Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
by Hayzelle Lababit :)
What is the psychological disorder? How does it happen?
What are some of the major symptoms of it?
Here are some obsessive thoughts:
1) Fear by germs or dirt or contaminating others.2) Fear of causing harm to yourself or others.
3) Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
4) The idea that everything must line up "just right."
5) Excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky.
Here are some compulsive behaviors:
1) Tons of double-checking of things such as locks, appliances, and switches.
2) Checking in on loved ones, repeatedly, to make sure they're safe.
3) Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety.
4) Spending lots of time washing or cleaning.
5) Ordering or arranging things "just so."
6) Excessively praying or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
7) Collecting "junk" such as old newspapers or empty food containers.
How are people treated for it? What types of therapy?
1) Exposure and response prevention: Exposure therapy is when a person confronts their feelings, phobia,s and anxieties. The response prevention technique is when it's used in behavior therapy to reduce uncontrollable behaviors.
2) Cognitive therapy
There will also be family therapy for OCD treatment and group therapy for OCD treatment.
How to deal with people who have this disorder:
2) Don't ever make fun of them
3) Understand that they can't help doing whatever it is they're doing
4) Learn about OCD
5) If books or websites still don't help you understand, go ahead and ask about it.
6) Offer love and support every step of the way
Tips:
- Be supportive, but remember not to let the person with OCD continue to develop new "patterns" by having daily identical routines. Help them become more independent, show them they have the ability to change. But always be just one call away.
- Be patient and show that you understand that it's not their fault.
Random facts:
*Having OCD is not a sign of weakness or a lack of willpower in stopping the thoughts and behaviors.
*Leonardo DiCaprio has OCD.
*OCD affects about 2.5% of people over their lifetime.
*A single OCD gene has not been identified.
Sources
- http://www.brainphysics.com/ocd.php
- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm
- http://ocd.about.com/od/whatisocd/a/Top_Ten_OCD.htm
- Pictures are just from Google.