The House of Obsessive Compulsives

[Ashley]

Three people with extreme obsessive compulsive disorders (OCDs) agree to live together as part of a ground-breaking experiment in an attempt to cure them through a new kind of group therapy.

Wendy Johnstone hasn’t shared a bed with her husband or even touched her twin children for five years, confining herself to one room in her home which no one is allowed to enter. Gerard McAree is terrified of any human contact for fear he might incriminate himself. He can’t leave phone messages, refuses to write anything down and walks around in public with a mouthful of water to stop himself from talking. Sophie Prosser Morgan spends three hours a day washing her hands and can’t bring herself to walk on grass.

Over the past 20 years, all three have tried medication, assorted therapies and even contemplated lobotomy in order to rid themselves of their OCDs. In this last ditch attempt at salvation, they agree to share a house in London and put themselves in the hands of a team of therapists from the Psychiatric Unit of London’s Maudsley Hospital. Wendy, Gerard and Sophie’s journey to overcome the debilitating effects of their illness proves more intense and surprising than anyone, including their doctors, could ever have imagined.

Narrated by Christopher Eccleston.

One-off: Channel 4, broadcast 1st & 8th August 2005, 2 x 60 mins

[Ashley]

We will need telephone help for this, so if anyone can spare an hour or two the night of transmission or the days after please contact me.

[Guest Heryn]

Narrated by Christopher Eccleston.

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Fantastic -- I'm sure he'll do a great job. I will be watching. When do they start airing the trails?

Cheers

Heryn

[Guest Wendy]

Hi all

Oooooh!! How nice that Christopher Eccleston is narrating....I wish I'd met him!!

Not sure abot the title though...still it's the content that's important.

Saying that, I am a wee bit nervous but hey whatever! Had an interview with Moira Petty..Daily Mail Weekend..should be published next Saturday 23rd.

My contact at Channel 4 should let me know when 'trails' start will advise you as soon as!

Just to let you know still doing well and thinking of you all .

Love Wendy xxx

[Guest Muse_Man]

Hi all :lol:

Oooooh!! How nice that Christopher Eccleston is narrating....I wish I'd met him!!

Not sure abot the title though...still it's the content that's important.

Saying that, I am a wee bit nervous but hey whatever!  Had an interview with Moira Petty..Daily Mail Weekend..should be published next Saturday 23rd.

My contact at Channel 4 should let me know when 'trails' start will advise you as soon as!

Just to let you know still doing well and thinking of you all .

Love Wendy xxx

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Hi Wendy,

I really cant wait to see it, nice to here you are doin well and coping wit the stress of the media attention I know you and the family will be fine!

I bet you will have a celebration when it comes out, thought of having a premiere night or r u gonna just have a quiet night in?

Take really good care, thinking of you!

Stuartx

[Guest Wendy]

Hi Stuart

Thanks for that.....think the production company are setting up a 'screening' night!!

Thinks I'll sit at the back with my red wine and try to look at inconspicuous as poss!! :lol: :lol2:

How are you doing? We must do the nightout thingy again!! :happy:

Love Wendy xx

[Guest rosco]

OOhh, I'll have to make sure I'm in for that! I will agree with beths idea, to include some wine!!

Or as Ricky Gervais would say: (El-Vino did flow)

[Guest mandy]

ive put the dates down so i can remember when prog is on. i think there should be more programes about ocd.

[Guest Dragonfruit]

I am a wee bit nervous

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Totally understandable - but it's going to be great - you made such a HUGE difference to your life - this is such an amazing thing for you to have done....

Had an interview with Moira Petty..Daily Mail Weekend..should be published next Saturday 23rd.

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Well done again - will def be getting a copy of this

Just to let you know still doing well

53999[/snapback]

That's so great - I'm so happy for you. Well done, Wendy - you're a total inspiration

[Guest Muse_Man]

Hi Wendy :mad:

:lol2: Im sure the red wine will help soothe the nerves...lol!

I think you are right, the fourm peoples are due another meal night and get together soon or within the next few months, theres the camping coming up in Weymouth which will be a bit of get together in August.....Oh good I can get an autographed photo when i see you next.... Like DF says, you are an inspiration and really hope it works out for you, well done!

Im getting better thanks for asking, the anxiety is still wit me. I have justed finished my block of cbt sessions and feel I am 50% cured, just the case of putting into what i learnt into practice, thinking positive, not panicking, and carry on exposing myself.

take care,

Stuartx

[Guest scotty]

Hi Everyone

Im not sure if this has already been posted today but in the Gaurdian in the health section is a big write up on the soon to be aired ocd programme.

It also features the website address so i guess ashie you already have seen this.

Thanks

Scotty

[Ashley]

Im not sure if this has already been posted today but in the Gaurdian in the health section is a big write up on the soon to be aired ocd programme.

It also features the website address so i guess ashie you already have seen this.

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Thanks scotty,

I knew the Guardian were writing an article, is it about how OCD is portrayed on TV? I did not know it was out today so I will go and look online for it.

I have merged your post onto the other thread

[Guest rosco]

Link to the Guardian report:

Guardian Report

[Guest scotty]

The report was abit sceptical and concerned that it was not going to make fun of sufferers as channel 4 have come up with some dissapointing shows before.

Once it gets into it the report it seems quite good and the sufferers have made good progress.

Sorry for my ingnorance ive not been on the website for a few weeks but have you ashie had any contact with the three sufferes in the programme or any input?

Thanks Scotty

[Ashley]

Sorry for my ingnorance ive not been on the website for a few weeks but have you ashie had any contact with the three sufferes in the programme or any input?

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Prof Salkovskis has already seen a rough draft and was pleased with it. Beth J on here is one of the participants and she gives it a huge so, fingers crossed that despite the poor name for the show it will be a factually and informative portrayal.

[Ashley]

Link to the Guardian report:

Guardian Report

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Thanks Rosco.

A very private illness

A controversial Channel 4 show throws the spotlight on obsessive compulsive disorder. Alex Heminsley on a condition many of us suffer from - but are too embarrassed to admit

Tuesday July 19, 2005

The Guardian

Next month, a new Channel 4 house will open its doors for our entertainment. The House of Obsessive Compulsives is a two-part show, featuring three extreme sufferers of obsessive compulsive disorder, who will be filmed living together while trying to overcome the illness.

They are Wendy Johnstone, who hasn't been able to share a bed with her husband or touch her twin children for five years; Gerard McAree, who is so terrified of human contact that he can't even leave phone messages and walks around with a mouth full of water to stop him from talking to people; and Sophie Prosser Morgan who spends three hours a day washing her hands. Each has tried various therapies and treatments, and are taking part in the programme in a last-ditch attempt to find a cure.

Channel 4 insists the programme is a serious, observational documentary trialling a new method of treatment, masterminded by leading OCD specialist, Professor Paul Salkovskis, from the Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in London. If done sensitively, the programme may have the potential to educate and reassure sufferers and those around them. It is, however, brought to us by Monkey, the production company best known for such post-pub classics as Born Sloppy and X Rated: The Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments.

OCD is often referred to as "the secret illness", but 2-3% of the population are thought to be affected by it, and it is listed as one of the top 10 most debilitating illnesses by the World Health Organisation. "OCD is still shrouded in an air of secrecy; attempts to cover tracks and irritation at intervention are hallmark traits," says Dr Frederick Toates, author of Obsessive Disorder, who suffers from it.

Sufferers are tormented by persistent unwanted thoughts about a feared situation - the obsessions - which they then usually try to counteract with mental or physical rituals - the compulsions. These are usually excessive repetition of actions, such as washing (the most familiar) or checking, counting, or ruminating about arrangement and symmetry. The most common treatment is cognitive behaviour therapy.

So will watching a woman who is so scared of human contact that she can't even touch her children prove to be illuminating or merely insulting? Is The House of Obsessive Compulsives going to genuinely inform and de-stigmatise, or is it going to be another case of television executives looking for a fast laugh from a difficult situation?

After all, Hollywood's treatment of the disorder has been pretty erratic. OCD is frequently used to make char acters "interesting" without being threatening. This year The Aviator was well-received by sufferers and OCD charities alike: Martin Scorcese used a leading expert to advise on production and Leonardo Di Caprio gave a sensitive, nuanced performance as Howard Hughes, struggling with the insidious effect the disorder had on him as his success grew. In contrast, Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Melvin, the obsessive compulsive romantic novelist in 1997's As Good As It Gets was largely played for laughs. He was a happy-go-lucky eccentric, largely unthreatening and rarely tormented. Sufferers deemed it insulting and uncomfortable viewing.

"Many people have this disorder and don't know it exists," says Toates. "Knowledge is power, so if people realise it is a disorder with a name and that there is treatment for it then that would be hugely valuable." But doesn't the fact that he declined to contribute to The House of Obsessive Compulsives suggest a little apprehension on his part? "Well, creating a situation of 'laughing at the bearded lady' would be awful; and I'd be concerned about it being helpful for those featured in the long term."

Monkey is adamant this would not be the case. It is reluctant to reveal the results of the experiment for fear of losing viewers, but insists that the trio's prospects for long-term recovery are now "extremely good; two are now as well as they can be and one is much, much better".

Either way, who am I to criticise? I lived with a sufferer of OCD for several years and was the very definition of unhelpful.

My younger sister, Lottie, started to develop symptoms of OCD in her early teens. It manifested itself primarily in her bedtime routine, which became increasingly complex, rather than the frantic washing that many assume is the typical trait of the disorder. "I don't know where it came from," she explains. "I was terrified of not getting to sleep. It was totally irrational. At about five o'clock in the winter, just as it started to get dark, I used to start thinking, 'Oh my god, now it's dinnertime, now it's time for a shower, now it's time for bed.' Everyone around me would be giggling and laughing but I'd be getting more and more stressed."

In the context of a close, communicative family, this just seemed to us like characteristic teenage sulkiness, or a desire to be different from a bookish sister. As far as I was concerned, no one needed to spend so long drawing their curtains and taking their teddies off their bed. I simply thought she was attention seeking. What I failed to realise was that my sister felt utterly tormented on a daily basis, and was going to great lengths to keep the extent of her ever-expanding bedtime routine from both close friends and family.

"It was such a private thing, I used to dread getting caught by someone, and lived in fear of the embarrassment of what would happen if someone ever found out," she says. "I had to do everything five times multiplied by five times: touch the curtains, touch the door, touch the end of my bed, touch my slippers, make sure my feet left the floor at exactly the same time as I got into bed . . .

"And if I was interrupted I had to start all over again. So, if I'd just got myself almost calm by going through the routine when someone would go to the bathroom, I would have to start all over again. I don't know how my imagination was fertile enough to think of all of these ridiculous worries! After a couple of years, I always had to wait until everyone else was asleep wherever I was, so that I could do what I needed to do without being embarrassed. I always had to touch the last stair five times - so that meant I had to be the last person to go upstairs every night."

I, of course, knew nothing about obsessive compulsive disorder then. With typical teenage self-indulgence, I thought it was "like, totally pathetic" that Lottie considered herself too cool to go to bed at a normal time, and was furious that she seemed so committed to staying up late enough to watch new MTV videos days before me. I never suspected she was unhappy about the rigmarole. Our relationship was entirely built around the context of our position in the family. It seems the modern family is keenly aware of the need to watch the teenage daughter who pushes food around her plate at every mealtime, but is less aware of what other rituals may mean.

Ultimately Lottie ended up confiding in a teacher who helped her to untangle the web of neuroses she had built for herself. To my unending admiration she dealt with the matter entirely alone, seeing a school psychologist who taught her to repeatedly address the imagined consequences of of breaking free from the tyrannical numbers and habits that had dominated her life for years. "It was really challenging, as I thought my 'systems' had worked for so long that I was scared to give them up," she says.

But it took time for her to overcome her problems, and none of us ever found out about her experiences until much later. It was only about three years ago when we shared a flat in London that I got to know her as an individual, rather than merely a sister. Only then did I learn what she went through. Once she saw me as a flatmate with my own flaws and weaknesses, rather than a bossy older sister, she opened up to me about how she suffered.

My experiences demonstrate that there is plenty of room for increasing awareness of the disorder, but is a TV programme featuring three individuals with complex conditions the best way? "Anything that promotes understanding of it should be encouraged," says Lottie. "But dwelling merely on the humorous element won't have any long-term benefit. An audience of OCD sufferers might identify with The Aviator, but they certainly weren't laughing at As Good As It Gets. Quite the opposite, it would have filled them with shame. So I hope they get it right, for everyone's sake."

The House of Obsessive Compulsives is shown on August 1 and 8. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Dr Frederick Toates and Olga Coschug-Toates, is available from Case Publishing, price £14.99. Find out more about OCD on ocduk.org.

[Guest Baggins]

Hey,

Just read the article as I was flicking through The Guardian.

I really wanted to watch the programme (especially after meeting Wendy at the forum 'do'). Unfortunately, I'm abroad when it's on. Would anyone be able to record it for me?

Thank you

Baggins

-x-

[Guest Creative Cat]

Hi,

I live in the U.S. and would love to see this program. I would like to figure out what the network is so I can try to find it on the internet. I see that you said Channel 4, but could someone please provide me with the name of the broadcasting network so I can try to find it and see if there is any alternative way to view these episodes.

Thanks much!

Marie

[Guest ScottOCDid]

I guess we'll all have our own perceptions of the programmes in due course... but I have to say that I think the Guardian article is excellent.

[Guest Nicky]

I'm not too sure about my feelings towards this programme.

1. They are only taking patients with compulsions. This sort of irritates me, because people only seem to think of OCD as compulsions which you can see. Nobody seems to think much about the other horrendous aspect of OCD - "pure o". I suffer from both, but practicaly always from "pure o". I would have liked to have seen a "pure o" in this programme.

2. It reminds me of Big Brother and I don't quite understand the reasoning behind the show. I feel very strongly about the fact that we should try and make people more aware of the illnes, but I'm not so very certain that this is going to be the right way.

I shall still watch it, because I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

Take care,

Nicky

XXX

[catherine]

Nobody seems to think much about the other horrendous aspect of OCD - "pure o". I suffer from both, but practicaly always from "pure o". I would have liked to have seen a "pure o" in this programme.

I agree TOTALLY with you, Jeannie . I've raised this issue after practically all the media coverage of OCD. The responses generally comment that 'o' wouldn't make for good TV and that it is difficult to show it. Also I have to say I've been challenged to the effect that if I feel so strongly about obsessive thoughts then I should be prepared to stand up and talk about mine .

But I still maintain that it is far, far more feasible to 'come out' over compulsive rituals (which I also have) than it is to share the most intimate/distressing/repugnant imaginable thoughts you have with 'o'. I know that it took a good 12 months after I disclosed to my therapist about my compulsions, for me to shamefully reveal my thoughts :crybaby: . My compulsions are a pain in the butt, but my obsessive thoughts have nearly driven me to suicide and cause great psychological distress.

I'll get off my soap box now........

Thanks for raising this point.

Catherine

[Guest Wendy]

Hi :crybaby:

I'd like to put a few of your minds at rest if I can.

I was one of the three in the house.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder......Hey if the public at large are given even a little hint about what it is like to suffer with this it's a start isn't it?

As we all know everyone has doubts ... did I wash my hands after I handled raw chicken; have I turned off the gas?; did I lock the front door?...............they will be able to at able to empathise a little.

The Documentary...which I can assure you ( ) it is....say no more! Was with the NHS approval...Prof. Salkovskis and his wonderful team took time out using their holiday time to help us.

If the public etc. even start to understand what sufferers go through by being able to 'see' some compulsions surely it's a start??

Do you know if any of the participants didn't have 'pure O' too?

Try not to pre-judge the programmes it's not long now....

All the very very best Wendy xx

[Stephen]

Hi All

Very quick reply and I haven't read this thread yet - just got back from holiday this afternoon.

I opened up the Daily Mail 'Weekend' Supplement (today's date) to see an article called 'The most desperate housewife' featuring you BethJ! I was so pleased to see this it made me smile broadly and nearly cry with with joy as I know from meeting you how much this programme meant to you Wendy. It's a good article too, trailing the C4 programmes.

All the best

Stephen

[Ashley]

Nobody seems to think much about the other horrendous aspect of OCD - "pure o". I suffer from both, but practicaly always from "pure o". I would have liked to have seen a "pure o" in this programme.

I agree TOTALLY with you, Jeannie    . I've raised this issue after practically all the media coverage of OCD. The responses generally comment that 'o' wouldn't make for good TV and that it is difficult to show it. Also I have to say I've been challenged to the effect that if I feel so strongly about obsessive thoughts then I should be prepared to stand up and talk about mine :dry.

I do slightly have to contest this ladies, because two of the last mainstream TV about OCD DID feature 'pure o', I am referring to the ch5 documentary in January which featured a guy with 'pure o' and then Diana Wilson on ITV's This Morning and in The Times also featured 'Pure O'.

So whilst your points were valid before this year, I think this year awareness of 'pure o' has increased dramatically.

I am not sure if the ch4 film features anyone with 'pure o', however I do know that they wanted to, even 2 days before filming I was being called to see if I knew anyone with 'pure o' who was interested in taking part. So the other aspect of 'pure o' not being covered quite so often is that, understandably, many OCD sufferers with 'pure o' do not feel able to talk about it in public, so whilst I accept your points I think we do need to be more open ourselves as OCD sufferers.

That said, I do not think it is appropriate for anybody to be forced on screen if they do not feel ready to be there, so really it is a little catch 22.

[Guest Heryn]

Does anyone plan on putting the Daily Mail article on the web? Will it be available on the OCD-UK site? I didn't get it today but would still like to see the article (and pictures!)

Cheers

Heryn