Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, met with medical faculty students from Medipol University. In the online interview, Tarhan made striking remarks regarding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Stating that obsession is like an uninvited guest, Tarhan drew attention to the fact that these individuals are perfectionist and detail-oriented. Tarhan stated that anxiety is the most important symptom accompanying OCD, and that individuals experiencing generalized anxiety disorder can become prone to OCD because they cannot manage their thoughts.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan met with medical faculty students…
In the interview organized by the Faculty of Medicine and the European Integration and Medicine Club, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that obsessive individuals are perfectionist and detail-oriented, made striking evaluations regarding the illness. Tarhan said, “These individuals have high expectations for both themselves and life. They overdo perfectionism. The emergence of obsessions is seen as a condition commonly referred to as intrusive thoughts among the public. Obsession is like an uninvited guest. If an uninvited guest knocks on the door, someone you don't know arrives. They might even harm you with unrealistic notions. Therefore, we should not let obsession into our home. The moment we let it in, we have to deal with it. And when you deal with it, it grows, which is exactly what it wants. Therefore, when this obsession, these intrusive thoughts, first come to mind, it determines our stance and our behavior towards it. This is related to a neurobiological mechanism…”
“Goal-oriented detail leads to success”
In his speech, Tarhan pointed out that goal-oriented detail leads a person to success; “Success is in the details, and the devil is in the details. So how does this happen? Those giving academic success conferences say success is in the details. On the other hand, when you look at obsessive people, they say the devil is in the details. Actually, the key point here is that if the detail is purpose-oriented, one has a goal in life. If the detail is goal-oriented, that detail brings success. They see what no one else can. They reach a piece of information and it leads them to success. Therefore, it is very important for thought management to be purpose-oriented. People with important priorities in their lives do not easily fall into obsession. Even if they do, they manage it, even if they are obsessive. The success of perfectionist individuals is closely related to the correctness of their priority pyramids,” he stated.
“They know it's absurd but can't fix it…”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan pointed out that individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder accept this as normal and reject opposing views; “Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are aware of their obsessions but do not believe opposing views. When you say this is an illness, they don't accept it. They don't believe it, yet they stay in the bathroom for hours. They wash their hands for hours. As if they accept this as normal. This becomes an obsessive-compulsive personality. They have established a balance for themselves. However, when this becomes an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, the person now knows it's absurd but cannot fix it. That is, this is truly a difficult disorder. Specifically, there are obsessions of cleanliness, contamination, aggression, and counting. They constantly count license plates, sidewalk stones, walls. They virtually become unable to do anything else but count them,” he said.
From helicopter mom to drone mom…
Tarhan, also drawing attention to the excessive control of parents, stated that this situation creates a fear of making mistakes in children. Tarhan said; “We assess obsessive-compulsive disorder using the childhood trauma scale. On the childhood trauma scale, there were physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse. Recently, excessive control has also been added. Children of overprotective parents became overprotective and controlling. Because the mother does everything, a fear of making mistakes develops in the child. She interferes with what the child eats and drinks. Before, we used to say helicopter mom, now we say drone mom. The mother is excessively controlling. She even wonders about the child's dreams,” he stated.
“Those who can manage stress manage most diseases”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that managing stress is very important to prevent OCD from recurring; “Under stress, some people turn to addiction, some develop OCD, some have stomach problems, some have skin reactions. This is entirely related to the genetic predisposition. Therefore, those who can manage stress manage most diseases. Managing stress is very important to prevent OCD from recurring. They define stress groups this way. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is truly a difficult disease, but it is one where we are successful in treatment. We apply a three-pronged treatment. The duties of the doctor, the patient, and their relatives. Relatives also feed the illness unknowingly. If a person catastrophizes the illness themselves, the illness increases even more in them. Therefore, thought management is essential in OCD,” he stated.
“The absence of moral norms leads to personality disorders”
Tarhan emphasized that moral norms should be appropriate, timely, and in moderation; “Because new generations are more libertarian, they can easily object to and question obsession, making it easier to combat obsession. That is, when they put excessive pressure on themselves, this obsession sticks to them. It becomes a full-blown illness. When too much freedom is given, social destruction emerges. Therefore, moderation is important. Norms that involve self-torment in moral contexts harm the individual. Being without norms, the absence of moral norms, also leads to personality disorders. It leads to other addictions, various substance uses. For this, moral norms need to be appropriate, timely, and in moderation. Because living an overly rule-bound life becomes too restrictive. And when it is too loose, it leads to personality disorders,” he said.
“You become free when you control your desires and impulses”
Tarhan stated that true freedom is being free from desires and impulses; “Moral norms are good, but social and emotional skills are necessary to apply them appropriately, timely, and in moderation. This needs to be learned. True freedom is not 'Breaking chains, tearing down walls, unleashing desires.' True freedom is being free from desires and impulses. You become free when you control your desires and impulses. Those who think of short-term happiness can fall into pleasure traps. Those who think of medium and long-term happiness can succeed in not falling into pleasure traps. That is, a person can control their desires,” he stated.
Anxiety, the most important symptom accompanying OCD…
Tarhan, speaking about the effects of anxiety on OCD; “Anxiety is the most important symptom accompanying OCD. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder become more easily prone to OCD because they cannot manage their thoughts. Therefore, a person cannot easily manage their thoughts. Because they cannot manage them, generalized anxiety disorder is a condition that accompanies OCD. In many cases we label as obsessive, one aspect starts to evolve into schizophrenia. The person cannot recover. The network in the brain is disrupted. The thinking brain, the feeling brain, the decision-making brain in the brain need to work like an orchestra, but they cannot,” he stated.
“OCD should not be seen as a problem; it can be evaluated as an opportunity…”
Tarhan emphasized that obsessive-compulsive disorder can be evaluated as an opportunity; “Obsessive-compulsive disorder is something that guides a person. If managed correctly, it increases a person's psychological defenses and strengthens their basic personality structure. The disorder should not be seen as a problem; in fact, when we view it as an opportunity to develop ourselves in such situations and manage the obsession, we will strengthen ourselves,” he said.
“The best way to fight the illness is not to give importance to thoughts”
Tarhan stated that as one fights the illness, the illness changes form; “The best way to fight the illness is not to give importance to thoughts. If you give importance, the illness is fed. If you don't give importance, that is, if you belittle it, it shrinks; if you magnify it, it grows. Therefore, when a thought comes, one should be able to shift their focus of attention and interest to another subject by saying, ‘This is not a real threat, these are erroneous thoughts, parasitic thoughts given by the illness,’” he stated.