"Sikreto ko, OC ako." (Documentary of Sandra Aguinaldo)

Episode on February 7, 2011 Monday after Saksi! "Sikreto ko, OC ako." Documentary of Sandra Aguinaldo Washing hands again and again, switching lights on and off, repeatedly locking and unlocking doors. These are just some of the compulsions of people with OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In movies, the behavior of characters with OCD may be portrayed as strangely amusing. But real life for OCD sufferers is not as funny. They have obsessive thoughts that drive them to perform certain peculiar rituals. 26 year-old Efren is so gripped with the thought of germs contaminating him that he would disinfect his girlfriend’s hand before holding it. Hand-washing is a tedious ritual for him. It would start in the kitchen, scrubbing each finger 3 times, then the whole hand several times more. He would then proceed to the bathroom only to repeat the whole process. Although he admits these urges are bizarre, he says that he is unable to stop it. Odd as his behavior may be, Efren’s case is not as unique as it seems. In fact, it is estimated that there are more than 1 million Filipinos with OCD. Despite this, OCD is still a hidden illness among us. The stigma of mental illness has forced them to suffer in silence. Yet for most of them, there is a chance to live better-quality lives, if only their condition is understood better. Together with host Sandra Aguinaldo, enter the unusual world of people with OCD this Monday on I-Witness, airing on GMA-7, after Saksi.

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Paulit-ulit na paghuhugas ng kamay. Bukas-patay ng ilaw. Bubuksan, tapos isasara ulit ang pintuan. Ilan lang ito sa mga di mapigilan at paulit-ulit na gawain ng mga taong mayroong OCD o Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Sa ilang pelikula, tila nakaaaliw ang pagpapakilala sa ilang karakter na may OCD, ngunit ang tunay na buhay para sa mga may OCD ay hindi madali. Si Efren, 26 years old, ganoon na lang ang takot sa mikrobyo. Tatlong beses niyang sasabunan ang bawat daliri sa kusina, at matapos, ay uulitin ang parehong ritwal sa loob naman ng banyo. Hindi raw niya mapigil ang ganitong gawain. At bago makipag-holding hands sa kaniyang girlfriend, sinisiguro raw muna niyang lagyan ng disinfectant ang kamay nito. Pero hindi nag-iisa si Efren. Sinasabing may isang milyong Pilipino ang dumaranas ng mga senyales ng OCD. Ngunit sa kabila nito, kakaunti ang ating nalalaman tungkol sa kondisyong ito. Kasama si Sandra Aguinaldo, silipin ang buhay ng mga taong may kakaibang sikerto ngayong Lunes sa I-Witness.