Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects millions of people of all ages throughout the world, and occurs when someone gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. These obsessive thoughts then lead to intense feelings of stress, anxiety, or unease and to reduce those panicky feelings those with OCD perform repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions), which are rigid and ritualized habits designed to reduce the discomfort created by compulsions, or prevent something bad happening.
Symptoms Of OCD:
OCD symptoms fall into two broad categories of obsessions and compulsions. Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. Common compulsions include excessive cleaning or handwashing, checking things repeatedly, and counting-typically performing a task a certain number of times again and again. Some common obsessions are around concern of getting contaminated, harming oneself or others, unwanted invasive religious or moral thoughts or need for symmetry or exactness.
Diagnosis Of OCD:
OCD is diagnosed by a mental health professional based on a clinical interview, assessing obsessive symptoms, compulsive symptoms and the mechanisms by which patients resist their urges/symptoms (reassurance seeking, neutralizing) and other factors. Diagnosis of OCD requires that the obsessions and/or compulsions are time-consuming (such as take more than an hour per day), cause major distress, or interfere with the person's social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Usually, the examination involves a detailed examination of symptoms, their effects on the everyday, as well as a structured exploration of the person´s medical and family records to be capable of excluding other sources.
Causes Of OCD:
The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but a number of related factors are believed to play a role in triggering the symptoms of this condition. It is also believed that genetic factors are involved in OCD because having a family history of this disorder can put some more at risk. Dysfunctional brain structures, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, are also involved. Life events, particularly stressful or traumatic events, can trigger or worsen an existing case of OCD in someone who is predisposed to developing compulsive behaviors.
Treatment Of OCD:
Care for the treatment of OCD most often include an amalgam of therapies. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), especially Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is the best psychological intervention. ERP is an exercise planned to fix your irrational response to the stimuli. This behavior involves slowly and intentionally making yourself near the set of behavioral stimuli and countering the urge to perform the compulsion. Many patients with OCD are prescribed medications, usually Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) to help alleviate their symptoms. Other treatments, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), may be considered for patients when treatment with CBT and medication are insufficient.
Living With OCD:
OCD will not simply go away; living with OCD is a daily battle. Individuals with OCD must adhere to a structured treatment plan, which may include scheduled therapy sessions as well as medication if it has been prescribed. Exercising regularly and living a healthy life style could in addition help control the symptoms. Whether it is the support from your friends or family or from support groups, just talking about it often helps a lot in terms of emotional relief and encouragement. Learning about OCD can help people to gain insight into their illness and to develop better coping strategies to deal with the symptoms. The sooner it is diagnosed and treatment begins, the better the chances will a sufferer be able to improve the quality of life for somebody living with OCD.
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