OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder): symptoms, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Understanding OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

What is OCD (

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or obsessive compulsive disorder is a common type of chronic or long-term anxiety disorder. This mental disorder causes a person to have uncontrollable (obsessive) thoughts, which leads him to engage in repetitive (compulsive) behaviors.

Furthermore, the meaning of OCD can be translated into the following explanation:

• What is obsessive?

Obsessive thoughts are thoughts, ideas, or impulses that are constantly arising out of control in a person's mind. These thoughts that arise are not what OCD sufferers want. In fact, sometimes, they also find the thought absurd and very annoying.

However, these disturbing thoughts cannot be controlled, and they may be in the sufferer's mind all the time. The thoughts or obsessions that are typical for OCD sufferers include fear of being contaminated by germs from other people or the environment, thinking that everything must be organized or neat and symmetrical, and so on.

• What is compulsiveness?

Compulsiveness is behavior, action, or ritual that is repeated. Generally, this behavior is done in response to obsessiveness. People with OCD try to get rid of disturbing thoughts by engaging in certain behaviors according to rules or steps that they make themselves.

The behaviors or compulsiveness typical of people with this disorder can be related to the thoughts that come up, but they may also not be related at all. For example, taking a shower or washing your hands many times for fear of being contaminated, ordering or arranging things in a certain way, and so on.

For people with OCD, taking these actions can make their thoughts and feelings of anxiety go away. However, sadly, this relief never lasted long. Over time, the obsessive thoughts will come back stronger and the compulsive actions will repeat itself.

In fact, in severe cases, this cycle of obsessive compulsiveness can persist until it interferes with your normal activities.

How common is this condition?

Based on published studies The Journal of clinical psychiatry by 2020, about one percent of people in the world experience obsessive compulsive disorder . Meanwhile, women are 1.6 times more likely to experience OCD than men.

This disease often starts in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood. Generally, symptoms begin to appear when you are under 20 years of age. These symptoms can often be resolved, but not completely eliminated. For further information please contact your doctor.

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a person suffering from OCD?

The signs and symptoms of OCD are usually obsessive and compulsive behaviors that are not caused by drug use or other conditions. However, a person may only experience obsessive or compulsive symptoms.

Obsessive symptoms

Thoughts or obsessions in people with OCD keep appearing repeatedly. This can be annoying and cause stress or anxiety in the sufferer.

Some obsessive thoughts that often arise, such as:

• Thoughts are afraid of being contaminated with dirt or germs.
• Thinking that everything must be orderly and symmetrical.
• Aggressive or terrible thoughts about hurting yourself or others.
• Disturbing sexual thoughts or images.
• Repetitive thoughts about certain sounds, pictures, words, or numbers.
• Excessive thoughts about right / wrong, religion, and morals.
• The mind is afraid of losing or throwing away something important.

From that thought, some of the most common obsessive signs and symptoms are:

• Don't want to touch objects that other people have touched.
• Disgust with dirt or body fluids.
• Doubt that you have locked the door or turned off the stove.
• Intense stress when objects are untidy or facing in a certain direction.
• The thought of hurting yourself or others.
• Avoiding situations that could lead to obsessiveness, such as shaking hands.
• Annoyed by sexually unpleasant images that keep repeating itself in your mind.
• Worried that a task has been done poorly.
• Fear of using profanity or insults.

Compulsive symptoms

Compulsive behavior in people with OCD is generally done repeatedly. These repeated actions aim to prevent or reduce the anxiety caused by your obsessions.

Compulsive actions are usually associated with washing and cleaning, checking, counting, order, following a strict routine, or demanding bail. The following are examples of compulsive signs and symptoms in sufferers obsessive compulsive disorder :

• Wash your hands excessively until your skin becomes chafed.
• Shower, brush your teeth, or go to the bathroom repeatedly.
• Cleaning household appliances repeatedly.
• Checked the door repeatedly to make sure it was locked.
• Check the stove repeatedly to make sure it's off.
• Count in a certain pattern.
• Silently repeat a prayer, word, or phrase.
• Organize or organize items in a certain way.
• Keeping newspapers, letters, or certain containers even though they are no longer needed.
• Checking in on your loved ones, such as spouse, children, other family members, or friends, repeatedly to make sure they are safe.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a condition that usually starts in adolescence. Symptoms usually start gradually, come and go, and tend to vary throughout your life. The severity of the symptoms can be mild, moderate, to severe, and tends to worsen when under severe stress.

When should I see a doctor?

Obsessive compulsive disorder is different from perfectionism which demands perfect results. The thoughts of someone with OCD are more than just worries, and they often affect your life.

Therefore, if you have any of the symptoms or signs mentioned above, especially if they have interfered with your daily activities and affected your life, you should consult a doctor or mental health professional, both a psychologist and a psychiatrist. You also need to consult an expert immediately if you have thoughts of committing suicide.

Causes of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

So far, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of obsessive compulsive disorder. However, several factors may influence the onset of this disease, including:

• Biological factors

Some studies have found that OCD may occur due to changes in natural chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, or your brain function. A person with this disease may have insufficient serotonin so he tends to repeat the same behavior over and over.

• Genetic factors

This disease may occur due to genetic factors passed down in the family. However, the genes that might influence this condition have not been identified.

• Environmental factor

The environment may also be the cause of OCD disease. These include childhood trauma, or the so-called streptococcus infection Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), or obsessive compulsive behavior learned from observing family members over time.

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk or trigger you to develop OCD include:

• Have a parent or family member with obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Some traumatic events that make you feel emotionally depressed can increase your risk of developing OCD and trigger symptoms to recur.
• Other mental health disorders. Obsessive compulsive disorder are conditions that may be related to other mental conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse or tic disorders.

Diagnosis & treatment of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are some of the common tests that are commonly done to detect obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Your doctor or mental health professional will diagnose OCD based on your symptoms. Then, they will perform a clinical examination to determine the cause of the symptoms.

The general examination test is a psychological evaluation. This test is done by discussing thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns to determine whether these symptoms are obsessive and compulsive in people with OCD. In this test, a mental health professional will also ask about your condition through your family or relatives.

In addition, the doctor may also perform a physical examination and various other diagnostic tests. This test can help your doctor to see if another medical condition is causing your symptoms or check for any complications that might occur.

It should also be understood that the symptoms of OCD are sometimes similar to other mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and disorders obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). In fact, OCD and OCPD are different, as are other mental illnesses. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of all symptoms you are experiencing in order to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.

How do you deal with obsessive compulsive disorder?

OCD is a disease that cannot be completely cured. However, treatment from a doctor or mental health professional can help control your symptoms so that you can carry out normal activities. The following are the forms of treatment that are commonly given for obsessive compulsive disorder :

1. Medicines

Your doctor may prescribe medication to control obsessive and compulsive disorders in people with OCD. In general, antidepressant drugs, which are commonly given to treat depression, are doctors' first choice. Some antidepressant drugs that are often given, namely:

• Clomipramine (Anafranil).
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox CR).
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva).
• Sertraline (Zoloft).
• Citalopram.
• Escitalopram.

To be effective, doctors usually recommend more than one type of drug. Often, doctors also prescribe antipsychotic drugs to help control symptoms. However, it should also be understood that the effectiveness of these drugs may not be immediately apparent. At the very least, it can take weeks or months for symptoms to improve.

2. Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy / CBT) is an effective method of treating obsessive compulsive disorder. This therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to help individuals change the way they think, feel and behave. This type of therapy refers to two forms of treatment, namely:

• Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

Exposure what is meant here is the exposure of situations and objects that trigger your fear and anxiety, such as poop. In this therapy, you will be gradually exposed to the object to get used to it.

While , response prevention or response prevention refers to the behavior or rituals performed by people with OCD to reduce anxiety. This treatment helps you learn to fight the urge to engage in compulsive behavior after an exposure that makes you anxious.

• Cognitive therapy

This type of therapy aims to eliminate compulsive behavior. In this therapy, you will be taught healthy and effective ways to respond to your obsessive thoughts.

Home treatment of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

Lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with obsessive compulsive disorder include:

• Take medicine from the doctor as recommended. Don't stop taking your medication without your doctor's knowledge, even if you feel better, as it can bring back obsessive compulsive symptoms.
• Learn and practice certain techniques and skills to help control symptoms as taught by your therapist.
• Watch for any changes in yourself that are signs that your symptoms are on the way. Ask your doctor what you should do if these signs occur.
• Come on support group which can help with your OCD.
• Doing activities that you enjoy and are healthy for, such as recreation.
• Exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and get enough sleep.
• Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol.
• Find ways to relieve stress that work for you, such as meditation, massage, yoga, tai chi, or something else.
• Keep doing normal activities, such as work, school, and socializing with family and friends.

If you have other questions, consult your doctor to find the best solution for your disease

Complications of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

What are the possible complications of OCD?

Obsessive compulsive disorder can cause new health problems. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, here are some of the complications of OCD that may occur:

• Running out of time for other activities because of your excessive behavior or rituals.
• Difficulty doing work, school, or social activities.
• Skin health problems, such as contact dermatitis due to frequent hand washing.
• Having relationship problems with other people.
• Have a poor quality of life overall.
• Having suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) prevention

Is there any way you can prevent obsessive compulsive disorder?

The cause of obsessive compulsive disorder is unknown. Therefore, there is no sure way that can prevent this disease.

Even once you have OCD, you will have the disease for life. However, with early diagnosis and treatment, you can prevent symptoms from coming back and lower the risk of complications that can further disrupt your life. Ask your doctor or mental health professional for more information.