3.2.1 Wanting to be One theme that occurred across three of the ‘normal’. four papers was around wanting to be and a sense that having OCD made ‘normal’ participants Fennell and Liberato (2007) commented on as the ‘abnormal’. ‘passing’ process by which an individual attempts to conceal their difficulties in order to ‘pass as normal’. This concealment is not only of a diagnosis, but of the symptoms themselves before they are even identified as being part of OCD. Reasons cited for this behaviour include protecting the individual against their own negative beliefs about OCD (self-stigma), as well as fear of stigma from others. One participant in the study attempted to convince not only others but herself that she was by ‘normal’ deliberately avoiding any information about OCD and significantly delaying to avoid diagnosis. Similarly, Murphy and Perera-Delcourt (2014) discuss participants’ desires to normal and fit in’, by concealing symptoms from peers ‘be and separating friendships groups into categories, where people without ‘us-them’ OCD are in the out-group. Stengler-Wenzke et al (2004) describe relatives who encourage the OCD patient to conceal symptoms, which is perceived as stigmatizing by the patient. However, they also describe occasions of the patient themselves forcing the relative to conceal the disorder, with the underlying reason for both being to normal’. ‘appear
3.2.1 Wanting to be ‘normal’. One theme that occurred across three of the four papers was around wanting to be ‘normal’ and a sense that having OCD made participants ‘abnormal’. Fennell and Liberato (2007) commented on ‘passing’ as the process by which an individual attempts to conceal their difficulties in order to ‘pass as normal’. This concealment is not only of a diagnosis, but of the symptoms themselves before they are even identified as being part of OCD. Reasons cited for this behaviour include protecting the individual against their own negative beliefs about OCD (self-stigma), as well as fear of stigma from others. One participant in the study attempted to convince not only others but herself that she was ‘normal’ by deliberately avoiding any information about OCD and significantly delaying to avoid diagnosis. Similarly, Murphy and Perera-Delcourt (2014) discuss participants’ desires to ‘be normal and fit in’, by concealing symptoms from peers and separating friendships groups into ‘us-them’ categories, where people without OCD are in the out-group. Stengler-Wenzke et al (2004) describe relatives who encourage the OCD patient to conceal symptoms, which is perceived as stigmatizing by the patient. However, they also describe occasions of the patient themselves forcing the relative to conceal the disorder, with the underlying reason for both being to ‘appear normal’.
Terri%20Porter%20E-Thesis..docx