What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
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| What is obsessive compulsive disorder |
Most
people are familiar with the term "obsessive compulsive disorder"
(OCD). But what exactly is OCD? How do you know if you have one? And how can
this affect your life? These are common questions many people ask. They may
also find that they're not sure where to start when they've encountered OCD
symptoms in their lives. In that case, a lot of them turn to others for help.
While it's important for us to understand OCD and find ways for ourselves and
others to treat OCD symptoms, we should never ignore those who experience OCD
symptoms on their own without receiving any professional help. That's why OC
Psychology and Treatment Centers (OCPTC) has developed an online directory
containing all OCD treatment options that will help you find a program that
matches your needs and lifestyle.
What causes OCD?
There are two types of OCD, namely: obsessions and compulsions.
Although certain things have both kinds of OCD, obsessive-compulsives believe
that everything from small items on their mind to major events should be either
feared or avoided. The fear can come from having these intrusive thoughts but
is usually just causing anxiety because of its presence. For example, let’s say
you are anxious about making an appointment at work. You might feel that
meeting your boss will cause anxiety. Those thoughts are often called
obsessions. On the other hand, some people have problems with keeping
appointments, such as getting into an argument with someone over whether they
should call them. For instance, the thought of calling a person can be intense
if it means losing your job. Many times, a compulsion exists to avoid or
control things at work. This usually manifests itself in doing something
repetitively until it becomes normal. Like those things that cause obsessions,
however, the difference is that the compulsion can be controlled by changing
the situation (e.g., turning off the lights, locking the doors, etc.).
Obsessive habits can have a profound effect on your life if they become
uncontrolled in your brain and body. When you make an irrational decision, the
emotion runs through your head or makes you uncomfortable. If OCD symptoms
aren't taken seriously and ignored, they can lead to serious consequences.
Sometimes, those thoughts and feelings keep you up at night for days or even
months. People with OCD sometimes think about their compulsions frequently,
which makes it hard for them to sleep at night. Some people believe that
compulsions can be controlled through different activities. However, the
problem is that it does not work that way; most compulsions cannot be changed.
Also, they are very difficult to overcome. Often, the only solution is to get
rid of a habit or change activities. As we mentioned earlier, one of the main
forms of untreated OCD is depression. Depression is a mood disorder that
affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Having depression can put
anyone in a challenging position in his or her life. Because of this, there is
a need for a proper diagnosis and treatment of OCD as well as depression.
What causes OCD in children?
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| obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) |
Children can develop OCD because of behavioral
difficulties that arise from childhood. Behaviorists argue that when a child
loses contact with parents, siblings, or close friends, then he or she will
begin repeating the same actions repeatedly. Once these actions build up over
time, eventually the child with OCD will stop trying to solve his or her
problem. A more detailed explanation of behavior disorders and OCD in young
children is provided below. With this kind of behavior, the child with OCD will
begin to behave like any other child. To begin with, this behavior leads to
frustration. It is one of the reasons for so many kids to lose touch with
family members, siblings, and friends. Parents who have been divorced also
struggle with divorce because these young children who are going through
separation are too confused about their new stepfather. At such a point, these
troubled children can be referred to counseling centers to deal with various
issues such as sadness, anger, and fears. Counseling programs at OCPTC provide
therapy sessions that aim to address these behaviors and disorders. Even after
counseling, a child achieves recovery, he or she may still not fully recover.
As a therapist, I would help such children by giving them confidence that
whatever they have gone through was not permanent. Therapy gives children hope
that their troubles have come to an end and there will never be another similar
occurrence in their child's life. Another key factor behind developing OCD or
even depressive disorder in kids is genetics. Since our DNA can pass down the
genetic information which drives us to act in certain ways, children can suffer
from emotional disturbances which are related to ADHD. According to some
researchers, OCD and bipolar 1 are two conditions which usually occur together.
Such disorders show a combination of various mental illnesses such as
depression and anxiety disorders.
How does OCD affect my life?
The relationship between OCD and life may seem
complicated. One thing is for sure though; the connection between OCD and
living a happy life can be seen and felt everywhere. Here are examples of
situations where OCD affects our lives. Let’s look at each case individually.
We will try to analyze the symptoms that were observed and their impact on
human relationships.
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| obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) |
Anxiety
disorder Anxiety can be caused by stress, fear, worry and anxiety. In most
cases, it is found that adults also experience anxiety disorder, especially
mothers. Research has shown that anxiety is associated with negative emotions
such as disappointment, fear, apprehension, panic, tension, and sadness. The
condition could interfere with daily routines, relationships, and careers.
Other examples such as irritability, nervousness and restlessness are also linked
to anxiety disorder.
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| obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) |
Trouble sleeping Trouble sleeping or being unable to fall asleep
can trigger an array of unpleasant experiences, especially in school and
workplace situations. Studies have shown the link between sleep disruptions and
poor performance in students. For example, teachers who constantly report to
bed late or fail to meet deadlines find it difficult to complete various
assignments. Others find it to be stressful as they don’t always meet with
their families and must take care of basic house chores on their own. Not
getting enough sleep also has a direct influence on the physical health and
well-being of individuals. Lack of sleep affects cognitive functioning and
social skills. Both problems worsen the effects on the individual. Some studies
suggest that lack of quality sleep may be linked to higher rates of
Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, hypertension, heart attacks, diabetes, and
obesity. Stress has been known to increase cortisol levels, which leads to
anxiety. After all, the body releases excessive amounts of hormones in response
to stress. Cortisol triggers high blood sugar. If low blood sugar persists, it
can cause diabetes (type 2), which is characterized by high blood glucose
levels. High blood glucose levels are linked to an increased risk of
cardiovascular disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease. Excessive levels
of cortisol have also been shown to reduce immunity, which is considered a
hallmark of chronic illness and aging. Furthermore, research shows that
prolonged exposure to stress can lower the immune system’s ability to fight
infections. Therefore, it may become dangerous for children as they grow up.
Low immunity has long-term adverse impacts on growth and development such as
delayed puberty and reduced muscle mass during infancy and adolescence (1).
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| obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) |
Depression
is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among the population because
depression is a highly disabling medical condition or sickness that makes it
impossible for a person to enjoy daily activities (2). Depression can be caused
by multiple factors but generally occurs due to various negative thoughts or
feelings that a person develops. Some of the most common negative perceptions
include self-worthlessness and worthlessness. Adults with a history of
depression are prone to experiencing recurring episodes of the condition.
Symptoms associated with depression can involve such issues as a disturbed
appetite, insomnia, weight loss, lack of energy, lack of interest,
hopelessness, guilt, indecisiveness, isolation, and fatigue. More severe
symptoms may manifest themselves as nightmares, feeling restless, aches and
pains and even suicidal behavior. Depression is also a contributor to physical
health problems, since these symptoms contribute to numerous complications such
as high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and pain. Researchers have noted that
women who face depression more often had a lower level of testosterone along
with a larger waist circumference than men who faced depression less often (3).
Other possible contributing factors may include hormonal differences such as
female sex hormones and changes in female hormone levels of progesterone and
estrogen.
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| obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) |
Social phobia social phobia involves avoiding places, situations
or people that cause anxiety. Its cause can vary. The type of phobia depends on
the source of fear. An individual will exhibit different signs and symptoms
depending on the source of fear (4,5). Avoidance of large crowds. Phobias
pertaining to specific objects include spiders, snakes, dogs, heights, public
toilets, water, and fireworks. Fear of speaking to specific people. Phobias
involving people in general are related to the fear of speaking in front of an
audience while controlling bodily reactions. Shyness Fear of crowds and large
gatherings. Prejudice against groups of people and avoidance of unfamiliar
faces or gestures. Fearing being around strangers. Persistent fears relating to
intimacy and sexual relations. Sensation Seeking Fear of sensory details. Fear
of smell or taste. Uncomfortable/anxious sensations. Painful or threatening
bodily movements. Intense fear of loud noises or sudden movement. Numbness Fear
of silence. Overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. Extreme shyness, discomfort, or
uneasiness. Self-consciousness is being excessively concerned, worried or
anxious. Blame avoidance. Boredom, Fear of routine and sameness. Stagnating
career opportunities. Difficulty making friends or associating with other
individuals, especially peers and colleagues. Emptiness Poor academic
performance. Loss of enjoyment in hobbies and accomplishments. Feelings of
helplessness or hopelessness. Thoughts about committing suicide. Insomnia
Feeling too tired to wake up from sleep
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