.
- The videos introduce several people living with various forms of OCD or Pure O.
- The article and videos stress the importance of proper diagnosis.
- The videos feature expert commentary from Dr. Veale, a clinical psychologist.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder comes in many shapes and forms. Every person’s experience with it is different. Therefore, every person’s diagnosis and therapy should be treated differently. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case according to Extreme OCD ‘Misdiagnosed’ as Pedophilia.
Sky News met with and interviewed three individuals, including Rose Bretecher, who have all experienced intrusive thoughts to varying degrees and intensities. In one such case, a school teacher, who had Pure O and experienced pedophilia thoughts, was misdiagnosed and nearly lost his job.
Misdiagnosis is not uncommon. It’s hard enough to live with intrusive thoughts. It’s even harder to muster up the courage to tell others about it, including a doctor or therapist, for fear of losing a job, a loved one, a spouse, etc. In the article, Dr. Veale states that “no one with OCD has ever been recorded to act on their intrusive thoughts…” which, to some people, may serve as peace of mind.
Another commonality among the interviewees is that they all waited many years before finally seeking professional help. But if they could all stress one thing, it would be to get help immediately. The faster someone gets help, the faster s/he can get on the road to recovery.
Whether it’s learning more about common misperceptions of OCD or virtually meeting real individuals who live or have lived with intrusive thoughts, this article serves as an important educational tool. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder, for those who have OCD, Pure O, Harm OCD, etc., that they are not alone.