Y is for “You may also have…”
When you’re browsing the Internet, a lot of pages will have a “You may also like…” section at the bottom with related or recommended content. Well, it feels like OCD takes that and runs with it, because there are a bunch of conditions that are common in people with OCD, and vice versa. It’s very common to have more than one anxiety disorder, for example.
Here are some commonly comorbid (occurring at the same time) mental illnesses.
Generalized anxiety disorder (I have never met someone with OCD who doesn’t also have GAD)
Panic disorder – characterized by repeated panic attacks, and is an anxiety disorder
Depression – OCD can cause depression because it limits what you can do, and then a person might feel isolated and hopeless, which is definitely depressing. But there is a difference between situational depression (like being depressed after a breakup, or during COVID quarantine) and Major Depressive Disorder.
OCD has some similarities with Tourette’s syndrome in that sufferers are compelled to do certain things. I myself had many facial tics as a child. However, I grew out of them, like some people do.
Another condition similar to OCD is a BFRB, or Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior. I may do a series on this in the future because it deserves more than a footnote. In the meantime, you may wish to look up skin picking or trichotillomania.
Anxiety is also commonly linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS (what a name, right?). This is a stomach/intestine thing that often leads to an upset stomach, cramping, pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Anxiety worsens IBS, which in turn causes anxiety, and around and around it goes. The best cure for IBS is to stop worrying, but obviously that isn’t possible for some people. IBS can be debilitating. I definitely have this condition and it sucks big time. It’s wild that mental illness can cause such physical symptoms. After all, I signed up for a mental illness, not a physical one, right? But your mind and body are connected more than you might think – certainly more than I was ever aware of until my stomach issues started right about the time I started college.
These are just a few conditions that people who have OCD might also suffer from. Can you think of any others?