Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Many psychological disorders are present in modern life today. They range from trivial behavior quirks to severe cases of mental illness. One, which on the surface does not appear very important, is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet when looked at closer, this disorder afflicts thousands of people and is more serious that it first appears. This paper presents an explanation of the symptoms, their causes and the treatments that are currently used for obsessive compulsive disorder.
The symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder consist of invasive and irrepressible thoughts (obsessions) or the need to perform specific acts repeatedly (compulsions), or both. While the most people have habits or routines, sufferers of obsessive compulsive disorder have rituals that take up a large amount of their time, causing them anxiety and affecting their ability to function normally. Some of those afflicted are so fearful of the imaginary dangers that they often refuse to leave the solace of their own homes. People with obsessive compulsive disorder are bombarded with obsessive thoughts that make them feel worried or scared. To handle that fear they revert to compulsive behavior. While compulsive behavior helps deal with those obsessions, the relief is only temporary, and the obsession always returns. The inability to rid oneself of uncontrollable thoughts, or to keep from performing ritualistic acts over and over again, produces intense anxiety and distress. Common obsessions include fear of dirt or germs, concern with order or exactness, or a fear of injuring others. Common compulsions to address those obsessions include cleaning or grooming constantly, checking door locks to see if they are locked or appliances to see if they are turned off, or arranging items in a certain order. Obsessive compulsive disorder sufferers also tend to execute their compulsions a specific number of times. Obsessive compulsive disorder usually begins in the teenage years or early adulthood. Research indicates that it affects approximately two percent of men and women and ranges across all ethnic groups.