While not every one has what one would could call an Obsessive Compulisve Disorder, many people suffer with OCD traits.
My favorite example of someone with obsessive traits was my wife’s late step-father, Mr. Bob.
Mr. Bob had serious obsessive tendencies. I can still see him now: He had two Magnolia trees on the front lawn. When ever the wind blew a leaf on the ground, he would run out side to quickly pick it up. Mr. Bob had a beautiful home; the kind they show in Homes & Garden. Of course, he spent a lot of time keeping it clean. When ever I cam over for supper, he had a towel over his shoulder, ready to hurry and wash your plate. One of my fondest memories of Mr. Bob was the time I was relaxing in his den. He had just returned from work and immediately came in to straighten things; not that anyhthing was really out of place. But to him things were.
Mr. Bob had two ceiling fans in his den, and that day, he got on a chair and position the blades of both fans in the same direction. Mr. Bob, was no doubt, a wee bit obsessive about things. Nevertheless, I liked old Mr. Bob. He was a good man; a man of high standards.
I wonder though, if Mr.Bob’s obsessive nature did’nt send him to an early grave. He died of cancer in his late fifities.
Who knows. But I do know that obsessive compulisve tendencies are treatable. If you see a little or a lot of your self in Mr. Bob, why not get help ….
Frank A. Trupiano, LCSW
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