Tuesday 17 May 2011

Famous People with OCD

The acronym OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is an anxiety disorder in which the person suffers from intrusive thoughts. The thoughts give rise to apprehension, worry, fear or uneasiness. Repetitive behavior is observed, which helps in reducing anxiety. In some cases, thoughts, along with behavior help in reducing anxiety. The obsession can be seen for different things, of which the most common is for germs. Therefore, repetitive washing of hands or objects is observed. Some people may suffer from various habits, like closing and opening the door a certain of times, before they pass through the door or not touching certain objects, etc. The most common symptoms of OCD include washing of hands or objects a number of times, aggressive impulses, aversion to certain numbers or certain odd numbers, preoccupation with sexual thoughts, etc. Some of the behavior may be difficult to categorize as OCD behavior only.

List of Famous People with OCD

Albert Einstein: One of the most famous physicist and one of the most influential scientists of our times is said to have suffered from OCD, albeit posthumously. He is famous for his scientific as well as no scientific works. He is often said to be the best example of mad scientist and absent minded professor.

Charles Darwin: He was a naturalist, who suffered from OCD. He also had a stammering problem. Although it is said that he did suffer from a number of health problems, it is a matter of speculation, as definitive diagnosis has never been reached.

Jessica Alba: She is an American actress, who is famous for television shows as well as movies. Apart from the number of health ailments, she is said to have suffered from, she has admitted to have suffered from OCD during her childhood. However, her obsessive compulsive behavior has improved a great deal after she grew up, yet she has this obsession for unplugging every appliance in the house, when she is leaving home.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Although he suffered from deafness, he is considered among the best composers and musicians of all times. He is said to have suffered from OCD as well as bipolar disorder. Since he could not hear, it was very frustrating for him to turn around and look at the audience applause. He had to fight all the emotions that were deeply buried in him, so that he could accept the applause.

Michelangelo: He is said to have concentrated on his art all the time, although he was one of the greatest artist of all times. He was a loner and did not like social life, to the extent, that he is known to have walked out of a conversation for no particular reason. It was not unusual for him to get into a fight with strangers or family members in the course of a normal conversation. His obsessive behavior can be seen from that fact, that he would sleep in his working clothes including his boots, although they would cause damage to his feet.

Donald Trump: One of the best known business executive, entrepreneur, television personality has admitted that he does suffer from partial obsessive compulsive disorder. He is said to suffer from germs phobia, due to which he avoids shaking hands with people. He also avoids pressing the ground floor button of a lift, due to his phobia.

David Beckham: Former captain of the English football team has said that he does suffer from OCD. Due to his disorder, he is seen to be a cleanliness freak, at the same time, it is very important for him to have all things perfect. At the same time, it is seen that he needs everything to be arranged in pairs. For example, in case there are three similar things lying, he would rather want one to be removed or one to be added.

Justin Timberlake:
He is a famous pop singer-songwriter. In an interview, Justin Timberlake had said that he suffered from OCD and attention deficit disorder. His condition is said to be similar to that of David Beckham and likes things to be lined up in pairs. At the same time, it is important that thew refrigerator is stocked up only with certain things.

Here is the list of other famous people, who had, have, or are countering, obsessive compulsive disorder.

• Alec Baldwin
• Andrew Kehoe
• Billy Bob Thornton
• Cameron Diaz
• Charlene Theron
• Charles Dickens
• Charlie Sheen
• Charlize Theron
• Cole Porter
• Dan Aykroyd
• Dr. Samuel Johnson
• Emily Lloyd
• Fiona Apple
• Fred Durst
• Gerald Kaufman
• Harrison Ford
• Howard Hughes     • Howard Stern
• Howie Mandek
• Ian Puleston-Davies
• Jane Horrocks
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Jeremy Kyle
• Jim Eisenreich
• Joey Ramone
• John George Haigh
• John List
• John Melendez
• Kathie Lee Gifford
• Katy Perry
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Marc Summers
• Marcel Proust
• Martin Scorsese     • Megan Fox
• Michael Jackson
• Natalie Appleton
• Nikola Tesla
• Paul Gascoigne
• Penelope Cruz
• Rose McGowan
• Roseanne Barr
• Samuel Johnson
• Sir Winston Churchill
• Stanley Kubrick
• Steven Gerrard
• Thomas Jackson
• Tim Howard
• Volkert van der Graaf
• Warren Zevon
• Woody Allen

In spite of suffering from obsessive thinking and anxiety, these people with OCD in history have excelled in their own fields. Justin Timberlake has said that although he suffers from OCD, it has not stopped him from leading a normal life otherwise. Therefore, a common man, who is trying to battle OCD should remember like the famous people with OCD, they also can fight it and emerge a winner and not get worked up by this condition.

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