What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people in different ways. It can cause intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors and extreme anxiety. OCD can be debilitating for those who suffer from it, but there is help available.
What is OCD Caused By?
OCD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is believed that some people are born with a predisposition to OCD, and certain life experiences can trigger the disorder. Stress, anxiety and emotional turmoil can all contribute to the development of OCD.
Who Is At Risk for OCD?
People of any age can develop OCD, but the condition usually starts in childhood or early adulthood. OCD affects men and women equally, and it is estimated that 1 in 50 adults in the U.S. have OCD.
Some people may be more prone to developing OCD if they have a family history of the condition, and stressful life events or traumatic experiences may trigger OCD symptoms.
Is OCD An Anxiety Disorder?
OCD is a type of anxiety disorder that causes intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors and extreme anxiety. These symptoms can be debilitating for those who suffer from OCD, but there is help available.
What Are the Symptoms of OCD?
OCD can cause a wide range of symptoms, which can vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms include intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors and extreme anxiety.
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts or images that pop into your head and make you feel uncomfortable or anxious. They can be about anything, but often involve fears or worries about harm coming to yourself or others.
Compulsive behaviors are ritualized behaviors or routines that you feel compelled to do in order to relieve your anxiety. They can be time-consuming and interfere with your daily life. Common compulsions include hand-washing, checking things multiple times, and arranging things in a specific way.
Extreme anxiety is one of the hallmark symptoms of OCD. It can cause debilitating fear and panic attacks, making it difficult to go about your day-to-day life.
What are OCD Obsessions?
Obsessions are the thoughts, images or impulses that are triggered by OCD and cause distress. They can be about anything, but often involve fears or worries about harm coming to yourself or others. The obsessions are what drive the compulsions in OCD.
Some common OCD obsessions include fears or worries about:
Harm coming to yourself or others
Germs and contamination
Making mistakes or being unable to control your thoughts or actions
Being sexually inappropriate or gay
Having religious or moral doubts
What are OCD Compulsions?
Compulsions are the actions that people engage in to relieve the distress they feel from their obsessions or intrusive thoughts. Examples of common OCD compulsions include:
Repetitive behaviors, such as checking locks and doors over and over again
Frequently using hand sanitizer or washing hands
Seeking reassurance from friends and/or family
Having things organized in a symmetrical fashion
Repeating actions for a specific number of times
What Is An Example Of OCD?
For example, someone with OCD might have intrusive thoughts about harm coming to their family. In order to relieve their anxiety, they might wash their hands compulsively or check the locks on the door multiple times. This can interfere with work, school and social activities.
What Are The Types of OCD?
Sexual Orientation OCD
Contamination OCD
Moral OCD
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Existential OCD
Pure O OCD
Pedophilia OCD (POCD)
Scrupolosity OCD
Can A Person Have 2 Types of OCD?
Yes, a person can have two types of OCD. For example, someone might have intrusive thoughts about harm coming to themselves and also about harm coming to others. Or, they might have compulsions related to cleanliness and also compulsions related to checking things multiple times. It's common for a person's obsessions and compulsions to be related to one another.
Diagnosis of OCD
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosing OCD, as the symptoms can vary from person to person. Instead, diagnosis is based on a clinical evaluation which includes a thorough history and assessment of symptoms. The clinician will also rule out other possible causes of the symptoms (such as medical conditions or other mental health disorders). If the person meets the diagnostic criteria for OCD, they will likely be referred for treatment.
Therapy Treatments of OCD
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for OCD, but there are effective therapies that can help people manage the disorder.
One type of therapy for OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people to identify and challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to their OCD.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is another type of therapy that can be helpful for treating OCD. ERP involves gradually exposing oneself to the things that trigger their OCD and then learning to resist the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors. Inference Based CBT (ICBT) is another evidence based treatment for OCD to help people with OCD resolve the inferential confusion they face when they begin to obsessively doubt their own senses, common sense, and who they actually are.
Another form of therapy used is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a type of mindfulness therapy that has been found to be effective in treating OCD. MBCT helps people to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Medication to Treat OCD
There are a number of different medications that can be used to treat people with OCD. The most commonly prescribed type of medication for OCD is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.
Other types of medication that have been found to be effective in treating OCD include clomipramine and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant that has also been found to be helpful in treating OCD.
Does OCD Go Away Entirely?
OCD is a chronic mental health disorder that can be difficult to treat. While there is no cure for OCD, most people who receive treatment find that they are able to manage their OCD symptoms and live a normal life.
Some people do find that their OCD goes away entirely after receiving treatment, while others continue to struggle with symptoms from time to time. It is important to keep in mind that even if OCD does not go away entirely, treatment can help people to manage their symptoms and live a full life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, there is help available.
