Trying to control jokes is giving into OCD

I got an email recently from NOCD complaining about a recent SNL sketch that apparently made light of OCD, or at least those who may falsely claim to have it. I didn’t see it, but it doesn’t matter, it’s very disappointing to see that the NOCD members in charge of the messaging within emails don’t seem to comprehend that wanting comedians to stop making jokes about OCD is, in and of itself, a compulsion. The email should have encouraged people who suffer with OCD, such as myself, to ignore “triggering” content, practice ERP, and move on. I’m also really tired of the unhelpful Howie Mandel commercials where he complains about OCD jokes. You don’t get better by giving into any compulsions, including the desire to complain about a joke.

MCT

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 43w

I can understand where you’re coming from. I also see NOCD’s side of things. Being a mental health professional myself and fellow OCD sufferer, I do see the issue with OCD jokes because I think it spreads misinformation to the general public. I’m not offended by them, but I do think when a certain (incorrect) narrative is perpetuated about OCD, or any other mental disorder, people really begin to misunderstand what that disorder really is. This can also cause people with OCD who don’t know they have it to be misdiagnosed or unaware they’re experiencing OCD symptoms. I think until we have a really good public understanding of OCD (and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.), we can’t make jokes or spread misinformation without it having an unfortunate consequence.

BluesDruid

Date posted: 43w

@MCT A joke is not misinformation, and trying to control speech you disagree with or find offensive is a compulsive behavior and only propagates more compulsions. I was more offended by the email and the Howie Mandel commercials than I’ve ever been offended by an OCD joke, because, as I said, that urge to silence jokes is essentially saying: in this case, it’s okay to capitulate to compulsions. I’ve had OCD since my late teens, maybe somewhat before, for over 30 years, it has devoured huge chunks of my life, and I struggle daily with it, but I’ve never let it steal my sense of humor, and I never will. Allowing a joke to trigger controlling behaviors and to sidetrack your recovery is a far more unfortunate consequence than just ignoring it, regardless of how it makes you feel. You don’t develop the mindful muscle you need to recover from OCD by wanting to force the world to change because of your feelings, this whole attitude is counterintuitive to recovery. It seems to me that the people at NOCD should understand this.

spiralcentral

Date posted: 43w

@BluesDruid I don't believe "silencing jokes" is a compulsion because wanting to educate about what ocd is isn't an obsessive or intrusive thought that causes distress. Especially with NOCD being an organization: of course they'd want to offer an alternative perspective to pop culture's understanding of OCD. You're allowed to think tone policing jokes is annoying without making it into something it's not.

BluesDruid

Date posted: 43w

@spiralcentral If something compels you to respond a certain way, that is a compulsion by definition. OCD is more than just intrusive thoughts, you’re leaving out the compulsive part of the illness. Obsessing over a joke to the point that you write an email criticizing it, is participating in and propagating an OCD loop. You were exposed to something distressing and responded to it compulsively, which, as I said, is completely counterintuitive to the ERP therapy model NOCD supports. If they were going to email us about the joke it should have been an email telling everyone that the appropriate ERP response to the joke was to ignore it.

MCT

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 43w

@BluesDruid I think you may be misunderstanding compulsions. Compulsions are behaviors in response to intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts become obsessions which increase anxiety and compulsions are used to neutralize the anxiety. I don’t think criticizing jokes about OCD is compulsive, it’s just having an opinion and taking a stance.

BluesDruid

Date posted: 42w

@MCT I’m pretty sure I understand OCD after suffering from it for over 30 years. Trying to control other people’s behavior because it causes you distress is a compulsion, which is what that email was attempting to do, to try to stop a comedy show from making certain jokes about OCD from being told because they make you uncomfortable is completely counterintuitive to ERP therapy, and the NOCD administrators should understand that. As I said, if any email was sent about that topic, it should have encouraged people with OCD to ignore jokes they find triggering. Fleeing from feelings, or to try to stop people from causing those feelings, is the opposite response you should have to OCD.

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