With
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder,
Rules Are a Priority
In movies and TV
shows, obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is often presented
with humorous undertones. From Jack Nicholson’s OCD novelist
in “As Good as It Gets” to the OCD detective in TV’s
“Monk,” obsessive compulsive disorder has certainly
gained a fair amount of attention in the spotlight. A lesser known
but separate disorder is obsessive compulsive personality disorder.
Not to be confused with OCD symptoms,
obsessive compulsive personality disorder is characterized by a
rigid preoccupation with rules and perfectionism.
People with obsessive
compulsive personality disorder are often workaholics and high achievers.
It is not unusual for a person with obsessive compulsive personality
disorder to be fanatical about orderliness, control, and rules.
Other symptoms of obsessive compulsive personality disorder include:
- Preoccupation with lists,
details, orderliness, and control
- Inflexibility
- Extreme loyalty to work (not
related to a financial need)
- Difficulty in delegating work
or allowing others to do things
- Reserved in expressing affection
- Lack of generosity
- Cannot dispose of items, even
if the item is worthless
- Reliable, dependable, and
methodical
- Stern and stubborn
- Difficulty adapting to change
- Trouble completing tasks due
to intolerance of mistakes
- Slow, cautious decision making
skills
One main way that
obsessive compulsive personality disorder is different from anxiety
disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is that a
person with obsessive compulsive personality disorder is not engrossed
with repetitive, ritualistic behavior. As you might presume, obsessive
compulsive personality disorder comes with its share of positive
and negative life outcomes. People with obsessive compulsive personality
disorder generally achieve a lot in their careers, especially careers
demanding attention to detail such as computer programming, the
sciences, editing, and so on. On the other hand, people with obsessive
compulsive personality disorder are often self-critical, incapable
of enjoying their successes, and uncomfortable in relationships.
These symptoms of obsessive compulsive personality disorder can
be alleviated with therapy and education about how to develop coping
skills and healthier ways of thinking.
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