Dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
By: Mark MonteiroTotal Views: 378, Word Count: 540,
Dealing with Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is very important so as to cure it properly. It is basically an anxiety disorder which can be recognized as intrusive thoughts that produce apprehension, uneasiness, fear, or worry.
This can result in repetitive behaviors which are aimed to reduce anxiety, or combination of such thoughts i.e. obsessions and behaviors i.e. compulsions.
Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
· Symptoms of OCD include repetitive hand washing, extensive hoarding, and preoccupation with sexual and / or aggressive impulses, as a result of particular religious beliefs.
· These symptoms can be time-consuming, and often cause drastic emotional and financial suffering.
· The acts of OCD may appear paranoid and psychotic. But OCD sufferers generally recognize their thoughts and later actions as irrational, and they become further distressed by this specific realization.
Most patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have obsessions as well as compulsions, but some may experience just one. Common obsessive thoughts in OCD are as follows:
· Fear of being infected by germs and dirt
· Fear of causing harm to self or others
· Disturbing sexual behavior or thought of violence and images
· Extreme focus on religious or ethical ideas
· Fear of losing things one might need
· The idea that everything must line up right
· Excessive concentration on the concepts of lucky or unlucky
Common symptoms of compulsive behaviors in OCD:
· Double-checking of things like locks, appliances, or switches
· Repeatedly checking loved ones to make sure that they’re safe
· Counting, tapping, or doing other senseless things to reduce nervousness
· Spending an extreme time on washing or cleaning
· Ordering, or arranging things “just so”
· Praying excessively which is triggered by religious fear
· Accumulating “junk” such as old newspapers, empty food containers, magazines, or other things that are not useful.
Dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is the most-common mental disorder in US. It is known that 1 out of 50 US adults are having OCD.
There are many useful treatments for (OCD). It can be a therapy or self-help along with medication.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is known to be the most effective therapy for OCD. It involves two components:
1. Exposure and response prevention
2. Cognitive therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD
This involves repeated experience to the source of patient’s obsession.
For example, if one is compulsive hand washer, then he /she may be asked to touch the door handle of public restroom and then be banned from washing up. The urge to wash hands will slowly begin to go away on its own.
These can help to permanently reduce the occurrence of these symptoms.
Cognitive Therapy for OCD
The cognitive therapy is focused on teaching patients healthy and effective ways of reacting to the obsessive thoughts.
Along with this, medication, family therapy, group discussion, and self help are the effective ways to cure OCD. OCD patient can help you in many ways like self education, practicing skills, connecting with family and friends and joining OCD support group.
In this way, we can say that dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) becomes easy if one gets help from his/her loved one.
About the Author
Dr. Mark Monteiro is graduated from the Hazard University and done his MBA from the he University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Currently he is working as general physician at Elmhurst Loyola Center for Health. For over 15 years he has been a pioneer in the field of physician health. He has contributed to the treatment of many diseases like- ASTHMA, TUBERCULOSIS, HIV, HEPATITIS AND ITS TREATMENT
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