Zane Gonzalez went viral for his OCD. What is that?
Zane Gonzalez, the Washington Commanders kicker, has gone viral on social media for his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Footage of him adjusting his socks and moving his hands through his hair at a recent game led to posts ranging from sarcastic to bewilderment to cruel. The truth, however, is that Gonzalez has dealt with OCD since childhood. This was simply how it manifested itself in his pre-kick routine.
“It's kind of a little routine, going through it every time,” Gonzalez said two days before the Commanders’ NFC divisional-round matchup against the Detroit Lions. "For me, it's just more of the same."
The National Institute of Mental Health calls OCD a "common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder" that often interferes with one's "work, school, and personal relationships." Juanita Guerra, PhD, a clinical psychologist practicing meditation in New Rochelle, New York, previously told USA TODAY the mental illness affects some 1-3% of the global population, including "children, adolescents and adults alike."
What is OCD?
The condition is a mental health disorder, "where a person gets caught in a vicious cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors," explains Guerra. The thoughts and fears such people experience are unwanted, intrusive, and irrational, and usually trigger "intensely uncomfortable feelings," she says.
What makes OCD even more debilitating is that such obsessive thoughts also cause the person to engage in repetitive behaviors that often interfere with their daily activities and cause significant distress if they aren't performed to their satisfaction. "The individual is engaging in the behaviors specifically to get rid of obsessive thoughts and/or diminish the uncomfortable feelings the intrusive thoughts precipitate," Guerra says.
Gonzalez went on to describe his experiences: “I just wish more people would understand, like, it's hard to describe the mindset that's going on in the OCD. So it's like, whenever you're having one of those situations come up, you truly – whatever it may be – you think the worst possible situation's going to come of it. It could be the most unrealistic, crazy, unimaginable thing and people will be like, 'You're crazy for thinking that stuff.' Which, I'm aware I'm crazy to think that stuff. But that tick just constantly is kneading at you. It's never-ending. It's always just there. It's just one of those things you just kind of get used to and you can grow accustomed to.”
Symptoms of OCD broadly can vary but may include frequent counting, repeatedly checking on the same things (that doors are locked, lights are off, etc.), obsessive cleaning and hygiene habits, recurring distressing thoughts, repeating the same words or phrases, or the inability to perform a certain task unless a specific pattern precedes it.
It's also worth noting that some people may attribute certain behaviors to "being OCD," when such conduct isn't actually related to the disorder. "OCD has unfortunately become a mainstream term that people use to describe their desire for order or cleanliness, when in actuality, OCD is much more than that," Amanda Darnley, PsyD, a practicing psychologist based in Philadelphia, previously told USA TODAY. For a person truly dealing with OCD, their obsessions and compulsions "make it difficult for that person to fulfill day-to-day responsibilities," she adds.
Experts say it may be a good idea to be more careful about your language regarding mental health. People say phrases like "being OCD" without thinking. But these words are potentially harmful to those with mental health disorders and those struggling with addiction.
What to do if you have OCD?
Simply preferring a space to be clean and organized isn't necessarily OCD-related. But even many of the people who are dealing with some degree of the disorder, end up finding ways to cope and manage by adapting helpful tips and techniques that have often been suggested by a mental health professional. Others dealing with OCD prefer additional medical interventions.
"If an individual has symptoms of OCD, but not the full-blown disorder, it may be possible to manage the symptoms using anxiety-reducing strategies such as increasing mindfulness, exercising, doing meditation and yoga," says Guerra. But if the individual meets the criteria for OCD, "it would be best for them to be under the care of a trained therapist who can use techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to address the OCD in a structured manner." The professional may also recommend for their patient to take medications "to manage whatever underlying anxiety or depression may be present," she says.
Contributing: Daryl Austin and Chris Bumbaca
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zane Gonzalez talks obsessive-compulsive disorder. What is OCD?
