Just tried replacing the numbers in the previous blogs chart...to colours.

Quite interesting, seems that numbers are more representitative of repetition, but colours represent more the feelings or emotions concerned with the routines.

i.e i have tried to use black for the '5' times and lighter, or calmer colours for '1' time.
Slightly confusing though, if you dont know what it is you're looking at!!

OCD Charts - Diaries

Found this little bit on keeping an ocd diary. Quite a good method, though not quite sure it would be so effective. But its interesting that "seeing" your ocd in front of you on paper, by numbers or colours could be an aid!

I shall look into this further!


"Keeping an OCD diary


One of the ways to start fighting back is to measure how
much OCD is interfering in your life. You can do this by
keeping a diary, for example noting down each time
OCD makes you wash your hands. Once you know how
`big' your OCD is, you can start cutting back.

Example of a diary form:

OCD loves to keep you busy doing all the things
it wants you to do. Use this table to keep a record of
how many times you do things for OCD."

Task/Activity: handwashing

OCD Diaries

I am asking some people with OCD to write diaries for me, should have some of them soon.

Meanwhile i've been looking for video diaries of people with OCD.

This video isnt so much as a diary, than an insight into one guys life.

Thought it was quite interestng, seeing as im trying to look at the more personal side of OCD.

(It was suggested at the course feedback that i look at the more personal side of things)


My OCD Diary - Click here for the funniest movie of the week

OCD designs

Some designs for OCD by Marc Owens...found on the MTeriors blog, Very interesting designs which would aid OCD sufferers.

A light switch which counts the nuber or times it is switched...typical OCD trait


A Frame which encorporates a spirit level...to get that "just right" feeling...

A scrubbinh brush which uses a magnifying glass to achieve that perfect clean!

OCD forums

I am now members of three OCD forums, Have had a number of responses to my request for help/info. Now in contact (via email) with three people who are sharing their experiences of OCD and helping me with research!

The forums are...

1. http://www.stuckinadoorway.co.uk/
2. http://dailystrength.org/
3. http://www.ocdtribe.com/forum

Some interesting hygiene facts

• One of the most germ ridden places in public is the ground floor button of a lift.
• 30% of womens handbags contain 100million particles of faecal matter per square inch (from placing on toilet cubicle floor)
• 26,000 microbes are on every square inch of a mobile handset
• Womens toilets are more contaminated than mens - with teh middle cubicle being the most infected.
• Swimming pools are laced with Sweat, Urine, Mucus, Saliva, Hair, Faecal Matter, Dead Skin
• 85% of public toilets are cleaner than average kitchen worktop in britain.
  
• Toilet bowls contain 49 bacteria per square inch - compared to 20,961 per square inch in an office.

Section from my project proposal

Personal Statement/ Philosophy

I am interested in all aspects of design and being a designer, however I am particularly interested in design for function (how design can make everyday/mundane tasks become easier and sometimes more enjoyable) and I strongly believe that form should follow function. I am especially interested in design for public spaces and how users interact with these spaces. I am inspired by designs which are so simple yet incredibly effective; for example those which aim to change the users lifestyle routines for the better. One particular designers style which I aspire to is Yves Behar, I think his designs are incredibly stylish, modern, and very unique.

My ambition is to produce a really strong project for my honours year and graduate with a grade which reflects this. I hope after university I can find employment in a design based company, working within a team of designers, perhaps in the medical field.


Project Aims and Outlines

For my Honours project I have decided to look into Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), A neurotic disorder in which the person displays and/or complains of either obsessions or compulsions (or both) to a degree that affects his or her everyday functioning or causes him or her distress. In particular i will look at how design can help sufferers of the mental illness. The reason why I chose this particular subject is because I didn’t know very much about the illness and its effects, and I wanted a project where I had no preconceived ideas about the final design from the outset.

The final outcome should aim to alleviate any stress that sufferers of OCD experience (More than two thirds of OCD patients suffer from depression (Montgomery, Zohar, 1999)) and act as an aid to the routines which many sufferers perform hundreds of times a day.

I shall begin by undertaking primary research, contacting Aberdeen’s OCD sufferers support group, Posting out questionnaires and also contacting the two major online OCD charities directly.
Secondary research will consist of reading key texts from the library, this being books and journals and also making use of the internet to explore past research about OCD.
Concept development will begin when I have some high-quality research material, both primary and secondary, and when a specific problem area within OCD has been located.

Project so far...

Just a recap on all the things i have explored since the beginning of the project...

OCD and what its about - What is it? Who suffers from it? Why people suffer from it?
Can it be cured? How can it be cured?

I have looked at case studies from books/internet/press

I have also looked into Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Panic attacks. - Are they related to OCD? Why?

I posted a questionnaire to Occupational therapy students and Nursing students- 32 replies, very useful information within the results.

I have since focused in on the Hygiene and Cleanliness side of OCD, in particular compulsive hand washing.


Other things i have looked into...Theory of abjection, When does normal stop and ocd start? Ocd and animals, Ocd and genetics, Famous people with ocd, History of public health, Colour symbology and association with products, Products for ocd sufferers.

Video of OCD

OCD portrayed as a man in a tutu...Interesting?