Dr. Alex George, known for his appearance on Love Island, recently shared his battle with a severe mental health condition on social media. The 34-year-old doctor revealed that he was diagnosed with OCD just a few days ago, expressing his feelings of being overwhelmed by the diagnosis.
In an Instagram post to his 2.1 million followers, Dr. Alex disclosed, “I wanted to update you on my recent diagnosis of OCD. While not entirely unexpected, it still hit me hard. Dealing with OCD has been incredibly distressing for me, but gaining clarity on my condition has already brought some relief, allowing me to focus on my path to recovery.”
OCD is characterized by obsessions, emotions, and compulsions. Dr. Alex, revealing his struggle with what is commonly called ‘pure O’ OCD, explained that instead of physical compulsions like excessive cleaning, his OCD primarily involves obsessive rumination triggered by real-life events.
The doctor shared in another post, “In the OCD cycle, I’m triggered, then stuck ruminating for hours. It’s a constant loop of thought-checking, fact-checking, and seeking reassurance, trapping me in a cycle of relentless reflection over past events.”
Dr. Alex admitted that his OCD symptoms almost pushed him to a breaking point last Christmas. Despite his background in medicine, he only realized he had OCD when someone else pointed it out to him. Reflecting on his journey, he emphasized the need to break free from the cycle of OCD, which has been a part of his life for many years, possibly since his teenage years, exacerbated by ADHD tendencies.
Statistics suggest that around one in 50 individuals experience OCD at some stage in their lives. While the exact cause of OCD remains unclear, factors such as stress, genetics, and changes in the brain are often cited as contributing elements.
The NHS outlines that while everyone may have fleeting unwanted thoughts, those that persistently dominate one’s thinking to the point of disrupting daily thoughts may indicate an obsession, a hallmark of OCD. For detailed information, refer to the NHS website for comprehensive guidance on OCD symptoms and management.