Do you ever get through the phase where you want to double-check if you locked the door or not?
Well, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is something way beyond that!
It leads people to a labyrinth of doing unnecessary actions as a form of compulsion by their brain.
The exact causes of OCD are still unknown. However, we will try to break it down for you in the later sections of this blog.
Moreover, in this blog, we will try to unfold the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms and treatments.
Before anything else, let’s get to know what exactly is OCD!
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a kind of mental illness that causes repetitive thoughts that lead you towards unwanted actions.
People with OCD might get the sensation and a constant urge to do something over and over again.
Further, these people are likely to receive irrational feelings and excessive obsessions to do specific things.
Despite knowing the fact that their thoughts and actions has no logical sense, they couldn’t stop doing it.
In other words, the brain traps them in a constant cycle which becomes impossible for them to stop.
For instance, they might be thinking that only certain numbers and colors are good so that they start looking for that specific number in anything they do.
Now that we got to know about Obsessive-Compulsive disorder and obsessive thoughts, let’s head towards knowing the signs of OCD.
Early Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
People with OCD don’t really enjoy the repetitive actions that they perform. It’s just that they can’t stop doing it.
And even if they stop, they start doing it again out of regret.
The early Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms are associated with obsessive thoughts and compulsions.
These thoughts and actions keep intervening in between their regular life activities.
Obsessive Thoughts Include:
- Getting upset about negative thoughts
- Constantly worrying about yourself
- Being persistently aware of the body sensations like breathing and blinking
- Being suspicious about your loved ones being unfaithful to you
- Need to do everything symmetrically and with perfection
- Fear of embarrassment due to their mistakes
Compulsive Behaviors Include:
- Urge to keep arranging things in a systematic way
- Washing or cleaning their hands too often
- Doing things for a specific number of times
- Making sure every now and then that they haven’t caused harm to anyone
- Fear of touching certain things like doorknobs
- Saying certain words or phrases at the most unexpected times
So, here we discussed the early signs of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that a person with OCD is likely to experience.
Let’s move forward to the point where we talk about the possible causes of Compulsive obsessive disorder.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Causes
Scientists have not been able to know what exactly causes OCD yet. However, there are certain factors and changes that can lead a person to be affected by OCD.
Factors that might be held responsible for developing obsessive-compulsive disorders in individuals include:
#1. A major change in living situation: If someone is moving or shifting their place as in a marriage or divorce, they are likely to see the signs of OCD.
#2. Family History: Having someone in the family who already is suffering from OCD can increase the chances of triggering the OCD effects.
#3. Traumatic Life Events: Stressful events or trauma that you might have experienced in your life can increase your chances of facing OCD symptoms.
Traumatic events can even bring out the emotional distress characteristic of Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
#4. Issues with Relationships: Troubled relationships can also be one of the causes of OCD.
It can cause a psychological effect that ultimately lowers the level of serotonin (responsible for maintaining mental balance).
So, mentioned above were some of the causes that might trigger the effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Let’s move on and find out obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment and how you can prevent the effects.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment and Diagnosis
Usually, the treatment for OCD involves psychotherapy and medications. If someone with OCD is willing to combine both treatments, it would be more effective.
Let’s see what kind of therapies and medications actually help in preventing the effects of OCD.
#1. Therapies
Someone who has OCD should carry a talk therapy with a professional which would allow you to change your behavioral patterns.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy is one of the therapies that’s quite effective to diagnose OCD.
Well, there are exact ways of preventing OCD.
However, getting it treated as soon as possible might help you in stopping it before it gets worse.
Go see a mental health professional if your OCD is affecting your lifestyle quality.
#2. Medications
You might be aware of anti-depressants. Well, they are used in lessening the symptoms of OCD as well.
However, before taking any sort of pills, consider consulting a doctor and follow the advice.
Actively relying on medication on your own might make the situation worse and lead you to negative consequences.
#3. Response Prevention Therapies
It is a kind of therapy that is only performed by a health care professional.
This includes creating a situation where you are supposed to hold control over your compulsive activities.
For instance, the professional might ask you to make your hands dirty while stopping you from washing your hands at the same time.
So, it was all about the possible ways through which you can treat your OCD. Now, this leads us to the bottom line of this blog.
Conclusion
The symptoms of OCD might vary in individuals.
Moreover, it is true that OCD shares a link with several other mental disorders as well.
However, individuals with OCD are advised to consider opting for treatments and medications as soon as they get to know about it.
Furthermore, we have tried to include all the legit and relevant information regarding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in this blog.
If you have further queries, you can mention them below in the comments section.
