PREVIEW

When it comes to public perceptions of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), many think of excessive hand washing and being overly tidy. But for sufferers of the condition, the real effects can include all-consuming thoughts so dark that they can be pushed to the brink.

“OCD is a severe mental health condition characterized by intrusive, distressing thoughts and repetitive behaviours performed to alleviate the anxiety these thoughts cause,” warns Shaun Flores, a mental health campaigner who lives with the condition. “These compulsions can be debilitating,” he adds.

The 30-year-old, from London, has been living with OCD for the past five years and explains he was pushed to the edge by the condition as he became consumed with thoughts of death and wrote a string of suicide notes before calling the Samaritans for help.

“It first emerged when I was around 25,” he says. “I was having obsessive thoughts about having an STI, then it moved onto the obsessive 24/7 thought of being gay, which felt as if my identity had come crashing down overnight; it then suddenly moved to the fear of being a sexual assaulter. I had a breakdown, and it led to fear of suicide. It has morphed and changed relentlessly. The brain is always looking for new things to latch onto.”

The Royal College of Psychiatrists estimates that one in 50 people live with OCD at some point in life. With approximately one million people suffering from the condition in the UK alone, those dealing with OCD should know that they are not suffering alone. And this year a team of video game producers, filmmakers and scientists have worked alongside lived-experience experts to create a new point-and-click video game to raise awareness of the condition.

She Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game, created by Wowbagger Productions, drops players into a simple home environment where looping gameplay scenarios and in-game interactions give a feeling of what life under OCD is like. The game creators hope it can help change perceptions of OCD – and are also encouraging gaming fans to sign OCD Action’s open letter to help improve the lives of people affected by OCD.

“Misinformation around OCD is endemic,” warns Zachary Tucker, 27, who was diagnosed with OCD when he was 19. “(It) causes a string of negative consequences for those suffering with it, including an increased chance of suicide. I believe games like this can create a productive and exciting way to learn about a very misunderstood disorder and hopefully do some good in helping recognize early symptoms.”

For Zachary, a content creator from Cardiff who campaigns about the effects of OCD on social media, using the Instagram handle @ocdestigmatize, his symptoms began when he was 19 and he experienced violent thoughts and sabotaged his relationships.

“It affects my relationships now, constant instructive thoughts of wanting to break up with my partner, or tell them I hate them, or fears I accidentally cheated on a night out,” he explains. When he began to self-harm, Zachary realised he needed help, and has since found that treatments have helped him in his journey. “I've generally reached a place of recovery and have been dating for a few months which was always a big trigger for me but hasn't affected this relationship,” he says.

The NHS lists the main treatment for OCD as a type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP), "which helps you face your fears and obsessive thoughts without 'putting them right' through compulsions" – and medicine. The health service highlights a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as medication that can help.

Both Zachary and Shaun were consultants on the creation of the She Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game and hope it will make a big impact in the public discussion of OCD.

“My primary responsibility was to ensure the game’s portrayal of OCD was accurate and empathetic,” Shaun reveals. “By sharing my personal experiences, I helped the development team create scenarios that authentically represent the daily struggles and thought processes associated with OCD.”

He adds, “OCD was the worst thing to ever happen to me and I am determined to be the worst thing to happen to OCD."

Zachary also hopes to see a shift in the way OCD is perceived. He said, “Understanding just how serious of a disorder OCD is, that it isn't a quirky trait, and shouldn't be thrown around so lightly. You never know who is sitting in the room with you and what they are going through, saying 'I'm so OCD' about silly little things really trivializes an extremely debilitating experience.”

She Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game, priced at £4.99, is available to buy now for Windows and MacOS via STEAM.

To learn more about OCD or want to talk to someone about your experiences or seeking support, please use the leading UK OCD charity, OCD Action's helpline (0300 636 5478) or visit their website: https://ocdaction.org.uk