Smart TMS provided expert comment on OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) for Yahoo!’s feature on the controversy surrounding a slogan on a Christmas pyjama top.
The article was entitled:
“Fashion seller under fire for ‘Obsessive Christmas Disorder’ pajamas: ‘OCD ruins lives'”
Fashion retailer Boohoo.com has been criticised for its poor taste festive pyjamas which have the slogan ‘OCD Obsessive Christmas Disorder‘ emblazoned on the top. The ‘O’ in obsessive is decorated with a Rudolph-style red nose and antlers.
As Yahoo! says, it is relatively common to drop a light-hearted reference to being a bit OCD, but having the condition is actually no joke.
A number of people have taken to Twitter to complain. @BetsyEllie said:
Hey @boohoo, what’s with these pyjamas? OCD is a real, valid mental illness, that effects and can destroy lives. Its not something to make jokes about. I know for a fact that there would not be pyjamas with jokes about depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia etc. #OCDUK @OCDUK pic.twitter.com/aW0R1UJxUi
— Eleanorb (@BetsyEllie) 29 November 2018
@Keyl0rd said:
“Uh @boohoo why do you think it’s acceptable to trivialise mental illness like this? OCD isn’t fun or something to make a joke from, it’s serious and can be very debilitating #lostmycustom #MentalHealthMatters”
Olivia Bamber, the Youth Service and Communications Manager of OCD Action, said:
“Products which mock or trivialise OCD add to these misconceptions and can stop people who are genuinely affected by the condition seeking help, often due to a fear that they will not be taken seriously.
“It’s important that we challenge these trivialising products, even though their intention is not to cause any distress or offense.
“OCD Action welcomes conversations with organisations and is happy to help educate them about how they can contribute positively to people’s understanding of this debilitating mental health condition.”
A spokesperson for Boohoo.com said:.
“We have spoken with the charity, OCD-UK, that first raised the issue of OCD misuse. It was never Boohoo’s intention to cause offense. We are taking steps to educate the teams on this illness and raise awareness within the business to ensure that this does not happen again.”
In a separate incident, TK Maxx has already removed Christmas cookie jars and plates which had a similar slogan – ‘I have OCD … Obsessive Christmas Disorder’. The range was removed after complaints about the store mocking or trivialising mental illness.
What is OCD?
Condition & Symptoms Explained
Yahoo! contacted Smart TMS for expert comment on the issue of OCD. Manchester-based TMS Technician Abie told Yahoo!
“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related mental health condition which, when severe, can be disabling. OCD affects men and women equally, and although it typically tends to occur during late adolescence or early adulthood, it can begin at any age.”
The main symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions. Abie continues:
“[Obsessions] are uncontrollable thoughts, images, worries or urges which someone experiences recurrently and can trigger intense distress. The intrusive thoughts can be difficult to ignore and occur frequently, causing extreme anxiety and preoccupation, which prevents the individual from regular day-to-day functioning.
“The compulsions are repetitive and time-consuming behaviors which an individual performs in an attempt to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts. These can be physical actions or rituals, such as washing or cleaning excessively, arranging things in a specific way, checking that appliances are turned off and that doors are locked.”
Read the feature in full at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/fashion-seller-fire-obsessive-christmas-disorder-pajamas-ocd-ruins-lives-221530018.html
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