Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviors you feel compelled to perform.
OCD has three main parts:
-the thoughts that make you anxious (obsessions)
-the anxiety you feel
-the things you do to reduce your anxiety (compulsions).
What exactly are obsessions and compulsions?
Obsessions are thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the persons control. Individuals with OCD do not want to have these thoughts and find them disturbing. In most cases, people with OCD realize that these thoughts dont make any sense. Obsessions are typically accompanied by intense and uncomfortable feelings such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a feeling that things have to be done in a way that is just right.
Compulsions are the repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses with the intention of neutralizing, counteracting, or making their obsessions go away. People with OCD realize this is only a temporary solution but without a better way to cope they rely on the compulsion as a temporary escape. Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions. Compulsions are time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values.
What OCD isn't?
A choice- OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder, emphasis on the capital D for Disorder. Research has shown that the brain of a person with OCD actually functions differently, essentially getting stuck on a thought. These thoughts are linked with intense anxiety driving the individual with OCD to engage in compulsive behavior — their only escape.
A quirk- Quirks are likely developed by our own experiences and environment, and can be controlled. According to the International OCD Foundation, unless this behavior is triggered by a fear or anxiety and completed with a series of compulsions that relieve you of these feelings, its not a sign of the disorder which torments peoples mind constantly. It can be paralyzing, too.
A joke- Unfortunately, joking about mental illness is part of the problem. It perpetuates the idea that OCD is something that someone should be able to just get over already. It infers that a person who cant get over it is somehow weak or defective. It makes people hide their illness from friends and family.
An adjective- OCD is not an adjective. It is not an alternative for words like clean or organized. OCD is a noun. Its the name of a mental disorder. OCD is not being particular or a neat freak or an adjective that should ever be used to describe oneself. Every time OCD is used as a simple adjective, it contributes to the stigma. It validates the claim that mental illnesses are just inside the head of a person.
What causes OCD?
Genes: OCD is sometimes inherited, so can occasionally run in the family.
Stress: Stressful life events bring it on in about one out of three cases.
Life changes: Times where someone suddenly has to take on more responsibility – for example, puberty, the birth of a child or a new job.
Brain changes: We don't know for certain, but if you have the symptoms of OCD for more than a short time, researchers think that an imbalance of a chemical called serotonin (also known as 5HT) develops in the brain.
Personality: If you are a neat, meticulous, methodical person with high standards you may be more likely to develop OCD. These qualities are normally helpful, but can slip into OCD if they become too extreme.
Ways of thinking: Nearly all of us have odd or distressing thoughts or pictures in our minds at times. Most of us quickly dismiss these ideas and get on with our lives. But, if you have particularly high standards of morality and responsibility, you may feel that it's terrible to even have these thoughts. So, you are more likely to watch out for them coming back – which makes it more likely that they will.
What keeps OCD going?
Surprisingly, some of the ways in which you help yourself can actually keep it going:
-Trying to push unpleasant thoughts out of your mind - this usually only makes the thoughts return. For example, try not to think of a pink elephant for the next minute – you will probably find it difficult to think of anything else.
-Thinking 'safe' or 'correcting' thoughts. For example, you spend time putting right a disturbing thought with another thought (like counting to ten) or picture (such as seeing a person alive and well).
-Rituals, checking, avoiding and seeking reassurance will all make you less anxious for a short time - especially if you feel that this might prevent something dreadful from happening. But, every time you do them, you strengthen your belief that they stop bad things from happening. And so you feel more pressure to do them.... and so on.
Helping yourself
-Remember - it's not your fault and you are not going 'mad'.
-Expose yourself to your troubling thoughts. This sounds odd, but it's a way of getting more control of them. You record them and listen back to them, or write them down and re-read them.
-You need to do this regularly for around half an hour every day until your anxiety reduces.
-Resist the compulsive behaviour, but not the obsessional thought.
-Don't use alcohol or street drugs to control your anxiety.
-If your thoughts involve worries about your faith or religion, then it can sometimes be helpful to speak to a religious leader to help you work out if this is an OCD problem.
-Contact one of the support groups or websites available.
-Buy a self-help book. (Feel free to check out the one given at the end)
Tips for family and friends
-The behaviour of someone with OCD can be quite frustrating. Try to remember that they are not trying to be difficult or behave oddly, they are coping the best they can.
-Always avoid judging and criticizing the obsessions and compulsions of the OCD sufferer as it is likely to force your loved one to hide their disorder; this makes it much harder to get them the proper treatment.
-It may take a while for someone to accept that they need help. Encourage them to read about OCD and talk it over with a professional.
-Continue to learn and gain a deeper education about OCD to help your loved one effectively.
-You may be able to help exposure treatments by reacting differently to your relative's compulsions:
•encourage them to tackle fearful situations;
•say 'no' to taking part in rituals or checking;
•don't reassure them that things are alright.
-Don't worry that someone with an obsessional fear of being violent will actually do it. This is very rare.
-Ask if you can go with them to see their GP, psychiatrist or other professional.
Other conditions similar to OCD
-Body dysmorphic disorder, or 'the distress of imagined ugliness'. You become convinced that part of your face or body is the wrong shape, and spend hours in front of a mirror checking and trying to cover it up. You may even stop going out in public.
-An urge to pull out your hair or eyebrows (Trichotillomania).
-A fear of suffering from a serious physical illness, such as cancer (Health anxiety or hypochondriasis).
-People with Tourette's syndrome (where a sufferer may shout out suddenly, or jerk uncontrollably) often have OCD as well.
-Children and adults with some forms of autism, like Asperger's syndrome, can appear to have ---OCD because they like things to be the same, and may like to do the same thing over and over again.
Thank you so much for taking your time out to read and hopefully learn something new about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Now that we have a little insight on OCD, let's have a discussion. You are free to answer all or any of these questions. Also, feel free to ask questions of your own!
For those who have OCD:
When and how did you discover that you have OCD?
What part of OCD seems to be the most scariest? What helps you to reduce it?
For those who do not have OCD/have a loved one with OCD:
How can you help someone who has OCD?
What's the most challenging part of living with someone who has OCD?
For everyone:
When do you think is the right time to seek treatment for OCD?
What are some myths/stereotypes that you have heard about OCD? What contributes to increasing the stigma attached with OCD?
Further reading:
Things to remember if you love someone who has OCD
Things not to say to someone with OCD
Special thanks to @Hope and @RaCat for helping me with this project.