OCD...A blessing or a curse?

As I was sitting down yesterday to make a list of potential topics for today's blog entry, the thought occurred to me "I wonder how many people actually make a list of possible blog topics to write 24 hours in advance..." :).

A very overview/broad definition of the disorder is:
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder - Excessive concern for rules, efficiency and order, coupled with an insistence that all do things their way.
A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder have either obsessions, or compulsions, or both. The obsessions and/or compulsions are strong enough to cause significant distress in their employment, schoolwork, or personal and social relationships.
http://www.psychnet-uk.com

There is much more to OCD than the brief definition above...and though I probably do not have a full blown case of it, I do have tendencies that lean towards the disorder.

I go through phases with my obsessions. For instance, right now in my life, I love writing in this stinkin' weblog. I also love reading, talking and learning more about healthy living. I cant wait to go to Florida next month, so if my mind goes there, I spend about thirty minutes picturing how it will be. Next week, I am getting a Bike...that takes brain time too.

I also have an obsessive need to plan. It is 10:30 in the morning, and a few minutes ago I actually made a call to make sure I knew where a certain Subway was in Murfreesboro, TN, so I could stop and eat supper on my way to a wedding tonight. Eating is a huge hang up for me because I always want to eat healthy, and when I go home for the weekend my family doesnt always have healthy stuff to snack on. I was actually thinking about the rest of my meals this weekend and planning them out earlier this morning.

Anytime there is something "new" in my life, I get on the web and start reading about it to learn what I can and be knowledgeable about the topic.

The only downside I see in my case is the need that I have for perfectionism. I dont know if this is true for all, but there is a drive in me to be perfect in the areas of obsession that I have. If I cannot be perfect, I have a tendency to blow off whatever it is that I was obsessing about.

Through an exchange with a fellow blogger yesterday, I came to the conclusion that a mild case of OCD can be a good thing because organization is a good thing. With us around, the world is a much better place. Take pride in your OCD!!