The Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition which afflicts many millions of people around the world. For the most of us having habits or preferences to be orderly or in control is relatively normal.
The OCD, unlike the everyday worries about safety, involves intrusive and repetitive thoughts which often cause marked distress and can severely interfere with every-day function.
Even though most of the OCD people realise that thoughts or actions are not logical and do not have to be performed, they still have no power to cease them.
For the sufferer this internal conflict may be emotionally draining, confused and taxing; affecting not only their mental but also their physical condition.
There are various manifestations of OCD. For some of the individuals suffering from it the disorder takes the form of contamination fear, and is thus accompanied by recurrent hand washing and/or cleansing.
Others may develop harmful obsessions, relating to oneself or to others, with accompanying mental compulsions such as counting or repeating of certain phrases to diffuse obsessive anxiety.
Often the people with the disorder display perfectionism; requiring things to be “just right”, which leads to recurring checking, straightening, and arranging.
These acts are done not because the act of checking itself brings them pleasure, but rather to alleviate anxiety, although only for a short period, after which the cycle of OCD is continued and most of the time it exacerbates.
Addressing OCD Factors
Multiple factors have been implicated in causing OCD. Evidence from twin and adoption studies suggest that OCD has a genetic component, with approximately 45% of it attributed to genetic vulnerability.
It has been shown that OCD can be linked to dysfunction of certain brain structures, such as the frontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making and executive functioning, and the limbic system (for example, the amygdala and hippocampus), which is associated with emotional processing and response inhibition.
Evidence for abnormality of the serotonergic system has also been proposed.
Stressful life events, trauma or chronic stress can predispose a person to develop OCD and may be a triggering factor.
The belief that OCD is an illness that affects brain functioning, and not a result of weak character, will help to diminish the stigma associated with this condition and will encourage sufferers to seek medical assistance.
Living with OCD can be extremely distressing. People suffering from this disorder spend many hours each day completing compulsions which may interfere with work, study and social relationships.
Individuals may feel chronically anxious, worried, and guilt-ridden, embarrassed and ashamed.
Those affected are often socially withdrawn and may feel judged and misunderstood by their family and friends.
They may also suffer from poor quality of sleep and physical symptoms of chronic stress such as headaches and abdominal pain. Fortunately, there are various effective forms of treatment available, that facilitate recovery.
Treatments for OCD
One of the best-known, and arguably the most effective, treatment for OCD is CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and in particular a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP.
This involves gradually exposing a person to the thoughts, images, or situations that causes them to feel anxious but inhibiting the compulsive act that usually follows the anxious thought or imagery. Over time the brain will learn that nothing bad will happen if they do not perform the compulsive act and that the anxiety will pass without rituals.
ERP is not usually an easy therapy at first because it involves confronting anxious thoughts, but it is a very effective treatment and many people can overcome OCD by learning it through a trained therapist.
In some cases, medication is also an important aspect of OCD treatment. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which are prescribed for depression and anxiety disorders, are often used to manage symptoms in OCD patients, particularly when combined with therapy.
They are not usually used alone as the primary treatment for OCD but rather help to make therapy more successful by making it possible to manage the intense feelings of anxiety so that CBT can be effective.
Often it is a collaborative effort between the person with OCD and a mental health professional as they are all different and what works for one person may not for another and it can take a bit of adjustment.
Many self-help techniques will also help the recovery process along with professional treatment.
For example, mindfulness and relaxation will help the sufferer be able to endure the anxious thoughts without acting on them and keeping a journal of thoughts and triggers will also aid in learning about them and trying not to respond to them.
It is also helpful to lead a structured lifestyle so that one does not become over-stressed. Finally, joining a support group or finding friends or family who understand OCD can help prevent feelings of loneliness.
Diagnoses and challenges
It is necessary to recognize when assistance needs to be sought out.
If symptoms of OCD are interfering with one’s life to the point of causing significant distress or avoidance of any social, educational, or vocational activities then one should seek the help of a trained mental health professional.
Early diagnosis and treatment is typically linked to better prognosis of recovery and help in decreasing many of the symptoms and improving overall functioning.
Treatment of OCD will likely be challenging however it is worthwhile due to the fact that people with OCD can live meaningful and functional lives.
A prevalent misconception is that OCD is solely about “being neat or tidy”. In reality, this is an extreme misunderstanding that has been harmful to those with OCD by trivializing its severity and seriousness.
Raising public awareness and education of OCD will reduce the stigma associated with the disorder and can help those afflicted feel as though they have validation and that they are not alone.
Education coupled with empathy and patience has been proven to make significant impacts on those with OCD.
Overall, OCD is a challenging and emotionally draining mental health disorder involving involuntary obsessions that lead to compulsive behaviors in an effort to decrease the obsessions and therefore the anxiety associated with them.
Therapy methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) along with possible medication treatment offer much hope for recovery from OCD.
When combined with professional help as well as a variety of self-help strategies such as mindfulness, along with the support of others, those suffering from OCD will begin to gain back control of their lives and escape from their paralysing compulsions.
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