Without appropriate treatment, obsessive-compulsive symptoms become chronic and may even grow worse over time. Get Directions Contact Us. While there is no singular cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it can be helpful to understand some of the underlying factors behind the diagnosis. Understanding the Causes of PCH Blog. Fully licensed, board-certified clinicians Privacy guaranteed. Please describe the nature of your problem: Please leave this field empty.
Call us today toll-free Categories: Treatment. Our Programs. OCD Specific Program. Obsessive thoughts tend to have a theme, such as fear of germs, the need for symmetry, or intrusive thoughts about harming yourself or others. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors you find impossible to ignore. You might think that doing them will relieve stress, but that effect is temporary, leading you to do them again. Compulsions can also follow a theme, such as counting, washing, or a constant need for reassurance.
Signs include:. Many people with OCD are fully aware that their thoughts and behaviors are irrational but feel powerless to stop them. Others may experience delusional thinking, believing their obsessions and compulsions are a normal or typical way to protect from a threat they believe to be very real.
OCD is chronic disorder in 60 to 70 percent of cases. When considering lowered quality of life and loss of income, OCD was once one of the top 10 debilitating illnesses worldwide, and anxiety disorders in general remain among the top In addition to the burden of treatment costs, studies show an average loss of 46 workdays a year due to OCD.
Some people with OCD also develop a tic disorder. This can cause sudden repetitive movements such as blinking, shrugging, throat clearing, or sniffing. Most people are diagnosed by age 19 , though it can occur at any age. This may involve:. There are several tests to assess OCD severity. It includes 54 common obsessions and compulsions grouped by theme. The doctor rates obsessions and compulsions on a scale of 0 to 25 according to severity.
A total score of 26 to 34 indicates moderate to severe symptoms and 35 and above indicates severe symptoms. There are effective treatments for OCD, but they require patience. It can take several weeks to several months to start feeling better. When choosing medications, your doctor will start with the lowest possible dose and increase as needed.
It may take some trial and error to find the right medication and dosage. Ask your doctor to explain possible side effects and drug interactions. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that addresses the relationship of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A therapist will help you adjust your thoughts to affect your actions. The symptoms of OCD can feel severe and overwhelming. In most cases, people with OCD realize that their obsessions are irrational.
The feelings obsessions trigger, such as disgust, doubt, or fear, are very real and intense. People who experience these obsessions are compelled to do something in a particular, and often a time-consuming way to alleviate these negative, intense and anxious feelings, even if they understand on an intellectual level that the obsessions and subsequent compulsions do not make any sense.
What separates OCD from an obsessive-compulsive personality trait is if the obsessions and compulsions disrupt activities that the person normally values. Also, most people will have intrusive thoughts from time to time. But what separates people with a clinical disorder from those who do not have a disorder is the level of anxiety those thoughts trigger. People with OCD cannot move on from intrusive thoughts. They are gripped with negative feelings and must engage in compulsions to dispel those feelings.
A compulsion is a behavior that a person with disturbing obsessions performs to lessen their feelings of anxiety or distress concerning the obsession. Compulsions are often repetitive in nature.
In some cases, a compulsion could be a mental ritual that a person must engage in to alleviate their anxiety. For people who suffer from OCD, they believe that performing a compulsion is the only way to relieve their distress.
Unfortunately, compulsions only reinforce the obsession, creating a cycle that worsens as long as the OCD remains unaddressed and untreated. There are several common themes regarding obsessions and the compulsions in people with OCD.
Contamination from germs, bodily fluids, chemicals, dirt, and environmental pollutants is an extremely common obsession. People with OCD will fear infection or disease from certain triggers. Intrusive, and disturbing sexual images are another common obsession with OCD sufferers.
These obsessions can be incredibly debilitating, distressing, and embarrassing. Some people with OCD may have a preoccupation with God or other religious themes. They may become obsessive about morality and fear committing blasphemous acts. In cases of obsessions regarding contamination, many people with OCD will engage in ceremonial hand washing, bathing, or grooming techniques.
They may clean their homes or other objects several times over if they fear their body or possessions are contaminated. These rituals can take up a lot of time and prevent people from engaging in valuable activities they may need to perform or otherwise enjoy. OCD sufferers will often engage in repetitive behaviors, such as tapping a body part or repeating a word or an action to alleviate disturbing mental imagery.
Counting while performing a task to a number that is deemed good or safe is another common compulsion. Sufferers may repeat certain body movements, such as waving their arms a certain way.
They may have to put objects in order a specific way or touch something in a pattern to alleviate anxiety. In cases of religious obsessions, they may pray compulsively to prevent harm or something terrible from happening when triggered. Left untreated, OCD can lead to other severe mental health conditions, such as anxiety and panic attacks, and depression. Untreated mental health conditions are also a significant source of drug and alcohol addiction.
People will often turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the distress of an untreated mental disorder. They can miss school, work, and their personal and professional relationships can suffer under the weight of an untreated mental health condition.
Intrusive, disturbing thoughts, and the pressure and subsequent exhaustion that a person feels after performing compulsions leads them to isolate themselves socially. Social isolation makes it harder for people to seek help from others and may prolong the negative impacts of the disease. OCD can also cause someone to avoid certain situations or places that can trigger an obsession. Isolation and loneliness can lead to depression.
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