What is OCD?

OCD is represented by diverse symptoms inclusive of:

• Obsessions- intrusive and recurrent thought’s, feeling’s and idea’s such as thoughts of contamination, unwanted sexual thoughts, religious obsessions, etc.
• Compulsions- conscious, standard and recurrent behaviour/s like counting, checking, etc.
• A person may experience either obsessions or compulsions or even both. An individual with OCD recognizes the irrationality of his/her obsessions and views his/her compulsion as an unwanted behaviour.

Who is affected?

It’s estimated around 12 in every 1,000 people are affected by the condition. OCD affects men, women and children. The condition typically starts to significantly interfere with a person’s life during early adulthood, although problems can develop at any age.

Living with OCD

OCD will cause you considerable fear and distress. They will take up a significant amount of time, and disrupt your ability to carry on with your day-to-day to life. Many people with OCD experience feelings of shame and loneliness which often stops them from seeking help. They try to cope with OCD alone, until the symptoms are so severe they can’t hide them anymore. OCD is also known to have a close association with depression, and some people find obsessions appear or get worse when they are depressed.

Stigma

People with OCD are often reluctant to seek help because they feel ashamed or embarrassed. However, if you have OCD, there is nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. It is a long-term health condition like diabetes or asthma, and it is not your fault you have it. Seeking help is important because it is unlikely your symptoms will improve if left untreated, and they may get worse.

You should visit your Psychiatrists if you think you may have OCD. Initially, they will probably ask a number of questions about your symptoms and how they affect you.

What are the common signs of OCD?

• A fear of failing to prevent harm
• Imagining doing harm
• Intrusive sexual thoughts
• Religious or blasphemous thoughts
• Fear of contamination
• an excessive concern with order or symmetry
• Illness or physical symptoms
• Repeating actions
• Focusing on a number – e.g. having to buy three of everything
• Washing or cleaning – e.g. having to wash your hands very frequently in order to feel clean
• Checking – e.g. reading through an email ten times before sending it
• Ordering or arranging – e.g. keeping food organised by colour in the fridge

Avoidance

You might find that some objects or experiences make your obsessions or compulsions worse, and you try to avoid them as a result. For example, if you fear contamination, you might avoid eating and drinking anywhere except in your own home. Avoiding things can have a major impact on your life.

Causes of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Genetics

Genetics is thought to play a part in some cases of OCD & it runs in Family. Research suggests OCD may be the result of certain inherited genes that affect the development of the brain.

Brain differences

Brain imaging studies have shown some people with OCD have differences in certain parts of their brain, including increased activity and blood flow, and a lack of the brain chemical serotonin.

Serotonin

Serotonin may play a part in OCD. Serotonin is responsible for regulating a number of the body’s functions, including mood, anxiety, memory and sleep. Medication that increases the levels of serotonin in the brain, such as certain types of antidepressant, have proven effective in treating OCD.

Life events

OCD may be more common in people with a history of having experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse, neglect, social isolation, teasing or bullying.

Personality

People with certain personality traits may be more likely to have OCD. For example, if you are a neat, meticulous, methodical person with high standards – a “perfectionist” – you may be more likely to develop the condition.

OCD may also be a result of simply being more prone to becoming tense and anxious than most people, or having a very strong sense of responsibility for yourself and others.

Related problems

Some people with OCD may also have or develop other serious mental health problems, including:

• Depression – a condition that typically causes lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness, or a loss of interest in the things you used to enjoy
• Eating disorders – conditions characterized by an abnormal attitude towards food that cause you to change your eating habits and behavior
• Generalised anxiety disorder – a condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event
• Hoarding disorder – a condition that involves excessively acquiring items and not being able to throw them away, resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment

Treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) depends on the how much the condition is affecting your daily life.
The two main treatments are:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) involving graded exposure and response prevention (ERP) – therapy that encourages you to face your fear and let the obsessive thoughts occur without “putting them right” or “neutralizing” them with compulsions
• Medication – to control your symptoms by altering the balance of chemicals in your brain e.g SSRI
• Further specialist treatment may sometimes be necessary if you have tried all the treatments above and your OCD is still not under control.