OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

What is OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a mental illness that leads to recurrent annoying thoughts or sensations (obsessions). It may also cause an urge to do something repeatedly (compulsions). Some individuals can face both obsessions and compulsions.

OCD may be more than simple habits such as thinking negatively or biting your nails. In some cases, one may face an obsessive thought about specific numbers or colors being “good” or “bad.” Another compulsive habit associated with OCD is washing hands at least seven times after touching something. One may feel helpless to stop these actions.

Individuals with OCD can develop thoughts or actions that are unpleasant, uncontrollable, and/or take up at least an hour a day. These thoughts can interfere with work, social life, or personal life.

Stages and Types of OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCD cannot be categorized into any specific types. However, there are common symptom categories of OCD. These may be described as “types.” An OCD sufferer may have any obsessive thoughts/compulsive behavior. Nevertheless, the following categories are the most common:

Aggressive and Sexual Thoughts: This is a common type of obsession associated to fear of the following:

• Causing harm to others
• Lashing out violently
• Getting violent, aggressive images repeatedly

The above-listed thoughts may also be sexual. A person with OCD may fear behaving in a sexually inappropriate way. They experience recurring, distressing sexual imagery.

Harm to Loved Ones: Some individuals may fear that some harm may come to their loved ones. For instance, a parent may obsess over the thought that their child will be kidnapped, a wife may fear that her husband may die or leave her at any time, a child may fear the safety of his/her parent, etc. Compulsive behavior can be anything used to prevent potential harm from occurring.

Germs and Contamination: This is an obsessive fear of germs and an extreme need to wash hands suddenly. This is a common feature of OCD. Many people diagnosed with OCD seriously fear germs or other types of contamination. They make all efforts to avoid situations and activities that trigger this fear.

Doubt and Incompleteness: OCD may cause recurrent thoughts about not doing something correctly or completely. For instance, one may doubt about not having locked the door or leaving the kitchen stove on before leaving the house. These obsessive thoughts trigger compulsive checking behaviors, such as checking multiple times to be sure things have been done appropriately.

Sin, Religion, and Morality: This type of OCD can result in obsessive fear or concern about being immoral or indulging in some kind of sin. They may pray impulsively or ask for forgiveness repeatedly.

Order and Symmetry: Having things organized and ordered is a common obsession with OCD. Individuals suffering from these thoughts tend to spend excessive time arranging and ordering objects. These individuals may also spend a considerable amount of time visualizing symmetry. Some people may even have superstitions about patterns, numbers, and symmetry.

Self-Control: A persistent fear of losing control over something and doing something inappropriate can be OCD. For instance, some individuals may fear yelling something in public, harming someone, having sexual obsessions, etc. These obsessions may force one to avoid being around others, leading to isolation.

The above-listed OCD types are merely groups of the most common symptoms experienced by patients. OCD can lead to any obsessive thoughts. Some of the other examples of thoughts associated with this condition include the following:

• Fears about specific relationships
• Obsessive beliefs in magic and magical thinking
• Obsessions associated with one’s body (blinking, grinding teeth, rubbing hands, breathing patterns, etc.)

Symptoms of OCD

OCD can show symptoms of obsessions and compulsions that seriously interfere with everyday activities. Individuals with OCD may be fully aware of their problems but cannot stop. The most common obsessive thoughts associated with this disorder include:

• Fear of making a mistake.
• Fear of germs/dirt.
• Feelings of doubt or disgust.
• Fear of causing harm to someone else.
• Obsessive need for order, neatness, symmetry, or perfection.
• Fear of being embarrassed in public.
• Sexual thoughts are considered unacceptable by society.
• Cleaning or washing hands over and over.
• Bathing again and again.
• Arranging things repeatedly (in a specific way)
• Counting constantly
• Repeating/saying certain words/prayers while performing other tasks.
• Need for constant reassurance.
• Collecting/hoarding things
• Constantly checking that you have not done someone harm.
• Checking/reassuring certain things repeatedly
• Eating food in a specific order.
• Avoiding/Refusing to shake hands
• Not touching objects that other people touch a lot
• Doing a task a certain number of times (tapping screen/wall three times, flipping a light switch seven times, etc.)
• People with OCD may also have twitches (brief, impulsive, repetitive movements or actions such as snorting, shrugging shoulders, sniffling nose, throat clearing, jerking head, and blinking eyes.)

Risk Factors of OCD

The following listed may be the major contributors to OCD:

Age and Gender: The condition is most commonly triggered in young adults or older teens. Adolescence is mainly a period of increased vulnerability for the development of OCD. Males are more prone to experiencing the onset of OCD. Females are more prone to develop OCD in adolescence.

Gender: Gender is a risk factor for developing OCD. It can vary with age. Males are at greater risk of developing OCD as children. On the other hand, women develop this disorder in their 20s.

Genetics: Individuals with family members having OCD are at high risk of developing the disorder.

Other Mental Health Conditions: OCD has a risk of comorbidity with another mental illness. People with OCD symptoms can also have other conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. The most common mental illnesses that exist with OCD include social phobia, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, specific phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Life Events and Stress: Distressing life events, mainly those that occurred in childhood or adolescence, can contribute to risk factors for OCD onset. These traumatic events include the divorce of parents, sexual/physical assault, the death of a parent/loved one and witnessing marital violence.

Pregnancy and Postpartum: Expectant mothers may face high levels of stress impacting offspring. This increases the overall risk of the child developing OCD later in life. Pregnancy and birth can trigger OCD in some women.

Learned Behaviors: Obsessive fears and compulsive behaviors may be adapted from watching people in the family or close circle.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse: OCD in childhood may increase the likelihood of people engaging in drugs and alcohol. Drug and alcohol misuse are also associated with the onset of OCD. Substance misuse leads to chemical changes in the brain, which increases vulnerability to OCD.

Marital Status: Marriage can act as a buffer against daily stress. Hence, OCD symptoms can be less overwhelming for married individuals.

Employment Status: Unemployment can increase the risk factor for OCD. Being unemployed can have wide-ranging effects on physical and mental well-being. This further increases the risk of developing.

Causes of OCD

The main cause of OCD is unknown. However, studies indicate that OCD sufferers have specific areas of the brain unable to respond normally to serotonin (a chemical used by nerve cells to communicate with each other).

Numerous studies have revealed that lower levels of serotonin can trigger OCD symptoms. However, certain risk factors can increase the chance of developing this life-altering disorder.

Serotonin plays a crucial part in the onset of OCD. A wide range of external factors also impact individuals living with the disorder. These may vary with individuals significantly more vulnerable to developing OCD symptoms before adulthood.

Cognitive, genetic, neurological, environmental, and behavioral factors may contribute to OCD.

Prevention of Diabetes

There is no single way, medication, or method to prevent obsessive-compulsive disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment can help control symptoms and prevent them from worsening. Reaching out to a medical professional can prevent the disorder from disrupting usual activities and daily routine.

Through proper treatment, patients can control their symptoms by controlling the time spent on obsessive and compulsive behavior.

Most cases of OCD can be effectively treated using medication and psychotherapy. A doctor may also prescribe a combination of both.

Through continuing treatment, patients can get long-term relief from their symptoms. This can help patients lead every day and healthy lives.

Frequently Asked Questions