How to Know if it’s OCD or OCPD?

There is a difference between OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and OCPD Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder when we think about clutter challenges.

There can be overlapping symptoms at times so it can be very confusing. It was once thought that OCD was the determining factor in “Hoarding Disorder” but as we now know it is much more complex. Individuals often have a number of vulnerability factors that have impacted on their struggles with clutter.  

I worked with a client who was diagnosed years ago through the hospital with OCD. She has issues with hoarding which she is fully aware of but she actually has no OCD symptoms and the classic symptoms of OCPD.  

I wouldn’t really describe myself as an expert in this field but usually I can see when someone who has challenges with their stuff also may struggle with OCPD.  Perfectionism and the inability to let go of anything are usually the first clues.  When we think about the issue of perfectionism which is something that comes up a lot, someone with OCPD is so challenged by this that they become paralyzed and unable to move forward.   Throwing out a small piece of paper is a huge success for this person.

Everything is special and needs a special place. Everything is valuable. I remember once saying to a client “what about the things you don’t love”.  She said, “pardon”, so I repeated myself and she said “but, I love everything”.  I believe that this is common among those who struggle with these challenging issues.

This person may have lots of clutter but it is usually all organized neatly in see through bins with labels, in alphabetical order and possibly stacked to the ceiling. There may even be a list somewhere of what is in those boxes or bins. They probably have empty drawers and filing cabinets as they like everything to be in view.

They have certain rules and regulations about the order of things and how things should be in the world. When this doesn’t quite go their way, they may experience a lot of anxiety and turmoil. Having control is very important for someone who suffers with OCPD.  They really can get so caught up in all of the small details that they easily lose sight of the main thing they were initially involved in.  They often have difficulty with others who don’t agree with them or challenge their thought process.

Here is an example from a male who attended the Clearing Clutter Support Group

Questions to ask yourself:

Is there unused space to keep this? Will this improve my wellbeing if I have it?

Is there a present need for this proven by recent experience and rational analysis?

Is my intent for this backed up by a firm commitment to follow through with application?

Do I need this specific article to experiment to discover whether something like this would work?

Could I find a customer to buy this at a price greater than the value I have invested in it?

Is this something of such great rarity as to be unavailable through ordinary channels?

Is this valuable enough to justify keeping it in storage for future use?

Do I value this enough to take it with me when moving to another residence?

As you can see, the thought process can be so elaborate that it can be debilitating in making a decision.  Decision making is extremely difficult for these individuals from what to wear to what to order in a restaurant. It can feel like every possible outcome needs to be considered. 

As a Professional Organizer it is important to be aware that someone may be struggling with these issues of control and perfectionism and that they are not just being willful. So, how can we work with these individuals?

There are quite a lot of resources about this disorder, support for people who love someone with this disorder, but not really a lot of easy answers for those who are suffering.   If the person has insight into their own issues support groups can help as well as individual therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy would be recommended as the preferred therapies.

Motivational interviewing may help for professionals working with clients.

Some Recommended Reading and Resources:

Here is an awesome site with really accurate info about OCPD

Great website Out of The Fog with links to resources

Do you know of other resources that would be helpful? Please share below and thanks so much for following along.