"Pure O" sufferer talks about paedophilia and homosexuality obsessions in today's Guardian

[Guest sarah1984]

Hello everyone,

I know that whenever OCD is mentioned in the media, there's always comments from forum members who wish that the media didn't always focus on the more "socially acceptable" forms of OCD such as hand-washing or checking. I came across this article from a "Pure O" sufferer this morning and I'm sure other forum members would be interested in having a read: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/31/pure-ocd-the-naked-truth. I really admire "Rose Bretecher" (not her real name) for having the courage to share her story in the national press. My only criticism is that I feel the article didn't do enough to emphasise that OCD sufferers are the very last people to act on their intrusive thoughts. I think it could also have been improved by adding some links to sites such as OCD UK and Steve Phillipson's www.ocdonline.com for people who are looking for help with their OCD.

Sarah

[Hal]

You've pipped me to the post Sarah, literally :original: I've just read the article online and was about flag it up here too. It does make a refreshing change doesn't it to read something in a mainstream paper covering the less well known ways OCD can manifest itself.

Thanks for highlighting it and at least it was covered sensitively - wouldn't expect anything less from the Guardian but you never can tell when it comes to the press and mental health issues, Hal.

[Guest honey]

Yes, just read it too! It's great, and would have been a massive help to me when I was younger. Agree that the Gdn should have included links to this charity and other recommendations eg books.

I did feel a strange sort of envy too though when I read it, thinking of all those terrible pre-internet years in which I really didn't know what was wrong with me. How comparatively fortunate 'Rose' was, to find full information via Wikipedia at a young age. I can see how much she suffered before her treatment, but I felt a real sadness because I was once that 15 year old girl, and I had twenty years of slog ahead of me before I really got to grips with this condition.

Good for her though! And good for the Guardian. Hope it helps a lot of people.

honey

[Guest legend]

Good article , but not a huge fan of the term pure o , as it makes it appear that its a different type of ocd, where in fact people with "pureo" do have

outward compulsions, as an eg. reassurance seeking, avoidance of fears, googling , to name a few

[Guest honey]

True Legend, good point. And of course I agree with Ashley's thread on the Sufferers' Forum about this issue.

I wonder how we can develop better ways of talking about our different inflections of this condition? I experience OCD as 'Rose' does; I always have. It has helped me to read accounts of this type of OCD. I think perhaps the media don't help, as they focus on the type of OCD behaviours which cluster around cleaning and checking. As a messy person who cleans her bathroom once a month (!) it took me a long time to recognise that my illness was really OCD.

On reflection, it would be a great step forward if all accounts of OCD on TV/in papers etc included a broader definition of the condition. A new campaign for OCD-UK perhaps!

honey

[Guest Elle Belle]

Wow. Beautifully written.

[Guest FlyingEagle]

in the guardian newspaper:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/31/pure-ocd-the-naked-truth?CMP=twt_gu

[PhilpsonFan07]

Someone posted this in the Media section.

[Guest Tricia]

What an excellent article.

[Magicat]

I thought it was excellent.

[Guest Flower]

Absolutely brilliant

[Guest Paul92]

Refreshing that this horrible condition is getting some publicity.

[Guest yinyang]

Was a brilliant read and she explained how we feel well. All good for awareness and not the usual stereotypical rubbish. We need more of this out there!

Edited September 1, 2013 by yinyang

[Guest legend]

Whats stereo typical rubbish ?

as theres 2 threads of the same I thought id add my reply "again"

Good article , but not a huge fan of the term pure o , as it makes it appear that its a different type of ocd, where in fact people with "pureo" do have

outward compulsions, as an eg. reassurance seeking, avoidance of fears, googling , to name a few

So in theory poor usage of "PURE O" it doesn't exist. ITS OCD

[Guest yinyang]

Whats stereo typical rubbish ?

The usual articles that purvey all OCD sufferers as hand washers

[Guest legend]

The usual articles that purvey all OCD sufferers as hand washers

they are brave though to do so , as is any ocd sufferer who steps forwards and makes a difference, without them , we wouldn't be where we are today

we do need more peeps to step forwards to portray ocd as it is, in all aspects of the illness, so to make differentuals, people need to talk openly, so yep

totally agree

but my concerns, whether its ocd of peado / harming/checking washing etc etc is there is, and still remains a lack of good therapists within the nhs

[Guest yinyang]

they are brave though to do so , as is any ocd sufferer who steps forwards and makes a difference, without them , we wouldn't be where we are today

we do need more peeps to step forwards to portray ocd as it is, in all aspects of the illness, so to make differentuals, people need to talk openly, so yep

totally agree

but my concerns, whether its ocd of peado / harming/checking washing etc etc is there is, and still remains a lack of good therapists within the nhs

Absolutely and I'm in no way dumbing down anybody's theme, as a sufferer I would never do that.

Also the "stereotypical" statement was aimed at articles in general. Not of articles written by sufferers

Edited September 1, 2013 by yinyang

[PhilpsonFan07]

The usual articles that purvey all OCD sufferers as hand washers

Part of the reason many OCD sufferers, such as pure-o sufferers, don't know they have OCD, is that the media portrays OCD as hand washing, counting and checking doors. It's the reason pure-o was coined. Many people use the phrase (like Steven Philipson) to describe certain obsessions not commonly discussed in the media. Personally, I don't have a problem with the term.

[Guest legend]

Part of the reason many OCD sufferers, such as pure-o sufferers, don't know they have OCD, is that the media portrays OCD as hand washing, counting and checking doors. It's the reason pure-o was coined. Many people use the phrase (like Steven Philipson) to describe certain obsessions not commonly discussed in the media. Personally, I don't have a problem with the term.

in retrospect true, but 10 years ago, ocd wasn't even fully understood , in the context of cbt and exposure therapy if im correct ?

so 10 years on we are where we are now. where do we want to be in say further 10 years ?

The term in theory at this point would possibly add more confusion to therapy.

Importantly , good work by the people who talk about non contam ocd stuff, more people need to step forwards to make more awareness

Edited September 1, 2013 by legend

[PhilpsonFan07]

in retrospect true, but 10 years ago, ocd wasn't even fully understood , in the context of cbt and exposure therapy if im correct ?

From what I've read, most OCD specialists still use the terms like "pure-o". Steven Philipson explains it in this podcast (http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=29103&w=9&cn=1) and the OCDLA Center still uses it as well (http://www.ocdla.com/obsessionalOCD.html). From what Philipson explains it's never been used as a medical term because it's a misnomer, but he still uses it because it has some use. It's more of phrase that developed in the OCD community to describe these types of obsessions that aren't well publicized.

[Guest legend]

The most important part i suppose, is that when you do go for cbt is that the therapist will have good knowledge of all aspects of ocd

Its the same meat, just different gravy.

legend

[Guest yinyang]

Well I did mention "pure o" to a mental health practitioner and to be honest it only made things worse for me.

I agree that a lot of specialists do use the term and I think Schwartz does in his book?

I'm not sure whether the term medically speaking is correct but although splitting OCD into categories may cause confusion. Sometimes it's the only way we can describe how we feel in the OCD community. Same meat different gravy for sure, but there are different "gravy's"

[Guest legend]

Well I did mention "pure o" to a mental health practitioner and to be honest it only made things worse for me.

I agree that a lot of specialists do use the term and I think Schwartz does in his book?

I'm not sure whether the term medically speaking is correct but although splitting OCD into categories may cause confusion. Sometimes it's the only way we can describe how we feel in the OCD community. Same meat different gravy for sure, but there are different "gravy's"

exactly my sentiments in regards to adding more confusion, especially if the person helping isn't fully knowledgable of the illness,

And most defintly there are a multi tude of "flavours" (sadly) but what one has to try and do when they talk to therapists, is perhaps divert away

from using different terminologys, but to try and be honest and open as you can when it comes down to disclosing your unwanted thoughts

Just my personal views.

legend

[Guest yinyang]

Yeah I agree in terms of treatment OCD is OCD and should be treated as such whatever the gravy.

I just feel community wise there is no harm in using a label to describe how you feel. We all know what it is and sometimes it's easier to communicate to each other using that label to "cut to the chase" if you know what I mean?

It's a controversial one I know and your personal views are valued :original:

[Guest legend]

Not controversial really, but when people say they have pure o . they tend to think that all of the compulsions are mental, where in fact

they have outward ones, as an eg reassurance seeking, checking, googling, avoidance of fears

So yes it is "different" to handwashers/checkers in that sense, totally agree