Obsessive compulsive disorder is a widely known, yet frequently misunderstood psychological disorder. Contrary to popular belief, there is much more to the disorder than being neat and organized. Although I do not suffer from the disorder, I know how much of a burden it is to have. My father has suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder for the majority of his life, and although I have gotten used to his compulsions, I learn more and more about the disorder every day. Those who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder feel the need to perform certain actions repeatedly. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, these actions can be mental or physical (American). Repeated hand washing, checking locks multiple times, and organizing things in a certain way are common compulsions. Those who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder also often do not stop repeating actions like these until they …show more content…
After eating every meal and before leaving the house, my father always checks to make sure the stove is turned off. There are four knobs on the stove, and he repeatedly twists every knob to ensure that they are completely locked. He usually completes about ten rounds of this. When it comes to repeatedly checking things, my father also checks to make sure both doors of my house are locked before leaving or going to bed. He twists the door knobs and pulls on each door multiple times before feeling confident that they are completely locked. My family and I have become used to my father’s disorder, so we know to give him enough time to complete compulsions before leaving the house. Not only is obsessive compulsive disorder a burden on my father, but it is also a burden on the rest of my family. There have been many times when my father has made me or another family member late because he was repeatedly checking the stove or