Online retailer under fire for OCD Christmas PJs

Most of us would admit to occasionally dropping a light-hearted reference about being a little OCD, even if we don’t actually suffer from the mental health condition.

However, having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not a joke. And now an online retailer has been slammed for using it as an abbreviation to describe someone who really loves Christmas.

Boohoo.com has come under fire for their festive PJs, which have OCD written on the top with ‘obsessive Christmas disorder’ underneath.

And Twitter is not best pleased about them.

OCD-UK contacted Boohoo following the backlash and say they were advised the retailer would review whether or not to remove it from sale, according to Metro UK.

A spokesperson for the company said it was never the retailers “intention to cause offence”.

“We have spoken with the charity, OCD-UK, that first raised the issue of OCD misuse. It was never boohoo’s intention to cause offence,” the spokesperson told Yahoo UK. “We are taking steps to educate the teams on this illness and raise awareness within the business to ensure that this does not happen again.”

Just last week TK Maxx revealed they would be removing a range of Christmas-themed home goods from stories after upset customers accused the store of “mocking” mental disorders.

The products, a selection of cookie jars and plates, were emblazoned with the words: “I have OCD… Obsessive Christmas Disorder,” which many people felt trivialises the illness.

To be fair to Boohoo and TK Maxx, it is likely neither meant to mock people who have a mental illness, but the move is symptomatic of how society views the condition.

According to the mental health charity Sane, OCD affects at least 2 per cent of people in Australia.

But while Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is something that many of us are aware of, what is not widely known is just how vast OCD can be and the full effect it can have on someone’s life.

What is OCD?

“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related mental health condition which, when severe, can be disabling,” explains Abie Taylor-Spencer, TMS Technician at mental health clinic Smart TMS

“OCD affects men and women equally and although it typically tends to occur during late adolescence or early adulthood, it can begin at any age.”

What are the main symptoms of OCD?

According to Abie Taylor-Spencer the main symptoms of OCD can be categorised into two significant areas; obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions: “These are uncontrollable thoughts, images, worries or urges which someone experiences recurrently and can trigger intense distress,” she says.

“The intrusive thoughts can be difficult to ignore and occur frequently, causing extreme anxiety and preoccupation which prevents the individual from regular day to day functioning.

Abie says that common obsessions in OCD include; causing or failing to prevent harm, perfectionism, scrupulosity (concern with religious issues such as morality and blasphemy) and the fear of contamination and illness.

Compulsions: “The compulsions are repetitive and time-consuming behaviours which an individual performs in an attempt to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts,” she explains.

“These can be physical actions or rituals, such as washing or cleaning excessively, arranging things in a specific way, checking that appliances are turned off and that doors are locked.

Abie says that many compulsions involve numbers; for example, compulsions may involve activities (such as turning on a light switch) having to be repeated a specific number of times without the ritual being interrupted.

“Some compulsions are purely mental; for instance, an individual may pray to prevent harm to others, or count whilst carrying out a task to end on a specific number.

“Other common compulsions include seeking reassurance, hoarding and actively avoiding circumstances which may trigger an obsession,” she adds.

“Individuals often engage in such behaviours because they feel driven to do so in order to neutralise, counteract or dissipate their obsessions.”

Can different people have worse symptoms than others?

Symptoms vary considerably between individuals.

“For example, those with severe OCD may find their symptoms disabling, whereas those with mild OCD will not experience an impact on their lives to the same extent,” Abie explains.

“People who find their OCD to be relatively low may find that their symptoms improve without treatment, however, this is unlikely to occur in those with moderate to severe OCD.”

What are the causes of OCD?

According to Abie there are different factors which may contribute to the development of OCD.

“The condition may be triggered by a combination of genetic, neurological, behavioural, cognitive, and environmental factors,” she explains.

“Imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and glutate have been recognised as potential factors in the development of this disorder.”

And having relatives with OCD can significantly increase the likelihood of an individual developing OCD.

If you’re experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression contact Beyond Blue, Batyr or PANDA for support.

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