Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
by Matias Pietruszka
Definition of OCD
OCD is...
OCD is a type of anxiety disorder in which the brain does not filter out what is dangerous or not to a person with the disease and causes people to have obsessions over patterns or orders in doing certain things.
Signs and Symptoms of OCD
Signs and symptoms include...
- Constant uncertainty, doubt, or fear
- Being preoccupied with whether something could be dangerous or that bad things may happen (obsessions)
- Worrying about things not being in order or just right
- Worrying about losing things, needing to collect such items
- Feeling strong urges to do things repeatedly (rituals/compulsions) to get rid of scary thoughts and make sure everything is safe and right
- Obsessions (maybe worrying about germs) are accompanied with compulsions (maybe an urge to wash hands and other things)
- Feeling a brief sense of relief after compulsion
How Does OCD Affect Someone?
OCD can...
- Make people feel anxious
- Make people feel depression
- Obsession takes up time
- Having less time for normal activities
- The more someone does compulsions, the stronger OCD gets
Other Names for OCD
Diagnosis
OCD is diagnosed through...
A test of questions such as:
- Do you have worries or ideas that bother or upset you?
- Do you feel like you have to check or do things over and over again?
- Do you feel you have to do things a certain number of times or in a certain pattern?
Treatment
OCD can be treated with...
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) uses methods called exposure/ritual preventions (ERP)
- This helps people learn to use their behavioral power to change their thoughts
- A person learns how OCD works, how giving into compulsions can make OCD stronger, and how resisting OCD makes OCD weaker
- A support group can help people deal with their OCD
- CBT "resets" the brain mechanisms that trigger obsessions and compulsions
- Treatment can take between a couple of months to years
- Medicine may be prescribed to victims of OCD in serious cases