Obsessive compulsive disorder is a condition, which is characterized by a constant occurrence of compulsive behavior and obsessive thoughts. People across all ages are affected by this condition; in some cases, it might start early whereas, in others, it develops around the early years of childhood. This is a very distressing condition as it can cause significant interference in your daily life. It is recommended to get it treated at the earliest to manage its symptoms effectively.

Symptoms

Obsessive compulsive disorder causes an obsession about an unwanted (forbidden or unfounded) thought, urge or an image. This obsession may result in disgust, unease and feelings of anxiety. A compulsion is defined as a certain behavior that is usually repetitive, something that you tend to do over and over again to get rid of the constant anxiety. An example would be to constantly check the windows of the house resulting from an uncorroborated fear that the house may be burgled.

The causes of obsessive compulsive disorder are:

Chemical imbalances in the brain marked by low serotonin levels
Family history of OCD
People who are meticulous, neat and methodical might develop OCD
Certain traumatic events such as having been bullied or abused can also cause OCD
Treatment

There are multiple treatment options. The aim of the treatments is to manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life. The treatments are:

Medications: Certain antidepressants that alter the chemical imbalance in the brain can treat OCD.
Psychological therapy: Counselling or cognitive behavioral therapy is very effective in treating OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to modify one s thinking pattern and get rid of unnecessary fears and thoughts.

Fear of Dirt or Contamination - Can it be a Sign of OCD?

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a psychological disorder where you feel compelled to perform irrational tasks in continuous patterns almost ritualistically. These compulsive thoughts may seem, upon examination that they are without any particular reason or rhyme. Naturally, a psychological disorder is not voluntary and people who suffer under this disorder don t voluntarily like to make their lives difficult contrary to some who would say  if you don t like it don t do it. 

It is not a simple matter, OCD can have a lot of underlying reasons which makes life even more difficult and wears you out. You still can t get over a particular thought until you have performed it a given number of times even if it harms your health and the relief is also short lived. For the naysayers who don t realise, how difficult life can be for people suffering from OCD here are a few reasons that you should consider:

Depression: People with OCD are also prone to suffering from depression. A sense of feeling like you are not like others, you see the world a little differently and obsessively repeat such compulsive lines of thought until it wears you out mentally. It is a side effect of OCD and deeply affects their lifestyle negatively.
Anxiety: When you have OCD you suffer from constant anxiety about things you may not have done that you must do or vice versa, or very intrusive thoughts that make you anxious wondering about the kind of person you are or becoming. It is a constant battle everyday trying not to repeatedly perform all the compulsive behaviours that may strike you and makes daily life immensely difficult.
Eating disorders: Suffering from OCD also affects your diet and food habits. You either start over eating or not eating enough resulting in huge amounts of weight gain or noticeable weight loss or just a fluctuation in weight.
Skin rashes: The outer manifestations of OCD are numerous. If you suffer from obsessive, washing of hands or clothes or any activity that requires constantly irritating your skin then you will develop rashes which will cause more anxiety in you. It s just a facet of OCD wherein you become obsessed with cleanliness and can t go without feeling anxious about the number of toxins surrounding you so you go about trying to almost sterilise yourself and end up damaging your skin.
Sleep disturbances: Your sleeping pattern gets affected if you can t build up a routine and then you can t sleep until it s a certain hour at a certain time of the day. Or if you suffer from paranoia then you are unable to sleep because you are actively worried about something or the other. Anxiety also contributes to restlessness.

5 Reasons Why OCD Makes Life Difficult!

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is also known as OCD. It is a mental ailment that causes specific changes in the brain as well as the behaviour of the patient. It can also cause severe anxiety and lead the patient to consume a lot of time for completing even the most normal tasks. These obsessions are like thoughts, images and even videos playing where the cause of a certain action becomes more profound with the number of imagined risks if it is not done in a specific way, as per the mind of the patient. These turn into repetitive actions undertaken by the patient, where these actions are known as compulsions.

Hence the term: obsessive compulsive disorder. Washing, cleaning, losing control, contamination fears and more are only a few of the thoughts that plague patients suffering from this disorder. While this disorder may not have a specific cure, there are various ways in which it can be managed. Let us look at some of these methods.

What Causes OCD-

The exact cause of OCD is unknown. It is generally considered unlikely that OCD develops purely psychologically as a consequence of the way we are brought up.

Genetics and Physiology: It is generally accepted that OCD arises from differences in the physiology of the brain in people with the condition.
Serotonin: Lack of serotonin activity appears to be involved in causing OCD. Serotonin is a calming and inhibitory neurotransmitter, one of its main actions is to control and put the brakes on painful, worrying or anxious thoughts.
Traumatic Life Events: Traumatic emotional events such as bereavement may trigger or worsen OCD in people who already have a tendency to have the condition.
Treatment of OCD-

For best results in treating this troublesome anxiety disorder combine brain-chemistry balancing approaches with psychotherapy techniques.

Nutritional Therapy: Try tryptophan and St John's Wort to increase serotonin. Rhodiola has been shown to help generalised anxiety disorder however Rhodiola has the ability to raise 'brain energy' and therefore hypothetically may exa-sperate OCD symptoms.
L-theanine or just theanine for short is an amino acid found in tea that has a calming and anti-anxiety effect. Theanine increases GABA activity in the brain and is well worth a try.
The Inositol Treatment of OCD: Inositol, one of the B vitamins, has been found effective in treating OCD. Inositol is used in biochemical processes that affect serotonin receptors.
Psychotherapy: This is also known as discussion or talk therapy where the patient is allowed to engage with a therapist who is usually a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. The doctor will help the patient in first of all, becoming aware of the problem by helping the patient carry out various tasks in a controlled environment. These tasks will be timed and then relayed to the patient before the exposure therapy begins, where the patient will be taught to build a better quality of life. This a long term and time taking process which can also involve group sessions and sessions with the family members. Also, this method takes a lot of practice so that the patient learns how to regulate the obsessions and stop the compulsive behaviour gradually.
Exercise: Numerous studies have shown the benefits of exercise upon mental health. So, a minimum of 20mins of daily exercise can help you a lot.
Relaxation Training & Meditation: Learning meditation and relaxation techniques may enhance one's ability to control anxiety and one's thoughts in general.
Medication: There are various kinds of medicines that can be prescribed for these patients. Anti-depressants can help the patient in overcoming the fears and anxiety that a person feels when the wheels of one's imagination begin to turn towards obsessive thoughts. This will also help in tackling the hopelessness that the person feels when faced with the so called depressing outcome of not bowing to the compulsive habits.
Putting It All Together-

Follow the diet for serotonin deficient depression, and GABA deficient anxiety.
Consult with a qualified therapist using behavioural rather than analytical techniques.
Do some repetitive mind-occupying/filling as opposed to mind-emptying meditations everyday.

How to Deal with OCD

Do you switch off the lights a certain number of times before going to bed? Do you clean your windows even after they have been cleaned more than once in the day? Do you check your locks again and again before stepping out? If yes, then chances are you that are suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is something which is difficult to overcome. However, the great thing is that it is not something that happens to be untreatable.

OCD is something which affects a range of people and to varying degrees. To some, it may have the effect of making their lives a little unusual, and to others it can go some way in greatly mitigating the pleasure they get out of living their lives. A person who suffers from OCD keeps on doubting his or her actions, especially when it comes to the possible repercussions of him or her not doing what he or she was supposed to do. This could include a person asking himself or herself whether he or she has put the gas off, or turned the tap off in the bath tub before to leaving the house.

Taking control of the obsession

In order to reduce the adverse impact that OCD has on the life of a person, it is important to exercise regularly. This is because OCD is an issue which has a lot to do with the nervous system, along with the brain, and the benefits of exercise on the nervous system can have a meaningful impact.
A lot of the problems a person experiences with respect to his or her health has to do with the amount of sleep he or she gets. It should really not come as a surprise in that case that it is not much different in the case of OCD. When a person does not get as much sleep as he or she normally should, it can cause issues by way of thoughts and ruminations in a mind that is not rested to an extent that is adequate.
Many people seek to control their OCD by trying to avoid the fears they face. However, it should be noted that this is not a good way to go about with it due to the fact that avoidance is very likely to compound the level of fear. Instead, a person who suffers from OCD should make an effort to follow a ritual which involves making sure whatever he or she is afraid of is incorporated in it.
OCD is something which has the potential to scare a lot of people. However, adequate effort and treatment can make sure that it no longer should.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Can You Manage It?

Obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd) is a disorder that causes anxiety. It is also called as anxiety disorder. The main characteristics of this disorder are uncontrollable, unpleasant thoughts, which are continuing. Ocd causes the mind to get stuck on a specific thought or inclination. For instance, you may repeat a task forty times to ensure that it has been done properly. You will not be able to get it out of your mind. Ocd is characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior patterns.

Some obsessive thoughts include:
1. The fear of being defiled by germs or soil and also of contaminating others.
2. The fear of losing control and hurting yourself or others.
3. Having sexual or brutal thoughts on the mind.
4. Extreme focus and devotion to religion and religious activities.
5. A sense of fear of losing or not having things you need.
6. Having the assumption that everything would go fine.
7. The person will become very superstitious.

Some compulsive behavior patterns include:
1. Inordinate double checking on things like locks, apparatuses and switches.
2. Over and over monitoring of friends and family to ensure they're safe.
3. Counting in the head, mumbling nonsense words without meaning.
4. Devoting a lot of time for washing and cleaning.
5. Praying without reason and taking part in religious ceremonies.
6. Accumulating junk material.

Here are some common ways to deal with ocd:
1. Regular exercise: exercise is the best natural remedy to prevent anxiety, which leads to ocd. Exercise checks your ocd symptoms. It makes your nerves stronger and hence you can focus your mind out of obsessive thoughts by yourself, when they arrive. Get at least thirty minutes of exercise regularly.

2. Connect with friends and family: social isolation is one of the common early symptoms of ocd. Social isolation can lead to ocd as well. Therefore, you must always stay connected to your friends and family so that you never get lonely and anti-social. Share everything with family.

3. Sleep sufficiently: lack of sleep or troubled sleep may lead to anxiety disorders. You need to sleep enough to be away from obsessive thoughts.

4. Perform relaxation techniques: simple practices like yoga, meditation, pranayama help you grow spiritually, relax your mind and keeps ocd away from you.

5. Tackle your fears: instead of avoiding fearful thoughts, let them flow and tackle them face to face. This will help you overcome the fear. Adopt measures so that you can focus on other things and ignore the obsessive thoughts. Distract yourself away from the obsession.

Ocd is a harmful disorder, and you should take all measures possible to keep away from it.

Ways to Deal With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental condition, which traps people in a cycle of repetitive thoughts that push them to do repetitive behaviors. As the name states, the obsession over certain things compels them to do it over and over again. These actions will only help you feel relieved for a short time and soon the cycle starts back again.

Symptoms of OCD
The symptoms of OCD are classified into two groups, one for the obsessive behavior and the other for compulsive behavior. Some of the common symptoms for these are mentioned below:

Obsessive behaviors
As the name states this means obsessing over certain things, which varies from person to person. Some of the things could be:
1. Being scared about making mistakes
2. The fear of being embarrassed in public situations
3. Constantly being scared about contamination by germs, microbes or dirt
4. Doubts about sure and simple situations and the need to be constantly reassured about them

Compulsive behaviors
The obsessions usually results in compulsive behaviors, which you may need to perform to reassure and relieve yourself of the anxiety temporarily. Some of these may include:
1. Trying to constantly arrange things in a certain way and still not being satisfied
2. Thoughts, words and images being stuck in your head throughout the day that may keep you disturbed and cause to lose sleep
3. You may even repeat specific words or actions multiple times as a measure of self reassurance.
4. Hoarding of items, which have no value

Causes of OCD
Biological factors: Certain chemical imbalances in the brain may lead to OCD, which may happen due to hormonal or biological changes. In fact certain infections are also known to trigger OCD in people.
Environmental factors: Certain types of mental trauma have been known to trigger OCD as well, such as
1. Office, school, college or other work related stresses over a long period of time
2. The passing away of a near and dear one
3. Relationship problems
4. Repressed abuses from earlier in life

Treatments
Most treatments of OCD are categorized into two types: 
Cognitive behavioral therapy: This is a counseling based therapy where you may be slowly asked to face your fears and overcome them over a period of time.
Medications: Antidepressants, inhibitors, or antipsychotic drugs or relaxants in various combinations may be used to treat OCD.
Electroconvulsive therapy: Only in the rarest of cases would doctors consider electroconvulsive therapy, if the patient is a danger to themselves or others around them.


Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of OCD

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