A Speakerphone Helps with OCD

For those of you who have read some of my other Associated Content articles, you may already know that I was diagnosed with OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, 13 years ago. My most prevalent OCD symptoms center around fear of contamination.

Throughout the past 13 years, I have always looked for ways to make my life easier and less stressful as I fight OCD on a daily basis.

I previously wrote an article here on Associated Content about how the Clapper helps with OCD and another about how latex gloves help with OCD.

I have found a speakerphone to be another helpful, household product for OCD sufferers.

Why?

Before I came up with the idea of purchasing speakerphones for my home to help make my life easier as I struggled with OCD, I remember the battles I had to fight with my fearful thoughts every time the telephone rang.

Was I clean enough to pick up that phone, or that phone? I was too dirty to pick up that phone and that phone. So... a lot of times I missed opportunities to talk to people I would have loved to speak to when they called me.

I do wear latex gloves to touch most things in my home, but who has the time to put on a latex glove between the time the telephone rings and then stops ringing, or by the time they are finished leaving a brief message on my answering machine?

Then there were the excuses I had to come up with when they asked me, "Where were you when I called?" It was hard to think of many excuses so not to repeat the same one too often, as I was put into this situation many, many times. How many times could I say, "I was in the bathroom?"

Most people don't understand the struggles of an OCD sufferer, even after you have told them, "I have OCD." If you look and appear 'normal,' they just don't get it, or believe it.

I have to make life easier for myself.

I first decided to purchase one speakerphone when a Walgreen's rebate had drawn my attention to one. The price was free - except for the sales tax. I put this speakerphone in a location in my home which would be very convenient for me. I still wasn't sure how much it would help with OCD, but it was connected and ready to be used.

Soon enough the telephone rang and all I had to do to use the speakerphone was to push the 'on' button with my pinkie finger to talk to the person on the other end.

Why with only my pinkie finger?

Because as you remember from above, my most prevalent OCD symptom is fear of contamination. The less I have to touch, the better.

By using the speakerphone, if the telephone conversation can be kept short I am able to have the full conversation by speakerphone. If the conversation is going to be a long, social one, by picking up via the speakerphone first, it gives me the opportunity to say to the person on the other end, "Hold on," while I put on a latex glove to pick up a regular phone and/or it gives me extra time to think about which other telephone I can pick up to talk on.

I now have 2 speakerphones in different locations in my home. One for when I feel clean enough and another for when I feel 'dirty.' Both have tremendously opened up the opportunities to enable me to talk to friends and family when they call me.

Currently I have a wall phone in the kitchen, which inhibits me from picking up the telephone when I am in there. I will soon be purchasing a speakerphone for that area too.

Speakerphones come in several brands and styles - some with more features than others.

I have found Kmart and Wal-Mart to have the best prices on speakerphones, unless another store has them on clearance, or on sale, for cheaper .

You can use the website: http://www.shoplocal.com/ to find a store that has the cheapest price on a speakerphone in your area. All you have to do on the website is put in what you are looking for in the search box and the location - city and state you are in, to the right of that search box.

Ta da! One less problem to worry about and to have to battle with, as I fight my OCD.