Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnosis
We all have the fear of cleaning things repeatedly or trying to organize our bookshelf according to size. But it is frustrating sometimes, right? Well, if you are also thinking this, you might be trapped in OCD!
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder that occurs from the obsessive sensations or ideas to driven oneself in doing something repeatedly. OCD is a very common disorder that transpires more than 1 million cases per year in India. OCD defines the obsessive thoughts and unreasonable fears of an individual. Therefore, it led them to conduct compulsive acts.
What is OCD?
In medical terms, OCD is a mental disorder that involves the communication process generated from the brain's front part. The frontal cortex interacts with the deeper structure of the brain. The deeper brain structure uses a brain chemical called neurotransmitter, which is also known as serotonin.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a widely known mental disorder that generates an urge to do the same work repeatedly. People having OCD cannot control their actions. It does not generate any pleasure for them. OCD is including both obsessive thoughts and compulsive habits. Worrying about self-hurting or hurting others, being suspicious of someone without any reason, are some of the examples of obsessive thoughts. Compulsive habits are including cleaning things, organizing or doing works in a particular order, fear of sanitization, etc.
Scary, right? Here are the major symptoms you need to know on OCD,
Symptoms
OCD symptoms generally fall under four categories:
· Contamination: The growing fear of things being disorganized or dirty falls under mental contamination.
· Continuous Checking: The feelings that irrupt insights such as thinking about having schizophrenia, checking the time, checking light switches, etc.
· Intrusive Thoughts: Having disturbing or violent thoughts and growing an obsession over it
· Symmetry: Organizing things in a certain order or trying to keep things in orders continuously
Causes
The real reason for OCD symptoms has not yet been discovered. But there are several theories behind developing OCD habits:
· OCD can be experienced from hereditary or genetic factors
· Compulsions can occur from habitual or repetitive behaviour from the growing anxiety
· Functional or chemical abnormalities in the brain that causes this mental disorder
· Distorted beliefs derive symptoms associated with OCD
So, how you will know that you might have OCD? Here are some diagnosis methods.
Diagnosis
The therapist will primarily look into three aspects within an OCD patient while interviewing them:
· If the person has a series of compulsive behaviour
· If a person has an obsession with anything
· If a person feels stressed or taking a lot of time in completing a task for having excessive feeling on the matter
Looking for treatment? You can try the things below. But, of course under the medical supervision!
Treatment
OCD can be treated by implementing both medication and psychotherapy. The medical expertise has expressed that most of the patients respond to the treatment. While others continue to experience OCD symptoms.
· Medication: Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs) helps in reducing OCD in 8 to 12 weeks. Some patients can have anti-psychotic medication to treat OCD.
· Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Habit Reversal Training can work as an effective medication among OCD patients.
Well, how to tackle OCD? Here are some suggestions,
Coping/Self-help Strategies
· Managing anxiety and stress to reduce OCD symptoms
· Adapting CBT to achieve mindfulness
· Practicing relaxation to achieve wellbeing
Despite being a mental disorder, OCD can get proper treatment with medication and psychotherapy. OCD can often enhance depression and anxiety. However, people can control their act by adapting therapeutic solutions.
Till then, enjoy your messiness in an organized way!
