OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER(OCD) : ITS DEFINITION AND SYMPTOMS
What is OCD? It's normal, on occassion, to go back and double-check that the iron is unplugged or worry that you might be contaminated by germs, or even have an occasional unpleasant, violent thought. But if you suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoghts and compulsive behaviours become so consuming that they interfere with your daily life.
OCD is an anxiety disorder characterised by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and ritualised, repetitive behaviuors you feel compelled to perform. Your obssesive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are irrational-but even so, you feel unable to resist them and break free.
You may check the stove 20 times to make sure it's really turned off because you're terrified of burning down your house, or wash your hands until they're scrubbed raw for fear of germs.
While you don't derive any sense of pleasure from performing these repetitive behaviors, they may offer some passing relief for the anxiety generated by the obsessive thoughts.
OCD obsessions and compulsions
Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in your mind. You don't want to have these ideas, but you can't stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are often disturbing and distracting. Thus, it interferes in your day to day activities and hampering your performance in your day to day activities.
Compulsions are behaviours or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again.Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away.For, example, if you're afraid of contamination , you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals.However, the relief never lasts.In fact , the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger just like Mohd. Ghori returned to defeat Prithvi Raj Chauhan sixteen times.And the compulsive rituals and behaviours often end up causing anxiety themselves as they become more demanding and time-consuming.This is the vicious cycle of OCD.
OCD SYMPTOMS AND ITS IDENTIFICATION
Most people with OCD fall into one of the following categories:
- WASHERS are afraid of contamination.They have fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.These people spend a lot of time washing or cleaning.
- CHECKERS repeatedly check things (oven turned off, door locked, etc.) that they associate with harm or danger.These people do excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches.
- DOUBTERS and SINNERS are afraid that if everything isn't perfect or done just right something terrible will happen, or they will be punished.
- COUNTERS and ARRANGERS are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colours or arrangements.They follow the idea that everything must line up "just right".They order or arrange things "just so".
- HOARDERS fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don't need or use.They accumulate "junk" such as old newspapers or empty food containers.They may also suffer from other disorders, such as depression, PTSD, compulsive buying, kleptomania, ADHD, skin picking, or tic disorders.
Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder have both obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the other.
Common obsessive thoughts in OCD include:
Common obsessive thoughts in OCD include:
- Fear of losing control and harming yourself or others.
- Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
- Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
- Fear of losing or not having things you might need.
- Superstitions; excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky.
- Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they're safe.
- Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety.
- Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
