Patient Stories

Gerry Radano - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Solution

Story courtesy of KWWL TV, Waterloo, IA

Hand washing is something you should do frequently. Especially this time of year, and that's exactly what Gerry Radano used to do… 2000 times a day.

"It just seems like overnight, I went to a life consumed with rituals, contamination rituals," says Gerry.

Gerry suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder or o-c-d. She was obsessed with keeping her body free of germs.

"I would change my clothes that I perceived to be contaminated 6-8 times a day. I'd take 2-3 showers until the water ran cold."

It's a common disorder that affects about 2 and half percent of the population. "You can have OCD about virtually anything." Clinical Psychologist Doctor Joseph Brown specializes in treating people with O.C.D.

Dr. Joseph Brown, a Clinical Psychologist said, "Obsessive compulsive disorder is having either obsessions or compulsions. And obsessions are unwanted ideas, thoughts, images, impulses that repeatedly come into your mind." The compulsions are behaviors or acts people feel driven to perform to relieve their anxiety. "It's very, very treatable. And that's the sad thing about it. People have gone so long and I've met people who've had it for decades. Once they learn they have it they say that's what I used to do in 6th grade."

Doctor Brown recommends two forms of treatment: behavior therapy or medication. "Identify the compulsions and eliminate them."

As for Gerry, she overcame her disorder with an experimental surgery called gamma knife... an MRI that sent targeted gamma rays at her brain. She says it worked, and she's even written a book recounting her battle with O.C.D.

"The bottom line is to raise awareness to take the stigma off mental illness by coming out about it."

Something she hopes will help others living with O.C.D.

Click for our next patient story - Margie Hartmann and Jessica Nastrom

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