Woman sheds light on the 'agonizing' world of obsessive compulsive disorder

On any given day, Callandra Stroet might wash her hands until they bleed, her countertops until they shine, her backpack if she touches it, and any door knob along the way.

"I do a lot of hand washing, I do a lot of showering, I do a lot of cleaning," Stroetsaid. "I have a lot of obsessions about contamination."

Stroet, 23, lives with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder characterized by "uninvited or obsessive thoughts, urges or images," and where a person tries to suppress those obsessions by relentlessly performing certain rituals (i.e.cleaning), according to the Canadian Association of Mental Health.

Stroet was 19 when she was formally diagnosed, but she began to engage in obsessive behaviours when she was just 11. She knew it wasn't healthy, but she couldn't seem to stop herself.

"It's kind of agonizing and it never ends," Stroetsaid.

Therein lies the difference between someone with OCD and someone who's got a few quirks and odd behaviours, says Sandra Wallace, a Winnipeg-based psychiatric nurse who supports people with OCD.

The difference "between someone who has OCD and someone who's maybe a little bit obsessiveis the fact that it is unwantedand it's intrusive," Wallace said. "And it takes up an ample amount of people's time in a day."

Eventually, that's what led Stoet to seek treatment, in hospitaland nowthrough group therapy and medication, she says.

Today, she says, she's gaining back control of her life.

"I'm at school, I'm tutoring," she said. "I'm managing to live my life."

Stroet's story is now the subject of a short documentary by students in the Create program at Sisler High School in Winnipeg. The post-high program trains students in the creative digital arts, including filmmaking.

Create students Markus Ramiscal, Bridget Clementeand Gabriel Besoproduced the new video.

Meet the filmmakers

Markus Ramiscal is developing his skills in storytelling, filmmaking, editingand motion graphics, and plans to pursue a career in the creative industry in screenwriting.

Bridget Clemente is a Sisler High School graduate who wants to pursue a career in filmmaking and editing. Her passion for the film industry started a few years ago, progressing from editing YouTube videos to creating short films. In her free time, Bridget enjoys listening to music, dancing and playing with her two fat cats.

Gabriel Besohas been making films since he was in Grade 9, but he has been editing videos since he was 12. Filmmaking has led Gabriel to new friendships that inspire him to continue storytelling in new and creative ways.

More about Project POV: Sisler Create

CBC Manitoba's Project POV: SislerCreate is a storytelling collaboration that partners filmmaking students with CBCManitoba journalists to produce short docs. The collaboration is in its second year. You can see past projectshere.

During fall 2023, CBC journalists taught storytelling to filmmaking studentsand led producing workshopsat theCreate program.

The Winnipeg School Division program, hosted at Sisler High School, trains post-high students in the creative digital arts.

The programfocuseson education and career pathways into the creative industries. Students can take courses in animation, film, game design, visual effects, graphic design and interactive digital media.

SislerCreateis currently looking for new recruits to their program.Apply here.