TOW #9: "Obsessive Thoughts: A Darker Side of OCD" by Olivia Loving (via The Atlantic)

     In the informative article "Obsessive Thoughts: A Dark Side of OCD", Olivia Loving, who suffers from OCD herself, discusses the lesser-known side of OCD – the obsessive part of the disorder, rather than the compulsive side. Loving writes to, she hopes, the entire world, because she believes (rightly so) that the compulsive side of OCD is what most people know, rather than the obsessive side. Loving's purpose is to simply inform her readers about how serious obsessive thoughts from OCD can be in hopes that it will help readers better understand their family members and friends with OCD. To achieve this, Loving uses a lot of personal stories to support her statements.
     By presenting her points and then backing them up with personal experiences, Loving helps readers to better understand obsession from OCD. Laving states that people without OCD can understand compulsive habits because they can see them, but that it's hard for them to understand the potential violent obsessive thoughts that can be caused by OCD. She then writes, "But the worry that 'something bad will happen' is not an ephemeral, occasional threat for OCD sufferers. I avoided knives for years, because in their vicinity I feared I would lose control and stab my mother." By presenting a personal experience, readers can visualize Loving shying away from knives from the fear of stabbing her mother. By articulating examples of obsessive thoughts – things many OCD sufferers may not wish to share with friends and family – Loving helps readers to understand what their loved ones may be going through.
     Through her use of strong facts about OCD that are well-supported by Loving's own personal experiences, Loving is able to  give readers insight into the mind of a person with obsessive thoughts. This insight then allows readers to understand the problems that can stem from these thoughts, which include living in constant fear of, for example, hurting one's mother. Loving hopes that through this article, she will be able to make people able to understand and be supportive of their loved ones who may be tormented by OCD.

OCD:

If over 100 million people suffer from OCD, it seems very likely that most people know at least one person who has it. Loving's article may be able to help these people understand some of the 100 million that suffer.

(Source: http://www.complexatbest.com/ocd/how-many-people-have-ocd/)