Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, affects an average 1.7% of the population according to the Stanford University School of Medicine. The recognition of this psychological disorder has grown in the recent years. As the knowledge of this disorder becomes more prevalent, those suffering have become more willing to seek help (OCDA).
OCD is a condition “in which people experience repetitive and upsetting thoughts and/or behaviors” (OCDA). While there are many variation of the disease, those suffering from OCD show signs in either or both of two categories: obsession and compulsion. The obsessive factor varies from thoughts to images or to impulses. These obsessions are often frequent, upsetting, and difficult to get rid of. An example might be an unreasonable fear about germs, dirt, and/or contamination. According to a study by Rasmussen and Eisen in 1992, it is most common for people to suffer from multiple obsessions (Stanford). There is a large range of what these obsessions might be.
Similar to obsession, the compulsion factor also has many different variations. Compulsions are common ways for those suffering from OCD to cope with the stresses due to an obsession (OCDA). They are defined as “repetitive and seemingly purposeful behaviors or mental acts performed to rigid rules” (Stanford). Those inflicted are often subjected to these acts such as repetitive washing, counting, or praying. However, the completion of these acts still offers little relief and no pleasure.
Many more than 1.7% of the population suffers from similar experiences and/or thoughts. Nearly everyone has double checked if they locked a door or put something away. The difference is when the...
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Works Cited
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Heyman, Isobel. "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children." Psychiatry. 2003. Institute of Psychiatry and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. 22 Nov. 2006
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"OCF." Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. 2006. 22 Nov. 2006
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Packer, Leslie E. "TIPS for Accommodating Students with OCD." About Those Band-Aids. 2004. Challenging Kids, Inc. 22 Nov. 2006
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"Psychiatry." Psychiatry: Obessive Compulsive and Related Disorders Research Program. Stanford University. 22 Nov. 2006 .
The introduction of cattle ranching industries in the 1960s set the forefront for current Brazilian rainforest deforestation figures. During this time, development subsidy programs encouraged Brazilians to clear rainforest for pastureland and invest in new cattle ranches (Pancheco). Over the last 40 years, Brazil has destroyed 700,00 square kilometers of rainforest, an area about the size of Texas (BBC) (Enchanted Lear...
Obsessive compulsive disorder is believed to be linked to other disorders and disabilities. The symptoms cause a lot of stress and anxiety and it could lead to depression. OCD can develop over time or be something one is born with. Many people suffer from this disorder but there are different ways to treat the symptoms such as cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. OCD is a very common yet serious disorder that does not seem significant to those who do not have it but it is not something that should ever be ignored.
The Amazon Rain Forest Is in Danger of Being Destroyed" by Devadas Vittal. Rain Forests. HaiSong Harvey, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2002. Reprinted from Devadas Vittal, Introduction: What Is the Amazon Rainforest? Internet: http://www.homepages.go.com/homepages/d/v/i/dvittal/amazon/intro.html, November 1999, by permission of the author. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010021212&mode=view
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder that can be best characterized by the recurrent or disturbing thoughts that are labeled as obsessions. Sometime these obsessions can take on the form of intrusive images or the unwanted impulses. The compulsions can come from the repetitive or ritualized behaviors that a person feels driven to perform on a daily basis. The majority of people with the diagnosis of OCD can have both obsessions and compulsions, but most of the times about 20% have obsessions alone while 10% may have the compulsions alone (Goodman M.D., 2013) . Common types that have been illustrated in individual’s diagnoses with OCD can be characterized with concerns of contamination, safety or harm to themselves, unwanted acts of aggression, the unacceptable sexual or religious thoughts, and the need for symmetry or exactness. While some of the most common compulsion can be characterized as excessive cleaning, checking, ordering, and arranging rituals or the counting and repeating routines activities that are done sometimes on a daily basis multiple times in a day.
Murgueza, J.; Aramayo, R. orgs. Kant después de Kant: en el Bicentenario de la Critica de la Razon Práctica; Madrid, Tecnos, 1989
OCD is an anxiety disorder that is described as someone with obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behavior. People with OCD are caught up in repetitive behavior and thoughts that they cannot stop. Obsession is defined as unwanted, recurrent, and disturbing thoughts that a person cannot stop. These thoughts are unable to be suppressed and can result in severe anxiety. Compulsions are the result of the obsession. These are repetitive, ritualized behaviors that are done to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsession. (2) The most common obsessions are fear of contamination, fear of causing harm to another, fear of making a mistake, fear of behaving in a socially unacceptable manner, need for symmetry or exactness, and excessive doubt. The most common compulsions are cleaning/washing, checking, arranging/organizing, collecting/hoarding, and counting/repeating. (3) Some people with OCD have rituals that help relieve the anxiety; however, that relief is only temporary. (4) Most patients (at least 80%) with OCD have both obs...
People with OCD typically try to make their obsessions go away by performing compulsions. Compulsions are acts the person performs over and over again, often according to certain "rules." People with an obsession about contamination may wash constantly to the point that their hands become raw and inflamed. A person may repeatedly check that she has turned off the stove or iron because of an obsessive fear of burning the house down.
Many American citizens may be familiar with the medical term Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but do they truly know what it means and also distinguish some frequent signs and symptoms, OCD can be defined as “a type of anxiety disorder involving the repeated occurrence of obsessions and/or compulsions” (Navid, 2003, p.572). Navid (2003) goes as far as to characterize obsession as nagging, intrusive thoughts the person feels they have no control over. With reference to compulsion, a repetitive set of behaviors or routine an individual feels obligated to fulfill over and over. An example would be the feeling of germs violating the exterior of one’s body which causes them to react by constantly re- showering or vigorously washing their hands (Navid, 2003). There are endless possibilities of “rituals” that one performs under this mental disorder. To proceed further into the realm of this affliction component such as age and gender also play a role in how Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects the life of an individual.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry. The acts of those who have OCD may appear paranoid and potentially psychotic. However, OCD sufferers generally recognize their obsessions and compulsions as irrational and may become further distressed by this realization. Obsessive–compulsive disorder affects children and adolescents, as well as adults. Roughly one third to one half of adults with OCD reports a childhood onset of the disorder, suggesting the continuum of anxiety disorders across the life span. OCD may be a result of changes in your body's own natural chemistry or brain functions. OCD also may have a genetic component, but specific genes have yet to be identified. OCD may stem from behavior-related habits that you learned over time. Doctors do not know the exact cause of OCD, factors that may play a role include head injury, infections, and abnormal function in certain areas of the brain and family genes seems to play a strong role. Most people who develop OCD it shows the symptoms by age 30. Often the person carries out the behaviors to get rid of the obsessive thoughts, but this only provides temporary relief. Not doing the obsessive rituals can cause great anxiety.
Hanson, E. M (2012) “Immanuel Kant: Radical Evil” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy . [Date Accessed 9/11/13] http://www.iep.utm.edu/rad-evil/
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a disease that a lot of people suffer with in society especially young adults. While it is not a disease that is deadly, it does affect the victim in every day aspects of their life and can ultimately control their lives. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as, “… a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over”. The thoughts that individuals have when suffering through Obsessive Compulsive Disorder cannot be restrained and really can disturb the individual. Thoughts or actions that people may have can range from worrying about daily occurrences, such as washing their hands, to having thoughts of harming people that are close to them. People tend to have these reoccurring compulsions because they believe by doing them or thinking them, they will either prevent something bad from happening or because it eliminates stress that they have. This disease can last a lifetime and can be very detrimental and disabling to how one lives their lives. Individuals can start to see signs of OCD in either late adolescence or even early adulthood and everyone is susceptible. When it comes to classifying this incurable disease, there is much debate on whether or not it a type of anxiety (Abramowitz, Taylor, & McKay, 2009). It is important to be able to understand this mental disorder since so many people are diagnosed with it. While there are treatments for OCD, there are no cures yet. Treatments could range anywhere from taking prescribed medication to just going to therapy and counseling fo...
People that have OCD find it hard to lead normal lives. They tend to suffer from recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and perform the same rituals (compulsions) that they feel that they cannot control. The rituals or compulsions they have can be anything from washing their hands over and over, to counting, or even cleaning. People who suffer from OCD can only ease their anxiety by performing these rituals. The obsessive or intrusive thoughts are what cause people to behave in this manner. OCD is a very real, chronic, often severe condition unless treated that can result in considerable long-term suffering.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined as an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions) and an urge or compulsion to do something to relieve the discomfort caused by the obsession (Mental Health Network, 2000). The obsessive thought range from the idea of losing control, to themes surrounding religion or keeping things or parts of one’s body clean all the time. Compulsions are behaviors that help reduce the anxiety surrounding the obsessions. 90% of the people who have OCD have both obsessions and compulsions. The thoughts and behaviors a person with OCD has are senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcome.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is classified as an anxiety disorder that’s marked by the recurrence of disturbing thoughts, images, impulses, or obsessions followed by repeated attempts to conceal these thoughts (Fitzgerald, 2015). The illness affects as many as 12 in every 1000 people (1.2% of the population) from young children to adults, regardless of gender or social or cultural background (Cloke, 2011). Obsessions are impulses or images that keep occurring in your head. The key function of compulsions is to alleviate anxiety caused by the obsessions (Starcevic, 2011). These compulsions can sometimes cause anxiety once the obsession gets stronger. OCD usually causes discomfort for the person because of the repeating thoughts.