Are obsessive feelings and compulsive behaviors interfering with your daily life? It’s normal, on occasion, to go back and double-check that the oven is off or door is locked or worry that you might be contaminated by germs, or even have an occasional unpleasant. The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking phone every single second or for prolonged duration, can considerably interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting featuring a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that leads to behaviors (compulsions) that you feel the urge to repeat over and over again and again.
Just like a needle gets stuck in a particular spot of the record, OCD causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or desire. While you don’t wish to perform these repetitive behaviors, they may offer some relief for the anxiety generated by the obsessive thoughts.
A diagnosis of OCD requires the presence of obsession and/or compulsions that cause major distress, and impact work, social or any other important function.
Obsessions and compulsions
Many people with obsessive compulsive disorder know that their thoughts and habits don’t make sense. Obsessions are persistent and recurring thoughts, which cause emotions such as anxiety or disgust. Yet these thoughts cannot be settled by any logic or reasoning. Typical obsessive thoughts include excessive concerns about contamination with dirt , the need for symmetry, worries about yourself or other people getting hurt, constant awareness of blinking, breathing, or religious thoughts or sexual thoughts. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or acts that a person performs to reduce the anxiety arising from an obsession. Compulsive thoughts or acts include doing tasks in a specific pattern every time or they carry fear of touching doorknobs, using public toilets, or shaking hands etc Although the compulsion may bring somereleifto the concern, the obsession returns after sometime and the cycle repeats over and over.
Most of the people with OCD falls into one of the following categories:
Washers– They usually have cleaning or hand washing compulsion.
Checkers– They repeatedly check things like door locked, Switch off, oven turned off, key in place etc.
Doubters and sinners- They are afraid of punishment. They feel themselves guilty of every act. They think that everything isn’t perfect and something terrible will happen.
Counters and arrangers are obsessed with patterns and symmetry. They may be superstitious about certain numbers, patterns, colors, or arrangements.
Hoarders are afraid of the fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away.
Other disorders, such as depression, PTSD, compulsive buying, skin picking, or tic disorders may also co occur with OCD.
OCD Symptoms
Most people with OCD may experience both obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the other. These symptoms can impact with all aspects of life, such as professional work, college, and personal relationships.
Obsession Symptoms
OCD obsessions are thoughts which are repeated, persistent and unwanted, images that are disturbing and cause distress or anxiety. Obsessions often have symptoms to them, such as:
- Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others
- Aggressive thoughts about harming yourself or others
- Unwanted sexual thoughts
- Need for perfectionism
- Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right”
- Following Superstitions or considering somethings lucky or unlucky
Compulsion symptoms
OCD compulsions are repetitive behaviors. Sometime these are very extreme and are not genuinely related to the problem they’re intended to fix. As with obsessions, compulsions typically have symptoms, such as:
- Excessive checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches
- Repeatedly checking to make sure loved ones are safe
- Following a strict routine
- Hand-washing or bathing for more than 30 minutes
- Excessive time spent on washing or cleaning
- Ordering or arranging things “just so”
- Counting in certain patterns
- Silently repeating in one’s mind a prayer, word or phrase multiple times.
- Praying excessively or engaging in rituals due to a religious fear
Treatment
Psychotherapy– Psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for people with OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) seems helpful in changing thinking patterns. Research also suggests that Exposure and Response Prevention a type of CBT is effective in reducing compulsive behaviors
Medication- Selective Psychiatric drugs such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help many people control obsessions and compulsions. Research also suggest that some patients may respond well to an antipsychotic medication. Always make sure to consult with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the prescribed medications.
Usually a combined approach is the best form of treatment. Consult your doctor if you feel your suffering from OCD. He will advise what form of treatment is best for you.
