# OCD and eating food

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063 "2006-08-09T21:24:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LeftFootRightFoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@LeftFootRightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeftFootRightFoot)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063/1 "2006-08-09T21:24:01Z")

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I’ve always been an extremely picky eater. When I was a kid, the peas could NOT touch the potatoes, or the ones that mixed had to be thrown out. I just recently found out that I have OCD, which explains alot more then just my picky eating. I’m not exactly well off in the financial department though, so I won’t be seeing a doctor or specialist about getting my OCD treated professionally (I only have mild OCD, so I don’t lock a door 5 times, etc). But foods is a big problem for me, I’m trying to work out and gain muscle, but I just cannot eat the proper foods. I try holding my nose and just swallowing it, but it’s utterly impossible.

Anybody out there with OCD manage to get rid of this aweful problem, which has plagued me with a skinny body since forever?

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**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063/2 "2006-08-09T21:26:57Z")

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I don’t think anyone here will be willing to help you as you are asking for medical advice. BUT, I will say this: see a doctor. There are places that can help you for free, I guarantee that.

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**Author:** ![LeftFootRightFoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@LeftFootRightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeftFootRightFoot)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063/3 "2006-08-09T22:10:36Z")

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I think it’s more psychological then medical

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**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063/4 "2006-08-09T22:18:10Z")

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[QUOTE=LeftFootRightFoot]  
I think it’s more psychological then medical  
[/QUOTE]

Still medical device. I really wish you luck.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063/5 "2006-08-09T22:21:18Z")

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[QUOTE=LeftFootRightFoot]  
I think it’s more psychological then medical  
[/QUOTE]

Although that is a common saying, the more we learn about the brain and various psychiatric disorders, this distinction often becomes very iffy to nonexistent. What if the OP responds beautifully to a drug known to treat the condition? What would that mean?

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocd-and-eating-food/368063/6 "2006-08-09T23:21:31Z")

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[QUOTE=LeftFootRightFoot]  
I think it’s more psychological then medical  
[/QUOTE]

OCD sufferer here. Psychology is a branch of medicine.

Do see about getting help. There are programs out there, I would imagine, to help those who can’t afford it.