What is the Difference Between OCD and OCPD?

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• What is the Difference Between OCD and OCPD?
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Video: Bipolar Disorder and Anger
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

What is the Difference Between OCD and OCPD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) are similar terms for two very different mental disorders. Because of the similarity in name, the two are often mistaken for the same thing. In order for people to receive the best possible treatment for what they’re experiencing, it’s important to know the difference between OCD and OCPD.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental illness that involves unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions). Frequently, someone living with OCD experiences both. The intrusive obsessions are typically disturbing to the person and cause significant anxiety. He/she engages in repetitive actions or mental acts like counting in order to dispel the obsessions. These compulsions consume a significant amount of time, and together with the obsessions, can severely limit someone’s life. (Read more about OCD symptoms.)

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, on the other hand, is classified as a personality disorder. Personality disorders are long-term patterns of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that disrupt life and relationships. OCPD is about an excessive need for orderliness and control. It can be perceived as extreme perfectionism, stubbornness, and inflexibility. A rigid adherence to rules, details, order, and schedules prevents someone living with OCPD from fully living life and participating fully in relationships.

Understanding the difference between OCD and OCPD will lead to the right treatment approach to help people take back their lives.

Related Articles Dealing with OCD and OCPD

• Effects of OCD: Living with OCD
• Is There a Cure for OCD?
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Treatment
• The Difference between OCD and OCPD (video)

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: If you’ve had experience with OCD or OCPD, what has it been like for you? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, knowledge, and experiences, on the HealthyPlace Facebook page and on the HealthyPlace Google+ page.

continue story below

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Bipolar Role Models: We All Need Them
• How to Manage Frustrations with Confidence
• Three Ways to Manage Self-Harm Urges While in School
• The Invisible Line Between Verbal and Physical Abuse
• Survival Skills for Family Drama and Mental Illness
• Depression Myths I’ve Learned to Ignore
• Easy Targets for Verbal Abuse: Why Me?
• Graduating College with a Mental Illness Takes Persistence
• The Common Response to Anxiety that Only Makes It Worse
• What Causes Anxiety? 10 Reasons Why You Are So Anxious
• Diagnosed With Schizophrenia in School Away from Home
• Acceptance Is Key to Effective Anxiety Treatment
• Emergency Plans for Mental Health Crises Will Help Your Child
• Do You Think Recovery Isn’t For You? Remember This
• How to Talk to a Supervisor About Mental Illness
• How to Talk About Mental Health With Loved Ones
• No, My Child Does Not Have PANDAS, He Has a Mental Illness

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

------------------------------------------------------------------

From HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

Bipolar Disorder and Anger

Bipolar and anger is a topic that I haven’t touched on in previous videos. I’m hesitant talking about my experience with a side of bipolar disorder that is very uncomfortable for me.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. The Suicide of a Bipolar Online
2. Depressed People With BPD Can’t ‘Choose to be Happy’
3. For the Mom Considering Suicide

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mental Health Quote

"Nobody ever tells you that emptiness weighs the most."

Read more depression quotes.

------------------------------------------------------------------

That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook, stumbleupon, or google+) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, circle HealthyPlace on Google+, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Pinterest and share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

back to: HealthyPlace.com Mental-Health Newsletter Index