Quote:
Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight
Magical thinking. Most common in children and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but seen in people with bipolar disorders as well. Magical thinkers come to believe that by doing some sort of ritual they can avoid harm to themselves or others. The ritual may or may not be connected with the perceived harm, and sufferers tend to keep their rituals secret. Children are not always sure what harm the ritual is fending off; they may simply report knowing that “something bad will happen” if they don’t touch each slat of the fence or make sure their footsteps end on an even number. Others may come to feel that ritual behavior will bring about some positive event.
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I'm not sure how I fall in relation to OCD in that sense. I'm not superstitious really, but for example I do pray to God and believe this has been beneficial to me. Growing up in a generally Christian family and culture, that kind of thinking was acceptable and not considered "magical" but "factual", however I see from a therapy-type perspective it would be the same as magical thinking, wouldn't it?
But I don't think I have OCD as I understand it, as I don't seem to have any I guess you'd say ritual practices as you describe. I actually enjoy rituals but honestly I've always been too loose and responsive to the moment to force myself to engage in rigid rituals. I like them for the mental atmosphere and focus they offer. For example, I do try to remember to say "grace" before I eat. But I don't feel like something bad will happen if I don't. It's more to re-focus myself to a state of gratitude, realizing that many people don't have food. It helps to limit my self-pitying.
I know virtually nothing about OCD but I'm interested in this ritual-practice aspect, as it seems to tie into a lot of things I've encountered in studying anthropology and theology. It sounds like the ritual serves as sort of a placebo, and that certainly has been a very common approach to dealing with issues for humankind as far as we can tell, across many cultures. I can see the problem though if you feel that not doing the ritual is hazardous in itself.