Welcome to the cat den

I am the cat lady, the cat napper. Call me Catnik. Welcome to my blog.

I have been living with OCD for many years now. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn't understood by many people. I have heard many people say "Oh, I'm sooo OCD. I'm anal about everything!" Well, you may have OCD, I don't have my PhD and I don't know the inner workings of your brain. You may be Obsessive-Compulsive. However, to be truly diagnosed with the disease, there are several criteria you must meet. Check the DSM-IV out for the clinical requirements. Basically, we are "checkers". We jiggle door handles, we touch things a pre-set number of times, we wash our hands or carry hand santizer around with us at all times (in case we are threatened by germs), we sometimes "hoard" things because we fear getting rid of anything that may be deemed important in the future. We have these rituals to keep our obsessions in check. We have constant, intrusive thoughts that bad things will happen if we don't perform these rituals. For instance, someone with OCD may open and close their bedroom door four times before entering the room for fear that if they do not perform this particular ritual then their brother will be diagnosed with an incurable illness. The compulsion and the obsession do not have to have a logical connection.

I am also a cat supporter. I truly believe that my cats keep my depression (which many OCD people also suffer from) at bay. I have been treating my cats like my babies for many years now. My husband used to joke (before I got pregnant) that he wouldn't be surprised if I started dressing our youngest cat in a baby bonnet and taking him out in public in a car seat, calling him "our little baby boy". For the record, I never did it. I just love everything about cats. Their looks, their attitudes, their grace.... I believe that cats were created purrfectly. My house is decorated in a cat motif, my husband says that our home looks like a cat shrine. It probably does to those not enchanted by the cat.

There are two future aspirations that I have: the first is to educate people about OCD. I thought it would be cool to open a clinic for those suffering from OCD. Many psychiatrists put you on meds and send you on your way. It is hard to find a succesful behavioral therapist in your area, who is also affordable. I believe it is possible to help the OCD patient. the second is to open a cat rescue shelter.

This blog won't always be about cats and OCD. As humans, we are not defined by only are illnesses and interests. We are complicated creatures. Sometimes, I may blog about motherhood or reading or learning to cook or poetry. I am not just an obsessive-compulsive cat lady, but it is one of the hats I wear.

If you have questions about OCD or cats, drop us a line and title it "Ask the Catnapper".

Again, welcome. Nice to meet you.