Obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, is a condition that presents with a combination of obsessions and compulsive behaviors. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, while compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are disturbing. OCD has a vicious cycle in which the affected person gets obsessive thoughts. Trying to stop these obsessions causes distress, and therefore the person does compulsive activities to prevent the suffering.
The cycle continues, and trying to break it can cause severe distress and it is hard to cope with. If you are struggling with Lexington OCD, you can take a brave step and seek treatment from a mental health profession. Treatment of OCD includes medications, lifestyle modification, and learning coping mechanisms. Joining a support group helps you to know that you are not alone, and you can learn from the experiences of other people who have OCD.
What Causes OCD?
It is unknown what causes OCD, but some risk factors are known to trigger OCD. Some of the risk factors of OCD include genetics, where your risk of OCD increases if you have a first-degree relative who has OCD. The risk of OCD also increases if you have other mental conditions like depression and anxiety.
OCD can also occur due to changes in the chemicals that control how your brain functions. The intrusive thoughts that you may have when you are stressed may trigger OCD. Some people can learn OCD from people who have OCD, such as family members.
What Are the Symptoms of OCD?
OCD presents with a combination of compulsive and obsessive symptoms. In unusual cases, some people either present with obsessive signs or compulsive symptoms only. Obsessive symptoms are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, and urges. Most times, you will get these obsessive thoughts when you are trying to concentrate on something or thinking about something, and these unwanted thoughts start crossing your mind and distressing you.
These obsessive thoughts are based on themes like fear of contamination with dirt or germs, extreme orderliness, hate of uncertainty, and aggression towards some subjects like religion and sexuality. Examples of obsessive thoughts are the doubting whether you have locked the door or washed your hands. You will try to avoid anything that triggers these thoughts.
Compulsive symptoms are the repetitive behaviors that you do so that you can stop the distress that you get when you try to avoid the obsessive thoughts. These compulsive behaviors intend to stop you from doing something wrong and to provide you relief. In most cases, the compulsive behaviors will be out of proportion with the symptoms that you are trying to avoid.
The compulsive behaviors are based on these themes, cleanliness, strict routines, orderliness, counting, checking, and always wanting reassurance. Examples of compulsive behaviors include excessive hand washing and checking to confirm that everything is in order. OCD complications include difficulties in maintaining relationships, staying at school or work, suicidal thoughts, and contact dermatitis due to excessive hand washing. You can get help from a mental health professional to learn how to cope with the condition.
Conclusion
OCD is a condition that presents with obsessive and compulsive symptoms and has themes like cleanliness and avoiding contamination with germs or dirt. The compulsive behaviors are symptoms that help to prevent the distress that is caused by obsessive thoughts. You do not have to struggle with OCD for a lifetime because you can get help from a mental health professional.
