 Hey, Psych2Goers, welcome back to a brand new Psych2Go video made possible through your continued love and support. Today's video is brought to you in collaboration with Gary Troscler from Choosing Therapy. Let's begin. You may have heard of the more well-known OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but have you heard of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder? Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, also known as OCPD, is a personality disorder and therefore affects the entire personality. While OCD is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by the presence of specific obsessions, partners with OCPD can be a curse and a blessing. They can be rigid, controlling and critical, but they can also be dependable, hardworking and conscientious. Usually people with full-blown OCPD present great challenges to a relationship. The non-compulsive partner can only do so much to improve the situation, but that limited amount can still make a significant difference. Some individuals have both OCPD and OCD, which tends to magnify the symptoms of both conditions. But people with OCPD do not have insight into the disruptions that the symptoms create in their lives. They get lost in details and forget the original intention of their projects. OCPD results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Not everyone with OCPD is the same. Some people with the disorder are more domineering, some are more workaholic, some are overly eager to please and some procrastinate. The domineering variety usually present the greatest difficulties in relationships. Though workaholics, because they are unavailable in procrastinators because they don't meet their responsibilities, may also cause distress in relationships. Before we begin, please remember this video is for informative purposes and not to be used for self-diagnosis. In case of doubt, opting for professional help is always the best option. With that said, here's how relationships are affected by OCPD. OCPD and relationships. Sometimes it is impossible to improve a relationship with an OCPD partner because many people with the condition are convinced that their way of living is superior and they're not open to change. But some are willing to change and enlist their obsessive compulsive determination into improving their role as a partner. Misunderstanding a partner with OCPD can make a challenging situation worse as their behavior results from a combination of misguided good intentions and anxiety about being good enough as a person. While people with OCPD may appear to be confident and in control, they're usually deeply insecure underneath. This is why you always feel the need to be perfect. So, while your behavior may appear to be driven by self-interest, disrespect or indifference, your motivations are actually very different. If as the non-compulsive partner you interpret their actions as being demeaning, you may miss not only their positive motivations, but also their underlying anxiety. When both partners' anxieties become inflamed and both become afraid to be close to the other, it's all downhill from there. Number one, anxiety leads to control. Do they make comments or demand about how to cook, how to dress, what to eat, what to say, and how to make love? The first way that OCPD affects relationships is that the compulsive partner, out of fear of things going wrong, tries to control what happens in the relationship and to control how the non-compulsive partner behaves. While the intention of the compulsive partner is usually to be helpful, it usually feels anything but helpful for the other person. Number two, too much time at work may lead to neglect. Do they spend inordinate amounts of time at work and abandon their partner? The non-compulsive partner would interpret this to mean that the compulsive partner doesn't care about them or doesn't enjoy being with them. However, there could be many other reasons for this, including an actual addiction to work. Another possible reason is that the compulsive partner fears not only failing at work, but more importantly, in the relationship. Since relationships don't come naturally, their perfection may lead them to focus on work because they have more control and more self-assurance that they can succeed there. Number three, control discourages vulnerability. Are they reluctant to show any vulnerability as they pursue perfection? Another way OCPD affects the relationship is that both partners stop being vulnerable in the relationship and this usually leads to it becoming dry, lifeless and unfulfilling. But this presentation along with frequent commands and demands may end up leaving the non-compulsive partner afraid to express their real feelings and needs for fear of being criticized or humiliated. If you are the non-OCPD partner, you may also begin to distance yourself from your partner for fear of being emotionally dependent on someone that is critical or unavailable. Number four, unhealthy division of labor limits both partners. Have they become more machine-like with time, counting pennies and minutes and rules and fractions? When one partner has OCPD, both partners may fall into an unhealthy division of labor in terms of chores and emotions. As the compulsive partner, you take responsibility for all the organizing, cleaning, planning and accounting. You typically feel a great deal of responsibility and are usually very frightened of getting something wrong or making a mistake. Some compulsives in their efforts to do the right thing may be very compliant but later resent that compliance, possibly becoming passive-aggressive or exploding in anger. You may not develop the capacity for leisure, humor, play and other less serious activities if you feel you can't afford to loosen up because of the responsibility they carry. On the other hand, if the non-compulsive partner is put into the position of the one who has to carry all of the emotions and affection and none of the accomplishments in the relationship, they may fail to develop their own gifts and personality. As the non-compulsive partner, you begin to believe that you are incompetent and so less likely to take the risks that are essential to a full life. But not all hope is lost. With perspective, communication and self-care, as three of the most important tools, you can improve your relationship with a compulsive partner. Any one of the three alone will probably not be sufficient, but the three together may be able to shift the balance towards a more healthy and fulfilling relationship. We hope we're able to give you insight into the ways OCPD can be lethal for relationships. Did this video help you learn more about OCPD? What other topics would you like us to talk about? Leave a comment down below and feel free to share any thoughts you have as well. If you found this video helpful, be sure to hit the like button and share it with those out there who want to learn more about OCPD. Don't forget to subscribe to Psych2Go and hit the notification bell for more new videos. And as always, thanks for watching.