Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The hallmark of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an unwelcome thought and fear pattern known as an obsession. These obsessions cause you to engage in compulsive behaviours, or repetitive actions. These compulsions and obsessions are very distressing and interfere with day-to-day activities.

In the end, you feel compelled to engage in obsessive behaviours in order to decompress. Troublesome thoughts or urges never go away, no matter how hard you try to ignore or overcome them. This makes you behave in a ritualistic manner. This is the OCD’s vicious cycle.

OCD frequently focuses on specific themes, such as having an excessive fear of contracting germs. You can repeatedly wash your hands until they are sore and chapped in order to allay concerns about contamination.

You might feel ashamed, embarrassed, and frustrated about having OCD. However, therapy can be successful.

Symptoms

Obsessions and compulsions are common features of obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, it’s also feasible to have solely compulsive or obsessional symptoms. It’s possible that you are unaware of the unreasonable nature of your compulsions and obsessions. However, they eat up a lot of time, lower your quality of life, and interfere with your regular activities and obligations.

Symptoms of obsession

OCD obsessions are persistent, unwanted thoughts or urges that recur, as well as intrusive, upsetting, or anxious images. You could try to ignore them or use ritualistic behaviour to get rid of them. Usually, these obsessions interfere with your ability to focus or perform other tasks.

• Themes like these are common in obsessions:
• Fear of filth or contamination.
• Doubting and finding it difficult to accept uncertainty.
• Requiring balance and order in everything.
• Violent or horrifying ideas about going crazy and hurting someone or yourself.
• Unwanted ideas, such as hostility or discussions of religion or sex.

Symptoms of obsession include, for example:

• Fear of contracting an infection from items that other people have touched.
• Questions about whether you turned off the cooker or locked the door.
• Severe stress when items aren’t arranged neatly or pointed in a specific direction.
• Visions of crashing your vehicle into a throng of onlookers.
• Ideas of yelling profanities or acting inappropriately in public.
• Unpleasant pictures of sex.
• Avoiding circumstances like handshakes that can lead to obsessions.

Symptoms of compulsion

Repetitive actions that you feel compelled to perform are known as OCD compulsions. These repetitive actions or thoughts are an attempt to stop something negative from happening or to lessen anxiety associated with your obsessions. However, engaging in the compulsions is unpleasant and may only provide a temporary alleviation of anxiety.

When you’re experiencing obsessive thoughts, you might create guidelines or routines to adhere to in order to manage your anxiousness. These obsessions defy logic and frequently have nothing to do with the problem they are meant to resolve.

Similar to obsessions, compulsions typically have recurring themes, like:

• Cleaning and washing.
• Verifying.
• Counting.
• Placing an order.
• Observing a rigid schedule.
• Requesting assurance.

Symptoms of compulsion include, for example:

• Washing your hands until your skin gets raw.
• Repeatedly examining doors to ensure they are locked.
• Making repeated checks to ensure the stove is off.
• Counting in specific ways.
• Repeating a word, phrase, or prayer silently.
• Attempting to replace a negative thought with a positive one.
• Orienting all of your canned goods in the same direction.

Intensity differs

OCD can start in childhood, but it usually does so in adolescence or early adulthood. Typically, symptoms develop gradually and change in severity over the course of a person’s life. Over time, your compulsions and obsessions may also evolve into different forms. When you are under more stress, especially during periods of transition and change, your symptoms usually get worse. Although OCD is typically assumed to be a lifelong condition, it can have mild to moderate symptoms or become so intense and intrusive that it becomes incapacitating.

Causes

It’s unclear what exactly causes obsessive-compulsive disorder. Principal theories consist of:

Biology. OCD may result from modifications to the natural chemistry of your body or how your brain works.

Genetics. Although particular genes have not yet been identified, OCD may have a genetic component.

Educating. Compulsive behaviour and obsessive fears can be instilled over time or through observation of family members.

Difficulties

• Concerns resulting from obsessive-compulsive disorder comprise:
• Spending too much time engaging in ritualistic activities.
• Health problems like hand washing too much and developing contact dermatitis.
• Experiencing difficulty getting to work, school, or engaging in social activities.
• Strained connections.
• Life quality is poor.
• Thoughts and actions associated with suicide.

Avoidance/Prevention

The development of obsessive-compulsive disorder cannot be guaranteed. Nonetheless, receiving treatment as soon as possible may prevent OCD from worsening and interfering with daily activities and routines.