BLUF
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be a lot more than just needing to have your pens lined up neatly in a row—it can be dark, shameful and terrifying.Summary
Martin Ingle has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Now, before you turn away from this article and think to yourself, 'oh, that's just about people needing things to be neat, or people over-washing their hands’—have a listen to Martin's story. OCD can be very dark. Every time Martin ate steak, he imagined it was human flesh. He had no desire to eat human flesh, but he was worried he might be a closet cannibal. Martin was 23 when these feelings began. Within weeks, he began having thoughts that he could be a paedophile, a rapist, or even into beastiality. OCD is really about intrusive thoughts that the brain can't turn off. Dr Blair-West has a reassuring, clinical answer. He says:
'I'm always confident that OCD people are not dangerous because it's clear that the intrusive thoughts/images are always completely the opposite of what the person wants to do.'
