Here's a happy update: I have a new job as an insurance agent. I'm in training right now, and will take my state licensing test tomorrow. In addition to being a boost to my wallet, this job also brings a boost to my life with OCD. Now I'm busy all day, and around other people, so my tendency to perform rituals and compulsions is diminished. (As they say, an idle mind is OCD's playground.) I am doing really well, and maybe, once my insurance kicks in, I can go to therapy once in a while.
My training right now involves sitting in a classroom with others, and if you've been through school or really, been in any classroom setting, you know there are certain people who always attend. For those of you who are sensitive to sounds (like I am), hopefully you will find this listing humorous (if not accurate). Here are a list of people who always seem to be in class with you (I also posted this on my general blog, http://www.playtah.com/, so if you see it there also, don't worry - I didn't copy it, I wrote it.):
Clicky McClickerson - Constantly has a click-type pen in hand. Waits until everyone is concentrating, and then begins the rhythmic audio torture, oblivious to the pain of everyone else. I think I speak for everyone when I say, “Clicky, put the pen down, or I will put the pen down for you. And by “down,” I mean, “in one of your less comfortable orifices.”
Sniffy McSnifferson - For the love of all that is pure and holy, please just blow your nose. And then, if you feel a bit of nasal drippage again, use the tissue to wipe it away. Don’t sniff so much. Or so hard. I think I had a pen in my hand a minute ago.
Bouncy McBouncerson - You are moving the WHOLE table! Seriously! Take some meds. Or make sure you’ve gone through your withdrawals before work. If I wanted everything around me to shake, I’d move to California.
Chewy McChewerson - It’s cool to chew ice. If you’re alone. If you are around me and I hear you chewing ice, I will assume you need help crushing the ice, and will help - with my fist.
Wrappy McWrapperson - When it’s really quiet in the classroom, there’s no way you’re going to open that bag of chips or piece of hard candy unnoticed. Bite the bullet and open it quickly, don’t drag it out into a 5-minute production of trying to gently open the bag. If you do drag it out, I will wait until we are in the lunchroom, then loudly ask you if that rash has gone away yet.
Whispy McWhisperson - Usually Whispy is a girl who, for whatever reason, knows the answer to a question in class, but doesn’t want to say it at regular volume. This basically says, “I know the answer, and I’d like those around me to know I know the answer, but I just don’t have the courage/energy/confidence to commit this answer to my vocal cords.” I’ve found that if you taze Whispy everytime she tries to answer under her breath, she eventually stops. Well, stops moving. Turn that tazer down a notch.
Mouthy McMoutherson - Along with Chewy, this classmate thinks that others enjoy listening to the wonderful sounds that they can make with their mouth. Whether it is chewing loudly, making “tsk” sounds, or clicking their tongues, these people must be stopped at all costs. Normal assault laws do not apply in this case - you can act with impunity. Suggestion: Use large sticks.
Breathey McBreatherson - Yes, we know you can breathe. And really, you’re quite good at it. We just don’t want to hear EVERY FREAKING ONE of your breaths. Clear your sinuses, close your mouth, and we’ll all get along just fine. (WARNING: Breathey may morph into Sniffy if he manages to clear his sinuses, but they start running. Hold on to your pen if you don’t want it to become a casualty of Sniffy’s nasal vortex.)
In spite of the flaws of the above mentioned classmates, I am so happy to have a job, and so happy that my OCD is not as strong. I hope that all of you are having a good day!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
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5 comments:
You are very Creative.
We all meet these kind of chracters but the way you have classified and described them is wonderful.
And you post such descriptive and lengthy articles.For me everything has to be perfect (I should have bathed, there sould be no disturbance,timing etc.) when I sit on my computer.Plus I cannot compose such lengthy blogs.
Congratulations ! on getting job.
this will take you away from OCD.
Remember this healthy development and improve on it.
i'm a shy whispy with ocd and i have become super self conscious about my voice. so i just don't talk anymore
I wish that Scabby McSquigglesworth wouldn'd insist on sitting in the front of every class she's in and CRUNCHING HER DORITOS into her cellphone that she's sort of crouching over like the professor won't notice.
Um...yeah.
Stay simple
and
keep marching on.
What can happen to his self esteem, when a Second Generation Maharashtrian American youth, who suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, but is esteemed by his peers, suddenly tries to act like everybody else, and is rejected by one of his attractive female peers?
By Amit Kshirsagar
Interpersonal communication is difficult enough, for “normal” people, but for someone who has been suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, even a “seemingly” small incident like being rejected for forgetting a popular girl’s name, one whom you had traveled with extensively can be extremely embarrassing, not to mention down right humiliating. This is exactly what had happened between me and an attractive, popular girl named Nalini Sharpe, during the first M.A.I.Y.T.RA. Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1994.
On July 4th 1994, I, my elder brother’s friends were all invited to represent Detroit at our first Youth Convention, especially for Maharashtrian Indian American Youth who were together representing America.
The theme for that year was “Dimensions of Maharashtra”. Each of us was allotted approximately fifteen minutes to describe why our chosen hero, topic, etc., truly represents the ideals of Maharashtra.
When my turn had come up, I chose to speak on the great Marathi Freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar, “Lokmanya” Tilak. Unlike Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji, and others, Lokmanya Tilak insisted on “Swaraj”, (i.e., self-rule), for India to be truly free. He said before Parliament, “Swaraj is my birth right! I shall have it! Anyone who opposes me shall have it too!” My speech was the only one, during the whole session that had received a thunderous ovation. What’s more is that approximately 7 to 12 really successful, good-looking girls had each come up to me saying that I “did a really good job!” Nalini Sharpe herself had said that she thought mine was the best. Soon, though, after receiving so much praise, my Lokmanya Tilak speech, really had “gone to my head”.
This was one of the very few times when I felt like I knew what it was like to become extremely popular. My brother is naturally funny, but a bit too macho. Girls have always wanted to date him. Since I am usually very much reserved, I saw that the dance which had followed that evening would be a great chance for me to have a dance with Nalini. In my mind, I felt that just because I had given a very good speech, I felt that girls would agree to dance with me. Looking back after 14 years, I now realized that life does not reward good deeds immediately, especially with respect to women. Women may praise action one time, but are never totally satisfied. One has to be a good person all the time, to truly gain the respect of all women.
I also learned that being popular with women is only one form of success if one has a special talent that he / she develops, and has a gentle, patient, tolerant nature, this is also a kind of success.
So, as misfortune would have it, I became as nervous during the dance as I had approached Nalini, as I attempted to ask her for a dance, that I said “Hey you, what’s your name?” Before I even had a chance to explain my position to her, she suddenly stormed out of the room, and later that day on our way home said, “STAY AWAY FROM ME!”
On our way home, after the Convention, we decided to stop at King’s Island and eat at Friendly’s on the way home. All through the meal, I had noticed that to her friends Nalini was saying how ‘funny’ my brother was, but at the same time, she kept giving me the cold shoulder.
So, even though my trip to Cincinnati was ruined by my own immature behavior, I knew that I got what I had deserved.
Even today, whenever I have the urge to do something that others are doing, I always remember Cincinnati and warn myself to
“Never try to be something that I’m not”
Also, according to our Hindu religion, one reaps the fruits from prior life, in each successive lifetime. So, even if one has had bad karma, in one lifetime, he/she can reduce the effects of its consequences in the next lifetime.
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