OCD - What is it?
About OCD
Everybody at some stage in their life has obsessive thoughts and worries. However, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) differs in that people have repetitive thoughts and/or behaviours which are time-consuming and distressing and are typically done to reduce distress or prevent a dreaded event or situation from occurring. Living with OCD can be extremely difficult since it is both time consuming and energy draining making it hard to manage a normal daily routine.
A compulsion is the urge people with OCD get, to do something in order to shut down the feelings of anxiety and offset what they fear may happen. Sufferers say it is like a constant nagging feeling that if they do not do something a bad event will occur.
The more common types of compulsions that people have are:
- Feelings that objects are dirty or contaminated with germs
- Worry bout doors being unlocked, heaters being left switched on.
- Unpleasant intrusive thoughts.
- Intense fear of making mistakes or behaving inappropriately.
- Obsession with the ordering, arrangement, or symmetry of objects.
What Causes OCD?
Unfortunately the causes of OCD are still being debated, however experts do know that OCD tends to run in families. How it is passed on has not yet been concluded. Scientists are researching genes which could be passed on and cause people to be sensitive to anxiety problems such as OCD. On the other hand it is also highly likely that OCD is developed from a young age when we are most impressionable, due to observing parents or other role models obsessive behaviour.
Also, OCD comes from a problem with the way the mind handles messages about fear and doubt. It has been suggested that this is to do with the low levels of the chemicals that carry messages to nerve cells in the brain. If the flow of these chemicals gets blocked or if there is not enough of them, messages about doubts and worry seem to get caught. This leaves a person with a feeling that something is wrong and creates lots of troubled thoughts.
In rare cases, OCD can be triggered when the body's immune system responds to a strep infection in a certain way. When OCD starts after a strep infection, the symptoms appear suddenly and very intensely. Most people who get strep infections, though, do not get OCD.
Treatment for OCD
There is no definite way to treat OCD, however one of two things has been found to help. The first is medicine, which helps the chemicals in the nervous system work correctly and makes the intensity of anxiety less severe. Medicine alone will not completely resolve the problem and in many cases is not required.
The second option is cognitive behaviour therapy, which is provided by many therapists and psychiatrists. The therapy involves talking about fears and anxiety, which helps to overcome them and form a resistance to the compulsions.
Think you or someone you know may suffer from OCD?
Many people who suffer find it hard to talk to people about their obsession since they realise it seems insignificant to others. It can be emotionally damaging to have to deal with such things alone. For this reason if you believe you suffer with OCD, it is important that you talk to someone. Similarly, should someone you know have OCD, try to be understanding and supportive, after all it is often challenging to overcome.
