Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
Unwanted and repeated thoughts are called Obsessions and the urge to repeat certain acts is called a Compulsion. Everyone has them now and then. But, if these begin to interfere with the day-to-day functioning so much so that each day seems to be a struggle, it may be because of a disorder known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
The Problem
It is common for people to have an obsession about something. However, when this obsession makes a person haveunwanted thoughts that keep entering the mind, even when he or she tries to avoid having such thoughts, then the person is said to be suffering from OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The same is the case when a person keeps on having to touch or do things repeatedly to control his or her obsession.These are sure signs that you are suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD can make you do things like wanting to check whether the lights are on even after you have double-checked several times to make sure that they are indeed off.OCD also makes you also want toperform certain acts over and over again, and these acts are those that othersfeel are unnecessary,for example, washing the hands repeatedly because there is the feeling that there are germs on them.
These unwanted and repeated thoughts are called Obsessions and the urge to repeat certain acts is called a Compulsion. Everyone has them now and then. But, if these begin to interfere with daily living so that each day seems to be a struggle, it may be because of a disorder known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which requires treatment.
OCD consists of three main components, which are:
- Obsessive Thoughts that can cause a lot of anxiety.
- The anxiety that a person feels
- The steps that you can take to get rid of your anxiety or ‘compulsions’
- Thoughts: these consist of words, phrases, ideas and even rhymes thatcan be either blasphemous or shocking or very horrible. These thoughts do not go away even if you try to make them go away.
- Visualizing scenes in your mind:You may see highly disturbing images in your mind or you can picture yourself committing violent or sexual acts, which are uncharacteristic of the real you.
- Doubts that last for hours on end and which make you wonder whether you have either causeda mishap or hurt somebody.
- Arguing with yourself about whether or not to do a certain thing
- Perfectionist tendencies that make you feel very concerned about ensuring that things are perfect in every way.
- Feelings of anxiety or emotions
- These feelings and emotions make you feel tense and anxious as well as depressed and even disgusted
- Your mood improves after doing something compulsive but soon your good mood vanishes
- Compulsions
- You try to correct your obsessive thoughts by counting or saying a word over and over again
- Perform rituals like repeatedly washing your hands
- Check that you are not contaminated or that you have switched off all appliances
- You try to avoid doing anything that will make your worrisome thoughts return
The Signs
In addition, the person may show…
- Over concern with cleanliness
- Over concern with routine
- Lessened interest in social activities
- Uncertainty about own judgment
- A tendency to get too upset about minor things
- Over concern with detail
- A tendency to be easily tired
Of course, anyone could have some of these traits, without having an obsessive compulsive disorder.
Drinking alcohol, gambling and shopping or even using recreational drugs or exercising too much are not compulsive or obsessive behaviours. These make you feel good while OCD behaviors make a person feel very distressed. They are highly unpleasant and feel like a burden.
Who is most likely to suffer from OCD?
Approximately 2% people suffer from OCD at some point of time in their lives. The problem normally develops when a person is in his or her teen years or early adulthood,and it can either improve or get worse with time. People who suffer from OCD generally do not ask for help for many long years due to shame or embarrassment.
Is a person with OCD ‘mad’or ‘crazy’ in any way?
People who suffer from OCD are not ‘mad’ nor fear that they are going ‘crazy’ even though their ideas or actions seem strange or bizarre to others. It is just that they cannot help it and seems to happen against their own will, which makes others think that they are‘crazy’. OCD does not make a person lose control over themselves.
The Causes
There are a number of factors that cause and trigger OCD.
- Genetic reasons: They have inherited the problem from their parents, or the condition may run in the family
- Stressful events: In about 33% cases, the problem develops after experiencing a stressful event in one’s life
- Changes in a person’s life: Certain changes to a person’s life can also cause symptoms to occur, such as when one reaches puberty or after one becomes a parent or when one takes on additional responsibility
- Changes in the brain: An imbalance and dysfunction of certain chemicals and neuro -circuits insome brain regions, can cause OCD
- Brain Trauma: OCD can also follow certain brain injuries or seizures.
When to seek help
It would be best to consult the psychiatrist if you find that…
- There are complaints or signs of having repeated, unwanted thoughts which interfere with daily functioning
- There are repeated acts that everyone feels are unnecessary and that cause great anxiety if an attempt is made to stop these actions
- Day to day activities take a long time, because they have become complicated with rituals and patterns of behavior.
- There are constant doubts about simple events
Treatments for OCD
Professional psychiatrists and psychologists can help treat you for OCD. They may use different treatment methods including:
Psychotherapies like
- Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT
- Anti-depressant medications
Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP
When a person starts to suffer from stress for a period of time, he or she will soon become used to the situation. When you become used to a situation your anxiety starts to come down. ERP therapy is based on this principle and helps OCD patients by making them face the situation gradually and at the same time it also teaches the patient not to act in a compulsive manner. ERP therapy encourages the patient to first gradually face the situation that he or she fears and then to make an effort to not behave in a compulsive manner. Relaxation techniques are known to help people who suffer from a mild OCD condition.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT
This form of therapy does not attempt to teach an OCD patient how to eliminate stressful and irrational thoughts. Instead, it deals with changing the patient’s reaction to these thoughts and images. It works best with patients who are obsessed but whose obsession does not make them do ritualistic things. CBT can also be used along with ERP.
Anti-depressant medications
SSRI anti-depressants are known to work on OCDpatients, even if they are not suffering from depression. Medications and CBT can help you feel a lot better. However, if medications do not help you even after using them for 3 months, then it becomes necessary to change the medications
Are these treatments helpful?
Psychotherapies are known to help about three out of every four people. The remaining one in four people who tried this treatment said that they needed additional treatment. Also, about 25% of patients who tried psychotherapies reported that CBT did not help them deal with their condition because they found CBT to be too difficult to follow.The OCD patient may also have to undergo “booster’ sessions of CBT from time to time to ensure that he or she does not relapse in their symptoms.
As for medications, about 60% of patients who used medications to treat their OCD problem said that medications helped to reduce the symptoms by approximately fifty percent. Medications are known to be helpful in the treatment of OCD butregular follow-ups with the psychiatrist is crucial in maintaining the gains made from treatments.
The family, the psychiatrist, the CBT therapist and the person suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, can then work as a team. In addition, the psychiatrist will provide guidelines to the family on how to cope with the problem.
Some Words of Advice:
What most family members of a person affected with OCD does is to cooperate with the person’s wishes to keep the peace. When the rituals and patterns carry on day after day, it becomes easier to give in than to resist and try to talk the person out of it. This only makes the symptoms worse. On the other hand, ignoring the problem or pretending it doesn’t exist is not going to help either. Families should get help and begin a programme for changing the person’s behaviour. The home environment should be supportive and reassuring. The earlier the disorder is treated, more the chances of success.
