What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder which has three important characteristics which are as follows
* Obsessions are repetitive thoughts, urges or mental pictures (images) that intrude on the person’s mind. These thoughts, urges or images may occupy the person’s mind for many hours of each day and always result in the person becoming anxious or distressed. The anxiety usually declines quickly if the thoughts occurred without compulsions. Examples of common obsessional thoughts include thoughts about contamination, doing something that might cause harm or offend others and thoughts of being responsible for a catastrophe of some kind.
* Compulsions are deliberate behaviours or other thoughts that the person performs in an attempt to rid themselves of the anxiety associated with the obsessional thought. Unfortunately compulsions only provide short term relief from the obsessional thoughts and they soon return. Examples of common compulsions include hand washing, putting things in order, checking, praying, counting or repeating words silently.
* Avoidance behaviours - after some time the person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder begins to avoid certain situations and behaviours in order to escape the anxiety associated with obsessional thoughts. As a result of this avoidance they often lead quite restricted lifestyles.
* People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder usually recognise that their obsessions and compulsions are unnecessary or senseless but feel unable to stop them. For this reason people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are often embarrassed by their symptoms and try to hide them from friends and relatives. Not surprisingly it is often referred to as ‘the hidden disorder’.
How Common Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder was once thought to be a very rare condition. However we now know that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition which affects one in every forty people.
Can Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Be Successfully Treated ?
There are two forms of treatment that are particularly helpful in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The first treatment is known as behaviour therapy and the other is a medical treatment. Medical treatment requires the person to take tablets known as serotonergic re-uptake inhibitors. Often a combination of the above treatments is most helpful.
*Source: Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Support Service Inc (OCDSS)
