Common OCD Obsession Symptoms
Individuals with OCD will experience uncontrollable obsessive thoughts or ideas that are unwanted and unreasonable and also tend to occur in stressful situations as well as while trying to think about or accomplish other tasks. While the obsessive thoughts that occur with OCD can be different for each individual, they are typically theme based.
For instance, one of the more common obsessive thoughts associated with OCD are the fear of dirt and germs that cause the individual to have unreasonable or unrealistic thoughts of being contaminated such as when shaking someone's hand. Another common obsession that occurs among patients with OCD is the need to have everything in order or symmetrical such as the obsession to have things organized in a specific place and a certain way at all times.
Other common obsessive thoughts that occur with OCD are the fear of having left doors unlocked or appliances left on with the need to check them over and over again. Obsessive thought patterns also associated with OCD include the fear of harming oneself or others such as accidentally running someone over while driving, or jumping from a high location such as a bridge.
Some individuals experience aggressive or impulsive thoughts such as visualizing or imagining inappropriate sexual behavior with others or the impulse to act in a socially unacceptable manner at a social event or function or some other public setting.
Common OCD Compulsion Symptoms
In order to relive their anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts, an individual with OCD will perform repetitive or ritualistic behaviors in order to relieve their mind of these thoughts, however, this is typically only temporary as these thoughts will reoccur and they will have to perform these compulsive rituals again.
A common compulsion that many individuals with OCD experience is the need to clean the areas of their home frequently including areas that they may have cleaned just hours before or wash their hands or shower excessively which causes their skin to become irritated or raw.
Another common compulsion with OCD is the need to count in a specific pattern over and over again or perform their compulsive rituals a specific number of times. Individuals with OCD may also have the compulsion to count things such as panes of glass in a window or steps. Unfortunately, these compulsions take up many hours in the day for some individuals and significantly interfere with the quality of their life; however, there are forms of treatment that can help control the symptoms of OCD that typically include a combination of psychotherapy and medications.
Showing posts with label OCD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OCD. Show all posts
Friday, October 15, 2010
What Is OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common mental disorders, however, is also one of the most misunderstood. It is more normal now to hear and even say things like "I'm so OCD about ..." or "I have OCD so many little", while not necessarily the most honest of the states, is becoming an increasingly common error - what the person in question is more likely to say is you are either very compulsive about certain things or have some kind of perfectionist attitude. TOC itself is primarily an anxiety disorder that clearly could be divided into two halves: the obsessions and compulsions - and this is where the misunderstanding arises usually in spite of being partly true, the obsessions do not always lead to compulsions . Obsessions tend to exist for themselves, while compulsions are many needs in fact a core obsession, but that does not mean that compulsions can not exist by themselves (sometimes confused with Tourette syndrome, OCD compulsions differ they are "voluntary" as the tics are inadvertent - You could say that Tourette syndrome is TOC coughing is to clear one's throat).
Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder symptoms are, as mentioned above, split into the following two categories
Obsessions
As with many symptoms of anxiety disorder, obsessive thoughts can cause high levels of tension, distress and, yes – you guessed it, anxiety. Common obsessions include: concerns over cleanliness – the conviction that everything around oneself is unclean and hence harmful and needs to be cleaned before anything is done in that environment; worries over disease and ill health – constant fear or suspicion of having contracted a deadly disease, this can often appear as a strong case of Hypochondria ( Hypochondriasis); a necessity for things to be ordered or done in a certain way– there is not necessarily a logic to the order but to the person concerned failure of objects or other people to adhere to it can cause great concern despite the lack of any real consequence.
Less apparent and certainly more distressing are the kinds of obsession that obsessive-compulsives are less likely – and unsurprisingly so – to talk about as they generally involve thoughts of extreme violence either done unto them by someone else, or – much more distressingly – the thought of themselves committing these acts on their friends, family or even a complete stranger. Thoughts of a graphic sexual nature are also possible; ranging from kissing to extremes such as rape and pedophilia, these thoughts can be about anyone or indeed, anything, of any age or sex and can often lead to doubt over one's sexuality. Much though these sorts of thoughts are generally considered psychotic, although very disturbing, they are by no means a sign of Psychosis as generally they are recognized as being completely unacceptable and often lead to disgust with oneself for thinking such things. Thoughts and doubts of this nature can sometimes lead to cases of Social Anxiety Disorder in sufferers of OCD due to a lack of confidence in one's ability to withstand the temptation to give in to one's mind and a subsequent reluctance to participate in social activities. Hyperthyroidism or ‘excessive sweating as it is more commonly known can arise as another side effect of the suppression of these concepts when in public - which often serves only to increase anxiety levels and further enthuse them to stay at home.
It is possible for Obsessions to exist on their own without any sign of Compulsions, this is informally termed Pure-O OCD and is estimated to account for just over half of all cases of OCD. The problem with Pure-O is that while a casual onlooker may pick up on somebody carrying out their Compulsions and recognise that they have OCD, it is very hard to tell when somebody has Pure-O and often leads to confusion and anxiety amongst friends and family as they seek a reason or motivation for the avoidance of situations and even go so far as to put it down to some form of mild Autism.
Compulsions
As previously mentioned, many compulsions are the result of obsessions, for instance, concerns over cleanliness usually lead to excessive cleaning and – a common stereotype of OCD – the compulsive washing of one's hands throughout the day despite no immediately obvious reason for it; it may appear harmless, or might even be considered ‘playing it safe, however, it can lead to dermatitis and permanent damage of one's hands if care is not taken. Another common compulsion is the organization of objects into patterns: alphabetical, by color, size, or placing items parallel and at right angles to each other. A need to touch certain objects and people can also arise and be dangerous in certain circumstances such as when sharp objects are concerned.. Repeated actions are also common as is the obsessive counting of objects, a precise daily routine, the checking of locks and many many more.
While compulsions can often seem strange and unnecessary to other people, failure to carry them out can cause the sufferer considerable distress to the extent that it can cause panic attacks even if – as many do – they recognize them as irrational. The mental turmoil caused to people with extreme cases of OCD can produce symptoms that often draw parallels to Bipolar Disorder – sudden unexplained fits of irritation, anxiety and anger that are swiftly followed by embarrassment, sadness and guilt once the compulsion has been fulfilled. That is not to say that it is anywhere near as severe as the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, however, similarities can certainly be drawn.
Obsessions and compulsions based around perfection, the necessity of order, routine, rules and organization are often associated with OCD and they are considered symptoms when present along with others. However, when isolated it is often a sign of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) or just Perfectionism.
Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder symptoms are, as mentioned above, split into the following two categories
Obsessions
As with many symptoms of anxiety disorder, obsessive thoughts can cause high levels of tension, distress and, yes – you guessed it, anxiety. Common obsessions include: concerns over cleanliness – the conviction that everything around oneself is unclean and hence harmful and needs to be cleaned before anything is done in that environment; worries over disease and ill health – constant fear or suspicion of having contracted a deadly disease, this can often appear as a strong case of Hypochondria ( Hypochondriasis); a necessity for things to be ordered or done in a certain way– there is not necessarily a logic to the order but to the person concerned failure of objects or other people to adhere to it can cause great concern despite the lack of any real consequence.
Less apparent and certainly more distressing are the kinds of obsession that obsessive-compulsives are less likely – and unsurprisingly so – to talk about as they generally involve thoughts of extreme violence either done unto them by someone else, or – much more distressingly – the thought of themselves committing these acts on their friends, family or even a complete stranger. Thoughts of a graphic sexual nature are also possible; ranging from kissing to extremes such as rape and pedophilia, these thoughts can be about anyone or indeed, anything, of any age or sex and can often lead to doubt over one's sexuality. Much though these sorts of thoughts are generally considered psychotic, although very disturbing, they are by no means a sign of Psychosis as generally they are recognized as being completely unacceptable and often lead to disgust with oneself for thinking such things. Thoughts and doubts of this nature can sometimes lead to cases of Social Anxiety Disorder in sufferers of OCD due to a lack of confidence in one's ability to withstand the temptation to give in to one's mind and a subsequent reluctance to participate in social activities. Hyperthyroidism or ‘excessive sweating as it is more commonly known can arise as another side effect of the suppression of these concepts when in public - which often serves only to increase anxiety levels and further enthuse them to stay at home.
It is possible for Obsessions to exist on their own without any sign of Compulsions, this is informally termed Pure-O OCD and is estimated to account for just over half of all cases of OCD. The problem with Pure-O is that while a casual onlooker may pick up on somebody carrying out their Compulsions and recognise that they have OCD, it is very hard to tell when somebody has Pure-O and often leads to confusion and anxiety amongst friends and family as they seek a reason or motivation for the avoidance of situations and even go so far as to put it down to some form of mild Autism.
Compulsions
As previously mentioned, many compulsions are the result of obsessions, for instance, concerns over cleanliness usually lead to excessive cleaning and – a common stereotype of OCD – the compulsive washing of one's hands throughout the day despite no immediately obvious reason for it; it may appear harmless, or might even be considered ‘playing it safe, however, it can lead to dermatitis and permanent damage of one's hands if care is not taken. Another common compulsion is the organization of objects into patterns: alphabetical, by color, size, or placing items parallel and at right angles to each other. A need to touch certain objects and people can also arise and be dangerous in certain circumstances such as when sharp objects are concerned.. Repeated actions are also common as is the obsessive counting of objects, a precise daily routine, the checking of locks and many many more.
While compulsions can often seem strange and unnecessary to other people, failure to carry them out can cause the sufferer considerable distress to the extent that it can cause panic attacks even if – as many do – they recognize them as irrational. The mental turmoil caused to people with extreme cases of OCD can produce symptoms that often draw parallels to Bipolar Disorder – sudden unexplained fits of irritation, anxiety and anger that are swiftly followed by embarrassment, sadness and guilt once the compulsion has been fulfilled. That is not to say that it is anywhere near as severe as the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, however, similarities can certainly be drawn.
Obsessions and compulsions based around perfection, the necessity of order, routine, rules and organization are often associated with OCD and they are considered symptoms when present along with others. However, when isolated it is often a sign of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) or just Perfectionism.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive symptoms
OCD is characterized by recurrent thoughts, unwanted, and intrusive called "obsessions." People with OCD try to stop the obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors fall into a purpose or intention, as repeated hand washing, counting the constant control and are called "compulsions."
The obsessions and compulsions are a vicious cycle and cause great stress and anxiety to a person suffering from OCD.
OCD is known as "disease of doubt." People with OCD are usually persistent self-doubt. They may try to confirm their own words and actions repeatedly to be convinced by doubt and fear underlying irrational.
The most worrying is that people with OCD know clearly that their fears are irrational but feel powerless as his mind is flooded with repeated obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors may fall to stop the obsessive thoughts. Therefore, constant internal struggle takes place within the mind of the person suffering from OCD.
OCD is a psychiatric disorder that wreaks havoc on the lives of people. Quality of life is significantly reduced. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are mostly hidden by patients in order to avoid embarrassment.
That their children suffer most. OCD can significantly affect performance in school. Students who had scored very good grades may lose grades and many students even drop out of school because of the OCD.
Stress increases the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. Stress test usually increases the symptoms of OCD. Students with OCD may check their answer sheets on several occasions and sometimes suffer from obsessive thoughts in the test center and may stop the test without answering the question paper half due to the persistence of obsessive thoughts.
Can you imagine the emotional pain of these children? Can a college student tell the teacher and students that OCD was the real reason for leaving half open question paper or your own obsessive thoughts had stopped writing mid-exam?
The debilitating nature of OCD is not fully understood or recognized by the people. Again, this causes significant anxiety to a person suffering from OCD. A support society can go a long way in helping people suffering from OCD.
Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder:
OCD can be treated effectively with medication. Psychiatrists often prescribe antidepressants to treat obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Most people with OCD life return to normal after medication.
Psychiatric medication should not be stopped without the psychiatrist's permission. Abrupt discontinuation can aggravate the symptoms of OCD.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake) are a class of antidepressants that are very effective in the treatment of OCD. Prozac and Zoloft are examples of SSRI medications.
The defeat of TOC:
Medication combined with meditation has proved a great success in treating OCD. silent meditation in the early morning relaxes and invigorates the nervous system.
Meditation allows your mind and daily practice of meditation along with medication can correct the chemical imbalance in the brain. Empower your mind with thoughts of motivation and defeat OCD.
OCD is characterized by recurrent thoughts, unwanted, and intrusive called "obsessions." People with OCD try to stop the obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors fall into a purpose or intention, as repeated hand washing, counting the constant control and are called "compulsions."
The obsessions and compulsions are a vicious cycle and cause great stress and anxiety to a person suffering from OCD.
OCD is known as "disease of doubt." People with OCD are usually persistent self-doubt. They may try to confirm their own words and actions repeatedly to be convinced by doubt and fear underlying irrational.
The most worrying is that people with OCD know clearly that their fears are irrational but feel powerless as his mind is flooded with repeated obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors may fall to stop the obsessive thoughts. Therefore, constant internal struggle takes place within the mind of the person suffering from OCD.
OCD is a psychiatric disorder that wreaks havoc on the lives of people. Quality of life is significantly reduced. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are mostly hidden by patients in order to avoid embarrassment.
That their children suffer most. OCD can significantly affect performance in school. Students who had scored very good grades may lose grades and many students even drop out of school because of the OCD.
Stress increases the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. Stress test usually increases the symptoms of OCD. Students with OCD may check their answer sheets on several occasions and sometimes suffer from obsessive thoughts in the test center and may stop the test without answering the question paper half due to the persistence of obsessive thoughts.
Can you imagine the emotional pain of these children? Can a college student tell the teacher and students that OCD was the real reason for leaving half open question paper or your own obsessive thoughts had stopped writing mid-exam?
The debilitating nature of OCD is not fully understood or recognized by the people. Again, this causes significant anxiety to a person suffering from OCD. A support society can go a long way in helping people suffering from OCD.
Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder:
OCD can be treated effectively with medication. Psychiatrists often prescribe antidepressants to treat obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Most people with OCD life return to normal after medication.
Psychiatric medication should not be stopped without the psychiatrist's permission. Abrupt discontinuation can aggravate the symptoms of OCD.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake) are a class of antidepressants that are very effective in the treatment of OCD. Prozac and Zoloft are examples of SSRI medications.
The defeat of TOC:
Medication combined with meditation has proved a great success in treating OCD. silent meditation in the early morning relaxes and invigorates the nervous system.
Meditation allows your mind and daily practice of meditation along with medication can correct the chemical imbalance in the brain. Empower your mind with thoughts of motivation and defeat OCD.
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