What is Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health problem characterized by intrusive, obsessive thoughts and compulsive physical or mental behaviors. OCD affects approximately 2% of the population. Symptoms emerge half of the time during childhood or adolescence, and it only happens once in a lifetime after the age of 40. OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive conduct. It is one of several conditions characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior. OCD can have a substantial impact on a person’s quality of life and well-being.

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health problem characterized by an obsession or compulsion, as well as distressing behaviors and thoughts. Routine duties can be difficult for someone who suffers from OCD. A person with OCD is likely to:

• Have irrational thoughts, images, or urges that they can’t seem to control
• Wants to be free of these bothersome thoughts and sensations
• Fear, revulsion, doubt, or a conviction that things must be done a certain way are all possible symptoms of substantial suffering.
• Devotes a significant amount of time to these obsessions and compulsions, interfering with personal, social, and professional activities.

TYPES

OCD can affect different people in different ways. It may involve:

Concern with checking

A person with OCD may feel compelled to look for problems frequently. This could involve the following:

• One may check taps, alarms, door locks, house lights, and appliances to prevent leaks, damage, or fire.
• Looking for symptoms of sickness on their bodies
• Verifying the veracity of memories
• Fear of making a mistake or insulting the recipient by frequently scrutinizing communication, such as e-mails

Fears of Contamination

Some persons with OCD have an uncontrollable urge to wash. They may be concerned that the objects they come into contact with are polluted. This can result in:

• Toothbrushing or handwashing excessively
• Cleaning the toilet, kitchen, and other areas on a regular basis
• Avoiding crowds out of fear of catching a cold

If they believe they have been abused or criticized, some people feel contaminated. They may attempt to wash away this sensation.

Hoarding

This is characterized by a person’s inability to discard used or useless items.

Intrusive Thoughts

This is characterized by an inability to stop unpleasant ideas from recurring. These can include acts of violence, such as suicide or injuring others. Although the ideas may be distressing, the person is unlikely to act violently as a result of them. Even if there is no evidence, a person with this type of OCD may believe they are a pedophile.

Orderliness and Symmetry

To avoid discomfort or danger, a person with this type of OCD may feel compelled to arrange objects in a specific order. They may, for example, rearrange the books on a shelf on a regular basis.

SYMPTOMS

Obsessions, compulsions, or both are common symptoms of OCD. These can be upsetting and interfere with a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks. Learn more about obsessions and compulsions in the sections below.

Obsessions

While everyone worries, people with OCD might become overwhelmed by their worries, making it difficult to carry out daily chores. The following are some of the most common sources of this anxiety:

• Contamination caused by human fluids, pathogens, dirt, and other contaminants
• Loss of control, such as the fear of acting on a desire to harm oneself or others.
• Fear of losing things or an obsessive concentration on exactness or remembering things are examples of perfectionism.
• Harm, including the dread of being held accountable for a major disaster.
• Unwanted sexual ideas, including fantasies about doing things that aren’t proper.
• Religious or superstitious beliefs, such as a fear of offending God or treading on pavement cracks

Compulsions

Not every habitual action is a compulsion. Most people utilize repetitive behaviors to assist them manage their daily lives, such as bedtime routines. However, for someone with OCD, the desire to engage in repetitive behavior is strong, it occurs frequently, and it takes time. It’s possible that the behavior will become ritualistic. Here are a few examples:

• Handwashing is included in the washing and cleaning process.
• Observing the body for signs and symptoms
• Doing the same thing over and over, such as getting out of a chair
• Compulsions of the mind, such as the need to examine an incident over and over

CAUSES

Experts are unsure what causes OCD, although there are several ideas. Environmental, genetic, neurological, behavioral, cognitive, and genetic factors may all play a role.

Genetic Causes:

OCD appears to run in families, implying a genetic link that experts are looking into.

Autoimmune-related causes:

This incidence of OCD symptoms is sometimes referred to as pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome by doctors (PANS).

Behavioral Causes

When a person identifies an object or condition with a fearful sensation, they begin to avoid that object or situation, which is what OCD is known for.

Cognitive Causes

Most people have undesirable or intrusive ideas from time to time, but for persons with OCD, the importance of these thoughts increases. A person suffering from OCD may become convinced that the action in the thought will occur. As a result, individuals take a lot of extra steps to avoid the threat or risk.

Environmental Causes

People with a genetic or environmental predisposition to OCD may be triggered by stressful life experiences. OCD can also coexist with PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

DIAGNOSIS

When diagnosing OCD, doctors seek for particular criteria, such as:

• Obsessions, compulsions, or both are present.
• Obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time or create a lot of discomfort or impairment in social, vocational, or other crucial circumstances
• Symptoms of OCD that are not caused by the use of a chemical or medication
• Symptoms of OCD that cannot be explained by another medical condition

There are other additional illnesses, depression and anxiety, for example, have symptoms that are comparable to OCD, and they can also occur alongside OCD.

TREATMENT of OCD

There are treatments for OCD that are effective. The best strategy is determined by the person’s symptoms and how they affect his or her life and well-being. A few viable options among the reliable sources are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This style of psychotherapy, also known as CBT, can assist a person in changing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors It may necessitate the use of two distinct treatments. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive therapy are two trusted sources. ERP entails:

• Exposure: This involves exposing the person to circumstances and objects that cause them to feel fearful or anxious. Repeated exposure leads to a decrease or absence of anxiety over time, thanks to a process known as habituation.
• Response: This instructs the person to avoid engaging in compulsive habits.

The person is encouraged to examine and review their ideas about the consequences of engaging or refraining from engaging in obsessive behavior as part of cognitive therapy. The therapist then urges the individual to:

• Examine the evidence that backs up and refutes the preoccupation.
• identify obsessive-compulsive disorder-related cognitive distortions
• Produce a less scary response to the intruding thought, picture, or idea

Medications

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant, are one of the medications that can aid with OCD treatment. About half of all persons with OCD do not respond to SSRIs alone, and doctors may give antipsychotic drugs as well.

OUTLOOK

Even if a person with moderate OCD is not treated, their symptoms may improve. Symptoms with moderate or severe OCD, on the other hand, may not improve and may worsen without therapy. Treatment is effective, but it requires a long-term commitment. OCD symptoms can resurface later in life in some persons. Anyone who thinks they could be suffering from OCD should seek expert help.