Healthytalk8 OCD is like worrying about cleaning the germs on the hands or things not being perfectly aligned until person feel safe and satisfied.
It is a serious mental disorder that impacts a person’s daily life, where people become overwhelmed by their thoughts and anxiety.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder makes it hard to concentrate, where specific thoughts lead to distressed thoughts (1)
Obsession with anything like checkout the switch button is off or not, before going out, or cleaning the hands again and again to worry about germs.
The good news is, it is treatable but CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and medication are effective and popular treatments for it (2)
Many people have come out of this disease with proper medication and therapies so why not you?
It is not your fault, it is just a different type of brain, many kids grow up with OCD, and therapists can help you get out of this.
Signs and Symptoms of OCD
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You can see signs in your partner like washing hands frequently, before bed switch off the button but again and again, and more signs like.
Here are some common signs of OCD are:
- Check things again and again
- washing hand
- excessive washing
- arranging things in a specific order
- musical obsessions (3) (4)
- obsess about religions and morality
We all have strange ideas sometimes, but in OCD person these thoughts trigger their anxiety, and until they done that work they do not feel safe.
Impact of OCD
It impacts a person’s daily life, it is a serious mental disorder that highly affects a person’s relationship, officer life, and mental health.
It Impacts daily life including:
- OCD can make it hard to focus on work
- spending excessive time on religion and ritual can impact your friendship
- interact with hobbies
obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours).
Why does it Happen?
The exact reason for OCD is still uncovered but there are some top statements about why it happens such as:
Brain Chemistry
Our brains have different spaces to maintain overall mental health, But in OCD little things get out of space which triggers the urge to get things done.
Habits
Sometimes some habits are hard to break, such as washing hands daily due to worrying about germs.
Moreover, these daily activities gradually become habits, where without washing your hands again and again not feel satisfied.
Genetics
Just like type I diabetes, height, and hair, this disease also transfers to the next generation.
Genetics play a vital role in this disease, if in your family someone has OCD, then it may run through to the other family members.
Stressful Events
Childhood scary events can change the way to think and ignite the brain’s other neurons that trigger OCD symptoms.
All these are not the exact reasons, all these are the factors.
There is no exact reason for it, and it is not your fault it is just your brain different chemistry and it is a combination of other things.
OCD and Normal habits
OCD habits can look the same as normal habits, but somewhere it is different from other habits.
Normal habits
- Skip work without any anxious feeling
- doing things one time and skip for a period of time.
- no anxiety and stressed feeling
OCD habits
- Feeling anxious until the patient feels safe.
- interact with daily activities or life.
- doing things again and again like – (managing the bed sheet for hours, until the person feels satisfied.
All have some habits but over time those habits go on their own, but with OCD patients those habits become lifetime stress situations.
So it is good to talk to a professional doctor who can help you to get out of it.
Living with OCD
Many people live with OCD from childhood and growing up with it.
We know that living with it is difficult, but proper support or therapies can help you to get out of it.
Talk to other OCD people so they can you or talk to a professional doctor where proper diagnosis and treatment help you.
OCD does not define you from the inside and outside, it is just a small part of you. Moreover, you can live a happy life again with support and treatment.
OCD Stories
Many people experience OCD and through social media, they share their experience, so share your stories on social media and comment below.
Is this what OCD is really like? #ocd #ocdstories #livingwithocd pic.twitter.com/aUAly28eRc
— Haley Fox (@HangnwithHaley) October 6, 2023
"OCD can sometimes hit you where it matters most. For me, this meant having obsessive thoughts of uncertainty about my relationship." Read our latest story "Welcoming Uncertainty." https://t.co/hpLnexotSW.#OCDstories #IOCDFblog pic.twitter.com/EY0Vl3ORDs
— International OCD Foundation (@IOCDF) February 13, 2018
What kind of Treatments are Available?
There are many treatments available but treatment depends on the patient’s severity and how severe OCD is.
With a proper diagnosis and a professional doctor’s suggestion for therapy, patients are relieved from OCD.
Therapists are like creators, who figure out the new way where the brain works smoothly.
healthytalk8 does not suggest any medicine or treatment because it depends on the person’s condition.
However, there are some common treatments for OCD including:
- Increasing dopamine levels can reduce OCD symptoms.
- CBT is the first line of evidence-based treatment
- SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are cost-effective (3)
- ERP (exposure response prevention)
Exposure response prevention people OCD individuals to gradually face their fear and help to control or stop it
CBT is like a superhero for OCD patients with some gadget.
- the first gadget is finding the villain (scary thoughts)
- the second gadget is like a shield and teaches you how to counter the urge to do things and help people break their habits
Overall: CBT make your villain weak, the weaker your villain is, the higher your chance to win the match (train your brain against OCD)
Down Line
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a very serious and stressful mental disorder that impacts a person’s daily life.
It can occur due to several factors like genetics, trauma, long-term habits, and brain chemistry, but there are no exact reasons for it.
You are not different, it is just a brain-different chemistry many individuals experience even from their childhood.
But the good thing is it is treatable with therapy and a doctor’s recommendation.
