Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness that entails a bunch of symptoms that may cause a person or repeat unwanted thoughts (obsession) or have an urge to do something repeatedly (compulsion).

Some people may possess both symptoms. People suffering from this malaise may indulge in a loop of repetitive actions to an obsessive extent. These are impulse-driven and the person may end up feeling defenseless. OCD treatments can help people in managing and keeping their obsessions under control.

OCD treatments cannot entirely swoosh away the symptoms, but it makes the victim in charge of themselves. People enduring its symptoms are overly organized, orchestrated, and diligent. It can invite a lot of distress in a person’s life by wreaking havoc in their personal and work life.

The major trigger of OCD is anxiety. It is essential to recognize the trouble spots and use an efficacious course of treatment.

TYPES OF OCD

OCD may occur in different forms but it typically falls into at least one category mentioned below:

1) Checking: People are obsessively checking locks, alarm systems, bells, ovens, or light switches. Even if they are off, they constantly keep scrutinizing over. Sometimes, there might be an irrational belief that the victim is pregnant or schizophrenic.

2) Contamination: They worry that things are untidy and disarranged.

3) Symmetry and order: Having a definite symmetry is very important for these victims. They feel ill at ease if something seems grotesque.

4) Ruminations and intrusive thoughts: They may keep churning in the same thoughts and go into a spiral. These thoughts are often futile and self-destructive. They may even be violent.

OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS

Obsessive thought may occur to a person without them wanting to think about it. They may stem from past trauma. The individual feels clobbered with these thoughts. There is little or no sense of self-control. Some of these thoughts include:

1) They perpetually worry about themselves and other people getting harmed.

2) There is an incessant recognition of blinking, breathing, or other body sensations.

3) Trust does not come to them easily. They are usually always skeptical and doubt their significant other without notable evidence.

COMPULSIVE HABITS

When a person cannot restrict the flow of sprawling thoughts, they use compulsive habits to gratify themselves.

1) They follow an order to complete the performance of a task and label numbers as “good” or “bad.”

2) Constant summing up of stairs, bottles, and other things.

3) Highly paranoid of touching things like doorknobs, public toilets, and shaking hands. Working in public settings is distressing for them.

CAUSES

There is a lot we do not understand the underlying causes of OCD. However, researchers believe that the factors mentioned below are major reasons backing its presence:

1) Biology: Alterations in the human body or one’s organic chemistry and brain functions may cause OCD.

2) Genetics: Genes are a substantial ingredient in causing OCD. However, the precise gene is still unknown.

3) Learning: Gathering OCD by watching other people suffering the same malaise is also a possibility.

RISK FACTORS

1) Family history: Parents, siblings, or offspring with OCD can aggravate the risk.

2) Traumatic life experiences: Having past traumatic experiences can prone a person to OCD. The slight occurrence of these may trigger intrusive thoughts and cause overall emotional agony.

3) Other mental health disorders: The existence of other mental disorders can prompt OCD. This may include anxiety, depression, or substance abuse disorders.

TREATMENT

1) Psychotherapy: This may help break the thought loop and alter overall thinking patterns. It can help a person in being more assertive and preventing compulsive reactions. 16-20 sessions are efficacious.

2) Relaxation: Techniques like meditation, yoga, and massage can succor a positive response.

3) Medication: The usage of medicines will dwindle the obsession and compulsion. It takes about 3-4 months to reflect.

A cumulation of all these techniques will help in overall improvement.

CONCLUSION

Realizing that OCD results from anxiety are important. By delving into why a person feels anxious rather than focusing on eliminating their OCD is the takeaway. It inhibits their social life and may often render a person lonely. People may often overlook these symptoms as irrelevant and a part of their disposition.

Talking to a specialist is essential. OCD may embark on childhood traumas and make a person feel safest when they isolate. However, that is perverse and needs treatment. Experiencing psychosomatic symptoms can also be an incident of OCD.