IN a new Netflix documentary David Beckham is filmed frantically tidying his house late at night after his family have gone to bed.
The football superstar has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a condition he describes as “tiring”.
PADavid Beckham is filmed frantically tidying his house late at night after his family have gone to bed in a new Netflix doc[/caption]
The football superstar has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a condition he describes as ‘tiring’
SuppliedDr Marianne Trent said: ‘OCD is something people often talk about quite colloquially’[/caption]
He even cleans and clips the wicks of wife Victoria’s candle collection before turning in for the night.
“That’s my pet hate, the smoke around the inside of the candle, I know it’s weird,” he tells the interviewer.
He adds: “It’s tiring going around every single candle cleaning it. I clean the house so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty.”
Beckham, 48, actor Nicolas Cage and former One Direction singer Niall Horan are among a number of celebrities who have made references to being “a little bit OCD”, but how it affects people’s lives can range severely.
‘Very distressing’
Dr Marianne Trent, a chartered clinical psychologist, told Sun on Sunday Health: “OCD is something people often talk about quite colloquially. People will say, ‘Oh that’s just my OCD’, but that doesn’t always mean they have a clinical diagnosis.
“Many people might have some traits but we are still able to function normally and live a life that feels joyful and rewarding.
“For a select few, however, OCD is a very distressing condition. Being tidy, ordered or a perfectionist does not always amount to OCD.”
Around 12 in every 1,000 people in the UK are affected by the condition — that’s around 750,000 people.
It’s possible the real number of sufferers is even higher due to undiagnosed cases.
The exact cause is not known.
Genetics, brain abnormalities and the environment are thought to play a role. OCD can affect men and women of all ages.
Evidence indicates boys are more prone to developing it at a young age.
“OCD is often a way of someone trying to seek control in situations that might otherwise feel uncomfortable,” Dr Trent explains.
“During the pandemic, a lot more people seemed to be reporting OCD symptoms, probably because so many of us felt out of control.
“I’ve worked with extreme cases where people have bleached the walls of their house and could not tolerate the idea of any germs. These symptoms can severely affect someone’s life.
“If you worry about food being contaminated, you might end up not eating at all. You may wash your hands until they bleed. You might feel like you can’t hug your own child.
“It can be so distressing that people think the only way out is to end their own life. OCD will get you when you are most vulnerable. If you change your job, relationship or feel under stress, it can start again.”
The most common treatments are talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and an antidepressant called SSRIs, which alter the balance of chemicals in the brain.
“If you notice your OCD is having an impact on your wellbeing or those around you, your ability to get things done or you pose a risk to yourself or others, you should contact your GP,” Dr Trent says.
“Often people don’t seek help soon enough. There may still be a stigma associated with OCD but with the right help, people can turn their lives around.”
Beckham premieres on Netflix on Wednesday.
‘I could barely leave house’
ALEX SERGENT, 39, from Olympic Village, East London, is the co-founder of entertainment tech firm Wona.
He has been living with OCD for 20 years.
SuppliedAlex Sergent has been living with OCD for 20 years[/caption]
“It began at university when I started putting all my thoughts down on Post-it notes.
It got so bad that I was even writing down reminders to brush my teeth.
I had a difficult childhood. I didn’t go to school much and spent a lot of time with my mum, who had mental health issues.
I scraped through my exams and got a place at the University of Hull.
I tried to keep busy, going to the gym and socialising.
From the outside, I was functioning normally but intrusive thoughts and rituals were taking over my life.
I hit rock bottom in 2022. I went through an awful period, losing my mum, dad and sister within four years.
I’d tried to throw myself into running my production company but it became too stressful and reached a point where I could barely leave the house.
For me it wasn’t physical. I’d question everything in my head and instead of Post-it notes, I was putting constant reminders on my phone.
I’d talk to myself, barely slept and rarely bothered to shower. My mind wouldn’t stop, it was hell.
Finally, last November my wife took me to the GP where I was assessed, referred for weekly therapy sessions and prescribed medication for OCD.
I was lucky to have the support of friends and family like I did.
I still have OCD but I’ve now learned to see it as something positive in my life.