Patient #9: Too many patients with this one!

Dr. Carm has noticed a lot of her acquaintances with this disorder. She believes there is an epidemic going around! “What is it?” you asked? Well, it’s….

Obsessive Compulsive Book Disorder (OCBD)

Yes, this is a psychological disorder that affects many people. This disorder basically renders the person as a book-aholic (as it is sometimes known as.)

Symptoms include the following:

Excessive book activities. People with this disorder must read, own, and borrow many books. Reading, smelling, feeling, and for some tasting books are a source of pleasure. Without books, their world falls apart. As the OCBD advances, this disorder takes on other forms of reading such as magazines, newspaper, web articles, pamphlets, ingredient labels, and those annoying pillow tags.

Breathing fire. Okay, I’m joking on this one. OCBD only has the one symptom listed above, but it would be so much fun to breathe fire!

Anyway, OCBD can cause the person to do odd things compared to those who do not have OCBD. They would forgo events to stay at home with a good book. They get giddy when they purchase books at a great discount. They are practically unbearable until the next book in a series comes out. Insomnia can occur because they have to finish the book or chapter. They feel the loss of character sometimes more so than someone they know in real life. Obsessive disorders with the characters or author are very likely to occur. Many OCBD sufferers enter giveaways for free and advanced copies of books, read (yes read!!!) blogs about books and reviews, belong to websites such as Goodreads, own an electronic reader (such as a Kindle or Nook), uses their library card more than their credit cards, and run out of spaces for their books at home. Finally, any misuse of a book might cause the person to suffer physical, emotional, and/or psychological damage, courtesy of the OCBD sufferer that catches him or her.

OCBD has no cure. Doctors tend to treat this order much the same way as they do for other OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) cases. Unfortunately, most sufferers are blissfully happy in their current state that they do not seek medical attention. What is more alarming is the waiting rooms of doctors who treat these patients! They have reading material in the waiting room!!!! This only encourages the disorder.
If you feel that your OCBD is getting out of hand, please contact your primary care physician. Worst case scenario is death.


Related Postings:Patient #1: Kayla
Patient #2: Sam
Patient #3: Lyra
Patient #4: Desiree
Patient #5: Heather
Patient #10:  JFFGD