What is the difference between Perfectionism and OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, as suggested by the name, is most often characterized by having obsessive thoughts and preforming compulsive actions to satisfy those thoughts. This can mean being a perfectionist - making sure things are equal, evenly spaced, straightened out and clean, etc. However, even though this is a common symptom, it's not always a part of OCD. There are plenty of people who suffer from OCD and are what you would call "disorganized". Another difference might be the level of rational thought put into making things perfect: as an example, while a perfectionist might wash their hands until they are clean, a person suffering from OCD will continue to wash their hands long after their are clean, often to the point of damaging their skin and suffering from anxiety if they stop too early.

OCD in popular media is described with a ridiculous and misleading stereotype of somebody "needing" all of the pens on their desk to be in colored order, or wanting something to be "just so." However, while OCD behaviors and perfectionist behaviors may sometimes appear similar to an outsider, OCD is a severe and crippling mental illness which controls the lives of millions of sufferers. It is marked by an obsession with something, most commonly a contamination, and compulsions to try to soothe the intrusive nature of that obsession. Say somebody is obsessed with the thought of contracting HIV. They are on a bus, and prick their finger on a sharp edge by the window. A typical person would wash their hands and understand that HIV cannot be contracted in this manner. But to an OCD sufferer, they might take a four hour shower in scalding hot water, decontaminate everything they own with caustic disinfectants, and obsessively ruminate for months on the idea that they have contracted HIV, causing them to stop attending social gatherings or leave their house. OCD isn't cute. It isn't a quirk. And it definitely isn't something to brag about on an instagram profile.

OCD is short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is a psychological disorder in which individuals experience obsessions and compulsions. These obsessions are usually regarding something happening to the individual or their family, but is usually a very rare and specific scenario. The individual then engages in various specific compulsions that often have little or nothing to do with the actual obsession. These compulsions may be something like having to touch the corners of every desk in order to protect someone from an obsession of being kidnapped. There is often no correlation, but the individual truly believes that this will help prevent that from happening. Perfectionism is not a psychological disorder, and is simply when an individual wants for specific things to be done a particular way and remain up to standard. Perfectionism cycles around wanting the best results possible and potentially obsessing over imperfections (obsession here is VERY different from the obsessions characterized in OCD). No compulsions are associated with perfectionism and the obsessions are usually about minute details rather than extreme situations.

Perfectionism usually has a rather emotional drive. OCD is more uncontrollable and one feels forced to engage in their behaviors. An example of perfectionism could be that one gets upset over not getting a perfect score and feels that they are a failure whereas OCD is the feeling of needing to have a perfect score or something drastic (but unrealistic) could happen. Perfectionism is often considered as being within a category of OCD as those with OCD tend to also be perfectionists. Additionally, OCD is characterized by certain behaviors whereas perfectionism has a more mental aspect. I'm not an expert so please excuse any informatilities, but this is basically a summary of what I know about the differences between the two.

Perfectionism is the desire to always achieve the standard that the maker has placed onto themselves, this could be a certain grade or athletic achievement. If the goal is not reached they may feel disappointed in themselves. OCD is the inability to control a compulsive thought that may come to mind. This is often used as satire in media such as Emma from the show Glee who has to wash her hands. OCD is not exactly the same throughout all of the people suffering from it, and not everybody who has and acts on their random thoughts has OCD. Always consult a professional if you are worried that you or a loved one may have OCD, please do not self-diagnose.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) happens in a cycle-like manner of thought-action, which causes distress and disruption of daily life. It usually goes like this: 1)person gets one intrusive thought (disturbing thoughts which 'intrude' on your mind) or more 2)person feels compelled to do an action to 'soothe' or satisfy this thought and make it go away. 3)the cycle repeats and isn't always consist. It may seem illogical but it isn't something which can really be controlled easily and becomes mentally and emotionally taxing. It may come as a form of something like: 'tap this table twice or a family member will die.' or 'if you don't arrange these instantly, something really bad will happen to you'. Perfectionism is more of a desire for things to be perfect, like wanting things to look perfect (not a single line or fold out of place, for example), and it could be either a positive or negative factor (if not both) in someone's life. I recommend seeking help if the perfectionism disturbs your daily life and becomes an obstacle. The reason to reach out doesn't have to be along the lines of mental illnesses and disorders.

OCD may require medication and support from a therapist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional. This is because people who face OCD have a pattern of unwanted thoughts and this information can be distressing, so as a result them may face low self-esteem. Sometimes, extreme perfectionism can be a result of OCD such as seen in efforts to keep on washing one's hands to reduce exposure to germs if one has an idea/thought or response called a compulsion. However, perfectionism can be a personality trait or something entirely independent of OCD so a mental health professional can help differentiate between the too if it is a concern.

While the two have been interchanged in everyday conversation in society sometimes, they are incredibly different. While perfectionism is the need for things to be just tidy and neat, OCD is so much more complex. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has the disorder definition right in the name. The obsessions are intrusive thoughts, worries, or obsessions. For example, somebody could have obsessions or intrusive thoughts about germs and their hands and dirt, and this is where the “compulsion” part comes in. The compulsions are the actions completed to try and counter the obsessions. In the germs scenario, the compulsions would be the person repeatedly washing their hands until it feels “right” and like their hands are germ-free. This is a serious disorder and should not be taken lightly.

Perfectionism is different from OCD in many different ways. First of all, OCD has different symptoms than perfectionism and can manifest in different ways. Checking things more than needed and thoughts like, "I have to do something three times or something bad will happen," fall in the OCD category. On the other hand, perfectionism isn't quite as difficult to manage. OCD thoughts can get stressful and troubling, while perfectionism is more of a need to do something a certain way. Perfectionism lacks the same amount of pressure of OCD. With OCD, thoughts can and will persist until you address them. It is more so out of your control.

Perfectionism is a controlled concept and OCD is a controlling disorder. Perfectionism is a personality trait whereas OCD can lead to disorder in ones life. When someone is a perfectionist, they strive for flawlessness. Someone with OCD becomes obsessed with certain things and can often go overboard, for example if a person with OCD forgets to lock the door once, they might check the door multiple times every time they leave the house from then on. Or a person with OCD who fears germs might wash their hands until they become raw. A perfectionist wants everything done to perfection.