Obsessive Compulsive Disorder- Causes and Symptoms

Wondering what it means? But do you know that even you would have come across some person with this disorder without actually knowing about it. Come, let’s know more about it. An obsession is an involuntary domination of thoughts or feelings which are repetitive and which cannot be avoided. It’s usually these obsessions which lead to compulsions.A compulsion is an irresistible feeling to do a particular thing even though it might be irrational to one’s feelings.

So what does obsessive compulsive disorder mean?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is basically an anxiety disorder. People suffering from this disorder would generally have uncontrollable, irrational thoughts or obsessions which are repetitive in nature and compulsive behaviors which they cannot compromise with or give up at any point. This mental disorder is the fourth common illness in the world.

Causes:

Researchers have not been able to figure out exactly what causes OCD.  But they believe that it’s the biological and the psychological factors that play an important role in causing this disorder. Also, people with insufficient ‘serotonin’, a chemical in the brain which helps in avoiding repetitive behavior are prone to this disorder.

Symptoms:

OCD usually develops between 10 to 12 years of age or between 18 and 23. Some of the symptoms are:

• Persistent, irrational thoughts or ideas or images
• Urgent desire to perform certain action
• Excessive checking
• Being doubtful

These symptoms might get worse at stressful times and they affect their daily life and routine work and often results in emotional imbalance.

Common Obsessions:

• Fear of infections by germs and dirt: People with this obsession would be washing their hands every now and then and would also try to avoid keeping their hands on the door knobs or any place. Similarly, cleaning, brushing, grooming over and over again are some of the other examples.

• Fear of illness or injury: The person might fear of either causing injury to oneself or to other person.  For example, physically harming their loved ones or friends or animals or to themselves on impulse.

• Superstitious beliefs: These beliefs form part and parcel of their everyday life and they try to attach some kind of superstitious belief to each action. They might have superstitions about numbers, colors and even arrangements.

• Orderliness and arranging things: Even though the things are in order, they would arrange things in a certain way and would keep repeating it again and again. They would always want it to be perfect.

• Fear of making mistakes or being unsure: The fear that they might make some mistake and checking their work again and again is one kind of obsession. They need to be constantly reassured about their work. For example, checking one’s homework repeatedly, counting money, etc.

• Obsessive violent thoughts and actions: This is a kind of obsession where they always think of violent ideas. Example, car getting crashed, physically harming

• Se*ual obsessions: This might involve intrusive feelings, ideas, thoughts or images of se*ual activities with their loved ones, strangers, and celebrities and also might include homose*ual or heterose*ual content.

Common Compulsions:

• Counting or tapping: Before going to office or school, the person would have to count 25 cars or tap a particular place a specific number of times.

• Touching: Touching an object or place or part of the body repeatedly like touching every single fence post between workplace and home.

• Checking: Double checking every activity over and over again such as doors, stove, locks, etc.

• Dressing: Being always worried about their personality and checking on their tie or shoes and keep doing it until they feel right or trying on 5 dresses everyday before leaving the room.

• Arranging: Arranging things in a particular order like the chairs or the office table until they look perfect and the way they desire.

• Questioning: Asking a particular question over and over again until they are satisfied.

• Cleaning: Spending a lot of time cleaning or washing hands, clothes, car, etc

• Hoarding: People might hoard each and every thing like old newspapers, dolls, old furniture, etc with a fear that they might either lose it or would not get them when they require.

Related posts:

1. Top 5 Most Common Phobias In The World A phobia is an intense and persistent fear of certain...
2. Sleep Disorders A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a medical disorder of the...
3. Top 5 Killer Cancers Cancer is now the number one killer disease in the...
4. Gastric Bypass Surgery Gastric bypass is surgery that is done to help you...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Best Daily News

Loading...