Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a psychiatric anxiety disorder that is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts along with repetitive behaviors. These unwanted thoughts are called obsessions and the repetitive behaviors are called compulsions. Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, checking, counting, and cleaning are usually performed with the hope of making these obsessive thoughts go away or even preventing them. These repetitive behaviors are often referred to as ‘rituals’. People with OCD perform these rituals to help deal with the anxiety that the obsessions cause. These rituals only provide temporary relief for the person and usually end up controlling their life. About one in every fifty adults have OCD and about two in fifty adults have had OCD at some point during their lives. There are many treatments that are now available and effective to help you regain your normal life.

A person is usually diagnosed with OCD when they have worries, doubts, beliefs, or thoughts so excessive that it starts to affect their normal daily lives. Their compulsions, or rituals, usually go along with their obsessions. For example, if someone had a fear of germs they might wash their hands excessively and even to the point where their hands start to bleed. If they have an obsession with intruders, they may check that their doors are locked several times at night before they go to sleep. Without doing this, they may not be able to fall asleep at all. The most common compulsions are checking and washing. Other common compulsions include counting, collecting, repeating, and rearranging objects.

OCD can start at anytime between early childhood and adulthood. Between one third to one half of adults diagnosed wit...

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...ffects it caused him and he had to stop taking it. He stopped visiting the psychiatrist after six months of no improvement in his compulsive behaviors. A different method was used to treat his OCD after this, which was gradually exposing him to his obsessions and teaching him how to prevent the compulsive behaviors. After this treatment was completed, Michael has learned to resist all of his compulsions and obsessions and doesn’t even think of checking anything twice now. He has since then returned to a normal lifestyle.

In conclusion, OCD is a serious anxiety disorder that can cause great interference in your normal life if not treated. But, if treated, it can be cured easily and you will be able to return to a normal life. If any of these symptoms are present, you should seek treatment because if left untreated the problem will become gradually worse overtime.

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