Our Health, Our Futures - Emotional Health - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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Photo of Francesca What is it?
Have you ever found yourself counting your fingers, or how many steps it takes to get to certain floor, or constantly reorganizing a bookshelf that you have already organized countless times before? If so, it is a sign that you are like any average person who has compulsive thoughts. It is when those thoughts, get out of control that it becomes a possible case of OCD.

This disorder can be described simply as thoughts, images or actions that are repeated constantly, which leave a person unable to function normally. It is sometimes related as an anxiety disorder. For example a person who is obsessive about germs and dirt might wash their hands a hundred times a day, or wipe door handles as well as avoid coming in contact with foreign objects. For example, a chair in a public place, public bathrooms, or even other people. The person doing this probably feels comfortable in having actions that he or she can control, or may feel unable to stop, however in most cases realizes that what he or she is doing is abnormal.
What are some causes?
Many people that are suffering from the disorder believe that they are at fault for these actions, but in reality, it has been shown that a mixture of learned habits and biological factors are responsible for the disorder. Learned habits could include constant nagging from parents as a child that everything outside of the house is “dirty”, and that they are always to stay clean. However not all people with OCD, are obsessed with germs, so symptoms, and causes vary. Even though OCD is partially due to biological factors, it can still be improved. OCD in general follows a pattern or cycle, that is hard to break, but can be done; (a diagram of this pattern can be seen on the following page: http://www.ocdhelp.org/faq.html

What are some Symptoms?

Checking certain objects, for example, whether or not the door is locked, whether or not the toilet is flushed

Organizing objects is also a symptom which entails being very conscious that everything has a place, for example, organizing books, the pleats in a skirt, and also fixing the tassels on a rug if they are not perfectly in line.
Counting, this includes all sorts of counting, Some people count their fingers to reassure themselves, others count the number of times that they must do a task, like how many times they must chew a mouthful of food. This counting can be done out loud or silently.
Thinking constantly about hypothetical situations. Planning, for emergency situations, even in very low risk situations.
Disturbing images that pop up in one’s head and don’t go away. For example a scene of death, even if that person does not want to die.
“Hoarding” objects, is basically the collecting of objects that are unnecessary. It is different form having a hobby in which one object is collected. Basically it means keeping everything, even things that should be disposed of.

What can Parents do?
What can be hoped is that more people understand the disorder. Parents facing a son or daughter with OCD should be open minded and ready to listen. People with OCD tend to hide their habits, because they feel ashamed of what others will think. If a teen is encouraged to talk, they will. It is important that parents don’t try to hide or ignore the feelings that their children express. If they ask for help, they have already come a long way, and are in need of extra support.
OCD graphic
"OCD" by Francesca

What about Treatment?
OCD can be controlled, but the best way to start thinking about treatment is to go to a therapist or psychologist for a diagnosis, and then explore more therapy combined with medication. Using a combination of medication and therapy, is probably the best alternative. Both of these go hand in hand as medication alone is not the best way of treating the disorder.
Recommended Reading:
The following link will take you out of our site. Use your BACK button (in the top left corner of your browser) to return here.
This is a link to a page that has various books on OCD http://www.ocdhope.com/reading.htm
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		What is it? Have you ever found yourself counting your fingers, or how many steps it takes to get to certain floor, or constantly reorganizing a bookshelf that you have already organized countless times before? If so, it is a sign that you are like any average person who has compulsive thoughts. It is when those thoughts, get out of control that it becomes a possible case of OCD.
This disorder can be described simply as thoughts, images or actions that are repeated constantly, which leave a person unable to function normally. It is sometimes related as an anxiety disorder. For example a person who is obsessive about germs and dirt might wash their hands a hundred times a day, or wipe door handles as well as avoid coming in contact with foreign objects. For example, a chair in a public place, public bathrooms, or even other people. The person doing this probably feels comfortable in having actions that he or she can control, or may feel unable to stop, however in most cases realizes that what he or she is doing is abnormal. What are some causes? Many people that are suffering from the disorder believe that they are at fault for these actions, but in reality, it has been shown that a mixture of learned habits and biological factors are responsible for the disorder. Learned habits could include constant nagging from parents as a child that everything outside of the house is “dirty”, and that they are always to stay clean. However not all people with OCD, are obsessed with germs, so symptoms, and causes vary. Even though OCD is partially due to biological factors, it can still be improved. OCD in general follows a pattern or cycle, that is hard to break, but can be done; (a diagram of this pattern can be seen on the following page: http://www.ocdhelp.org/faq.html
What are some Symptoms? Checking certain objects, for example, whether or not the door is locked, whether or not the toilet is flushed Organizing objects is also a symptom which entails being very conscious that everything has a place, for example, organizing books, the pleats in a skirt, and also fixing the tassels on a rug if they are not perfectly in line. Counting, this includes all sorts of counting, Some people count their fingers to reassure themselves, others count the number of times that they must do a task, like how many times they must chew a mouthful of food. This counting can be done out loud or silently. Thinking constantly about hypothetical situations. Planning, for emergency situations, even in very low risk situations. Disturbing images that pop up in one’s head and don’t go away. For example a scene of death, even if that person does not want to die. “Hoarding” objects, is basically the collecting of objects that are unnecessary. It is different form having a hobby in which one object is collected. Basically it means keeping everything, even things that should be disposed of.
What can Parents do? What can be hoped is that more people understand the disorder. Parents facing a son or daughter with OCD should be open minded and ready to listen. People with OCD tend to hide their habits, because they feel ashamed of what others will think. If a teen is encouraged to talk, they will. It is important that parents don’t try to hide or ignore the feelings that their children express. If they ask for help, they have already come a long way, and are in need of extra support.		"OCD" by Francesca
What about Treatment? OCD can be controlled, but the best way to start thinking about treatment is to go to a therapist or psychologist for a diagnosis, and then explore more therapy combined with medication. Using a combination of medication and therapy, is probably the best alternative. Both of these go hand in hand as medication alone is not the best way of treating the disorder. Recommended Reading: The following link will take you out of our site. Use your BACK button (in the top left corner of your browser) to return here. This is a link to a page that has various books on OCD http://www.ocdhope.com/reading.htm Home