Famous People with OCD: Tips To Overcome This Disorder

Did you know that many famous people have OCD? In fact, some of them have spoken out about their experiences with the disorder and how they overcame it. In this blog post, we will discuss some of these famous people and what they have said about OCD. We will also provide tips for overcoming OCD if you are struggling with it yourself.

Famous People With OCD

OCD is a common mental disorder that can be debilitating if left untreated. Although it is often associated with negative connotations, many people with OCD are able to live successful and fulfilling lives. This is especially true for famous people with OCD who have been able to use their platform to raise awareness. And understanding the disorder.

These famous people with OCD have often spoken about their experience with the disorder and how they coped. In doing so, they have helped to break the stigma surrounding OCD. And shows that it is possible to live a normal life despite having the condition.

As OCD is a disease that often interferes with the quality of life It is a mental condition that can be very debilitating if left untreated. Here are some examples of how successful and famous people have coped with their OCD.

10 Examples Of Famous People With OCD

Although there are many famous people with OCD, here are just a few examples:

Howie Mandel

Mandel has been vocal about his OCD and how it manifests itself in compulsive behaviors such as hand-washing and germaphobia. He has even joked about it on late-night talk shows. Despite the challenges that his OCD poses, Mandel is a successful comedian, actor, and television host. In his biography in 2009, he has even credited his OCD with making him a better stand-up comedian. He also talked about his compulsions, some of these are;

• Takes multiple showers in a day
• Refuses to tie his shoelaces
• Avoids shaking hands in fear of germs
• Compulsively cleans the environment around him
• Shaved his head to maintain cleanliness

These are some of his compulsions that help him deal with his OCD. Moreover, he believed that this condition of OCD has somehow made him a better comedian.

David Beckham

The iconic soccer player has spoken openly about his battle with OCD. He has admitted to having obsessive thoughts about organizing objects and cleanliness. In 2006, he even set up a foundation to help other children who suffer from mental health conditions like OCD. He is considered a perfectionist in the field of soccer. ANd this is what his OCD is about. Some of his obsessions and compulsions are;

• Arranging objects in a certain way
• Washing his hands multiple times
• Needing to keep things symmetrical
• Being obsessed with cleanliness
• Counting his clothes to avoid the odd-numbered
• Wearing a new pair of soccer boots

Howard Hughes

Howard is one of the most famous people with OCD. The billionaire aviator, film producer, and business magnate were known to have obsessive-compulsive tendencies. This included fear of germs and contamination. As a result, he would often isolate himself from others and live in a germ-free environment. For most of his life, he’s more regarded as an eccentric man, rather than someone with an OCD disease.

His obsessions were believed to be classic in their own sense, some of these are;

• Eating the same types of food
• Alway rearrange the boxes of tissues
• Watch the same movie multiple times
• Uses tissues very form to avoid germs and dirt.
• Ordered his staff to wash their hands with a new soap bar every time.

These are evidence that he must have contamination OCD, and he was very keen on cleanliness and avoiding germs. Moreover, he has a chronic pain condition that caused him to be bedridden for many years.

Billy Bob Thornton

The Academy Award-winning actor has spoken about his battle with OCD and depression. He has said that he used alcohol and drugs to cope with his mental health conditions. However, he has been sober since 1982. In recent years, he has become an advocate for mental health awareness. And has even talked about how he uses CBD oil to help with his OCD. Some of his compulsions are;

• he was obsessed with mathematics
• habitual of repitions
• had to check the locks many times
• arrange objects in a particular order

Hollywood actor Billy Bob Thornton has dealt with OCD and depression throughout his life. He used alcohol and drugs to cope with his mental health conditions but has been sober since 1982.

Cameron Diaz

She was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed sweetheart in her early days as an actress. There are no concrete proofs of her having OCD. It is even rumored more, also there are chances that she might have had it when she was younger. This is what makes her different from other celebrities with OCD, as she doesn’t talk about it publicly. Moreover, it’s really difficult for someone to talk about their condition by themselves. Although there are some rumors that aired her OCD and reported some of the symptoms, such as;

• Fear of touching doorknobs
• Washing hands multiple times
• Cleaning the house obsessively
• Counting steps while walking

These are some of the symptoms that she might have had, but it is still not confirmed by her. So we can just speculate that she probably had OCD.

Marc Summers

He was the host of the Nickelodeon show Double Dare. In reality, he was diagnosed with OCD in 1995 at the age of 34 years old. His life was always surrounded by cleanliness, neatness, and orderliness. He himself once told the magazine that

“I was supposed to be hosting Hollywood Squares and then lost the job because people didn’t understand what Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder was. And they were spreading rumors that I was difficult to work with and uncooperative, none of which was true. But people were not given the tools to learn what it was.”

Marc along with Howie become an advocate to spread awareness about OCD. He has been very vocal about his disorder and how it has affected his life. Some of Marc’s compulsions are;

• Cleaning his home several times
• Lying on the living room’s floor
• Reads every label of the product in any grocery store
• Having compulsions to setting things as”just right”
• Used to shower repeatedly

As of now, he has recovered 80% according to the reports. Moreover, he knows that OCD doesn’t go completely. The treatments make symptoms more manageable.

Martin Luther

In the 1500s, OCD was not a thing as such and actually not in that form of diagnosis. So, during that time people feel like they were crazy or something. Martin Luther was a German composer, priest, professor, and key player in the Protestant Reformation. It is believed that he suffered from Scrupulosity OCD.

This means that a person has an intense fear of sinning or doing something morally wrong. As a result, they might perform religious rituals excessively to prevent themselves from sinning. As a man who was devoted to God, he would have cared deeply about respecting religion. Some of his symptoms reported are;

• Intrusive thoughts about the wrath of god
• Excessive focus on morality
• Doubting his salvation
• Tormented urges to curse
• Spend many hours confessing

According to Luther, there were two types of blasphemy, one is active and another is passive. He says When the devil introduces such perverse thoughts into our heads against our will and in spite of our struggle against them.”

He himself feels and identified his intrusive thoughts as not being of himself.

Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist. He is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. He was believed to invented the 20th century and was also a man with OCD. His symptoms started rumored in early 1917.

Initially, he was obsessed with the number three and eventually this dictated him to swim 33 laps daily in the public pool. In fact, he has a strong urge to walk three times around the city before entering the building. Some of his reported obsessions and compulsions are;

• He ate dinner sharp at 8:10 pm along with three napkins near his table.
• It is also believed that he weighs his food before eating to know the perfectionism
• Counts how many times he chewed his food.
• Fear of germs that compulsively required him to polish his silverware.
• An obsession with birds especially pigeons.

Nikola Tesla was a lifelong celibate too, which means he never had sex in his entire life. It is believed that he died celibate and a virgin. He was once quoted saying

“If you knew what I know about the power of our mind, you would see things very differently.”

Dr. Samuel Johnson

Dr. Samuel Johnson was a British author who suffered from OCD. He is quoted as saying, “I am obliged to think of certain things which I would rather not think about.” In spite of his condition, he was a very successful writer. He is best known for his dictionary, which was published in 1755. Along with OCD, he has also believed to suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome as there are some reports that evidence his “Odd movements”. Also, his own belief of falling into ‘madness’.

According to the book of his life, “The Life of Samuel Johns”, he once wrote, “When I surgery my past life, I discover nothing but a barren waste of time, with some disorders of body and disturbances of the mind very near to madness.” Some of his obsessions and compulsions are reported;

• performing a ritual when crossing the threshold of the doorway.
• Avoiding cracks between paving stones.
• His OCD was said to be at its worst when he was trying to sleep, as he would have obsessive thoughts about death and religion.
• Counting his steps whenever he walks

Despite all of this, he was a very accomplished man. He is an example of someone who has been able to overcome his OCD and live a successful life. Moreover, the modern man described OCD in a similar way but not as extravagant as Johnson did.

Leanardo DiCaprio

Leanardo is an actor who has had a long and successful career. He has starred in some of the most popular movies of all time, including Titanic and Inception. Leanardo has also won an Oscar for his role in The Revenant. He has played a role in Howard Hughes’ movie “The Aviator”, so there are chances the role might have linked him with OCD more.

There is no proof but some of his obsessions are reported by the media. His major focus of him is to avoid the cracks on sidewalks. So, there are chances that he also has OCD.

So, these are some common examples of famous people with OCD who have been successful in spite of their disorder. If you or someone you know suffers from OCD, know that it is possible to live a normal, happy life. Moreover, OCD is a disorder that is often misunderstood. It is not simply a matter of being tidy or organized. It is a serious condition that can be very debilitating.

How To Deal With OCD?

OCD is a mental disorder that can be extremely debilitating. It is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). People with OCD often feel the need to perform certain rituals or routines in order to relieve their anxiety. This condition needs attention and care.

There are many famous people with OCD who have openly discussed their struggles with OCD. So, here are some of the tips to help you deal with your OCD:

Talk to someone who understands

It can be really helpful to talk to someone who knows what you’re going through. This could be a therapist, counselor, or even a friend or family member. Having someone to talk to can help you feel less alone and can also provide some relief from your symptoms.

Get organized

One of the main goals of treatment for OCD is to help you learn how to better manage your time and organize your life. This can be a challenge, but there are some helpful tools that can make it easier, such as calendar apps and to-do lists.

Challenge your thoughts

OCD often involves negative and intrusive thoughts. These thoughts can be about anything, but they usually center around themes of contamination, harm, or perfectionism. One way to deal with these thoughts is to challenge them. This means coming up with evidence that disproves the thought. For example, if you’re afraid of getting sick from germs, remind yourself that you haven’t gotten sick in years despite being exposed to many different types of germs.

Expose yourself to your fears

One of the most effective treatments for OCD is called exposure and response prevention (ERP). This treatment involves gradually exposing yourself to the things you’re afraid of and then learning how to resist the urge to perform your rituals. This can be a difficult process, but it can be very effective in reducing your symptoms. For this, you can try Mantra Care for better help and therapist support. If you want to know more about the condition, book your free consultation today.

Find a support group

There are many different types of support groups available, including online groups and in-person groups. These groups can provide some helpful information and support from people who understand what you’re going through. Moreover, supports groups are believed to be helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

These are very basic and primary steps that can be very helpful in dealing with OCD. For a more detailed and personalized approach, you can always consult a therapist. Mantra Care provides the best online mental health services. If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, we are here to help. Book your free consultation today.

Conclusion

To conclude, OCD is a serious condition that has been known to affect famous people from all walks of life. While it can be difficult to overcome, many have been able to do so with the help of therapy and medication. There are many famous people with OCD who have not let their disorder define them. Or hold them back from achieving their goals.

Therefore, if you or someone you know is suffering from OCD, it is important to seek professional help. With the right treatment, it is possible to live a happy and successful life despite having this disorder. If you or someone you know needs help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional. Famous people with OCD have found success in various fields in spite of their condition. Then, why not you!