Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Further thought developments- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obsessive-compulsive-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive activity.

An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters a person's mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease.

Mood board reflecting the illness OCD

Developing upon my ideas, I have come to the conclusion that the mental illness, OCD has it's similarities to the processes involved in baking. OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) appears in many different forms.
I was recently diagnosed with a form of OCD, however, it related to something I did not expect, nor was I aware of, yet reflected the same processes.

OCD, is linked to GAD (General Anxiety Disorder), if something you believe is not right or out of place, the anxiety builds. This then causes the person to act upon this anxiety to reduce the symptoms. This, then becomes the OCD.

I discovered, that the OCD was a cycle that you appear to be stuck in, mentally and emotionally. You appear to do the same things over again and if something goes wrong, it can lead to developing other rituals.

Following the same ritual everyday, you tend to form a habit- I feel this relates to baking, in the sense that you follow a recipe- you make it several times the same way, over and over again- you then become afraid to change this recipe later down the line in fear of something going wrong and it not turning out as perfect as you had done before.

A recipe consists of exact amounts of ingredients to mix together. There is always an order to what ingredients to mix together first. Some bakers believe that the order doesn't have an effect, however some were taught to do it a specific way, and this has been passed down.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/459507968201481682/
Above, is a photograph that I found on the internet whilst researching. Here, you can see the different variations of a cookie, each changing something different in the recipe. As you can see, the results show that each cookie is different in appearance.
Someone who suffers from OCD would not be able to cope with this variation. They would feel that something was wrong, they wouldn't be able to leave it alone until they got it perfect.

Through this project, I intend to use photography to describe the illness of OCD, using it in the form of baking and recipes.

I will take subtle inspiration from chosen photographers by using movement and their other techniques, to help create a narrative of the illness. My aim, is to portray the illness in a creative and innovative way, taking it away from it's standard setting and relating it to the emotion rituals that occur. My project will focus on still life and portraiture.

Rituals/Processes/Order;

A photograph that I found whilst researching by an amateur photographer, Matt Matches titles 'A Daily Routine.'

This photograph is showing a ritual that many people argue over. How to make the perfect tea/coffee.
It all comes down to whether you put the milk in before or after the water.
Some people prefer to put the milk in before the water, and other prefer to put it in after the water.
I have heard many arguments on the 'right' way to do it, but it all comes down to what you are personally used to. You get yourself into the habit, the same ritual every morning/afternoon. It is that habit, that can make you defensive when told otherwise.  

As a response to this, I chose to photograph my morning routine in terms of breakfast.

I get myself in to a routine, and I have an order of what I do first.
I firstly make a coffee as soon as I get up. I put the coffee in first, then the milk and mix it together. Lastly, I then put the boiling water in a stir. I have always made coffee and tea this way.
Next, I eat a yoghurt and I always choose to eat this first. I then finish off with a cereal bar of some sort- as this is my favourite, I always save it until last.