Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by persistently recurring intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and/or intrusive actions (compulsions).
Obsessions:
- Thoughts or images that come up again and again without us being able to control them.
- The individual does not want these intrusive thoughts. He himself realizes that they are meaningless or excessive.
- They are accompanied by feelings of fear, guilt, disgust.
- Obsessions impair quality of life by taking up a lot of time and interfering with the individual's performance of important daily activities (work, school, etc.)
- The individual can not suppress them.
- Intrusive thoughts and the individual's internal resistance are in constant conflict, leading to an increase in anxiety.
♦ Intrusive thoughts are very diverse. Some of the most common are:
- fear of contamination or contagion
- related to the home - door lock; turning off electrical appliances, etc.
- need for cleanliness, order, symmetry
Compulsions:
- Actions or rituals that are stereotyped and repetitive.
- Obsessions impair quality of life by taking up a lot of time and interfering with the individual's performance of important daily activities (work, school, etc.)
- The individual can not resist doing them, despite knowing that they are excessive and/or pointless.
- Doing these things helps reduce anxiety.
♦ Compulsive activities are very diverse. Some of the most common are:
- Frequent hand and/or body washing
- Constant checking of the lock, electrical appliances, etc.
- Rituals related to cleaning and tidying
- Rituals of counting everything - the nuts in the bag, the tiles on the sidewalk, the steps, etc.
♦ Of course, we should note that not every ritual is a sign of OCD. Diagnosis can be made only by specialists, as there are specific criteria for this. They include the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions, which the individual can not suppress despite realising their futility. The symptoms disrupt everyday functioning, interpersonal relations and/or work environment of the parient.
Very often obsessions and compulsions are observed together, less often they are observed in isolation.
OCD is an extremely common condition, with research suggesting that around 3% of the population will suffer from it at some point in their lives. It affects people of all ages, genders and races.
In many cases, those around people with OCD do not understand what they are going through and do not take it seriously, telling them to "pull themselves together". This is one of the reasons why patients try to hide their symptoms and take longer to seek specialized help.
OCD is treatable, with the main treatment options being pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy. Therefore, it is advised that when suspicions of OCD are present, to contact a psychiatrist and/or a psychotherapist. According to research, best results are seen with a combined research approach.