Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD) is a mental illness characterized by unwanted and uncontrollable thoughts and repetitive and ritualized behaviors.
This compels the person suffering from the illness to do the same tasks repeatedly in order to eliminate the thoughts.
For instance, if you fear that everything you touch has germs, you wash your hands repeatedly to ease the fear.
Experts have not identified the real cause of of OCD, but research findings suggest that there might be an issue with the way one part of the human brain conveys information to the other part.
That said, lets focus on the signs as well as symptoms of this disorder as well a few management tips that can help you live a better life regardless of the condition you are suffering from.
1-Symptoms of OCD
Substantial number of people suffering from OCD have both obsessions & compulsions, but some experience only one or the other.
Common OCD obsessive symptoms include:
- –Fear of getting contaminated by dirt or germs or contaminating others.
- -Fear of causing harm both to yourself and others.
- -Intrusive sexually explicit thoughts and images.
- -Excessive focus on moral and religious ideas.
- -Fear of losing or missing things you might need.
- -Order and symmetry
- -Superstitions
2-Compulsive Behaviors
Common OCD compulsive behaviors include:
-Excessive double
-checking habits, such as switches, locks and appliances.
-Checking in on a loved one repeatedly to make sure they are safe.
-Tapping, counting or repeating specific words to reduce anxiety.
-Repeatedly washing your hands or cleaning your items to eliminate any infection.
-Arranging or ordering thins “just so”.
-Praying excessively or getting engaged in rituals that are triggered by religious fears.
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3-Managing OCD
Managing OCD can be quite challenging.
However, the following tips will help you reducing the negative impact this disorder has on you and those you closely socialize with.
3-1-Accept that your OCD condition is negatively affecting your normal life
Accepting it is the fast step when it comes to finding an amicable solution to a problem.
Ignoring this fact will make matters even worse for you
3-2-Take time to brush up on OCD facts.
This will enable you to understand the disorder, its symptoms and how you can manage it
3-3-Understand your anxiety
Reflect on things that make you anxious.
Think of the ones that are realistic and those that aren’t.
3-4-Consult a qualified therapist
Whether your condition is mild or severe, consulting a qualified therapist will help you understand the condition better as well as the best way to manage it.
A cognitive therapy is very important.
3-5-Postpone the rituals and increase resistance
If you are compelled to do something, try to postpone it and with time the urgency to do it will fade out.
Increasing resistance is also key to reducing the impact of OCD.
3-6-Conclusion
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a condition that can complicate ones life.
However, understanding it and the best management tips available at your disposal is the key to reduce its negative impact on your social life.
With the aforementioned tips about managing OCD, you are well-equipped to live a comfortable life even if you are suffering from the disorder.
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4-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder treatment can be very easy to obtain.
You can try to re-train your brain yourself or you can seek medical treatment.
If you have a really bad case of OCD then medical treatment may be the only choice you have for OCD treatment.
The first step to OCD treatment is to recognize you have a problem.
Recognize that you have an obsession. You have to do this in order to retrain your brain.
If you are obsessed with washing your hands all day, you need to train your brain to think your hands aren’t dirty.
Every time that thought comes into your mind you need to be able to grasp it and say, “my hands aren’t dirty.”
If this is something you have had for a while you will most likely need to seek family therapy for yourself and your family members.
Your family needs to understand the disorder so they can understand what you are going through.
This will help to eliminate a lot of conflicts that may arise in your home.
Your family can also learn how to better help you feel comfortable.
Group therapy is great for you because you get to see how others are coping with their disorder.
You won’t feel like you’re the only one going through something. You will have a support group to help you through hard days.
You should keep a journal of how often you have these obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Seeing on paper how many times a day you do something can give you motivation not to do it so much.
This will help you to better realize there is a problem.
There are prescribed drugs or antidepressants that can help you over come these urges you have to constantly wash your hands.
Some people have to have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder treatment for the remainder of their lives.
You will want to monitor your medication very carefully because different ones have different side effects.
If you have any unusual side effects let your doctor know immediately.
These are just a few suggestions for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder treatment.
You can do some more research online and try to come up with more solutions if you feel you need to.
Eventhough there is no cure for OCD there is the effective treatment that will help you through life.
Good OCD treatment can be long term but it can be painless.
5-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Children
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children can often be very frustrating for parents to cope with.
This can be difficult because OCD is an anxiety disorder which causes the person with it to do certain things repeatedly.
Children who have it seem to worry about things a lot more than children who don’t have this disorder.
There is no specific cause for OCD in children.
People with this disease can become obsessed about anything, it doesn’t have to be something specific.
Sometimes OCD is hard to detect in a child because they often have a difficult time explaining why they are doing something in a compulsive way.
They may not know what obsessive compulsive disorder is.
Children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can develop obsessions about bad things that may happen to them.
In order for them to feel safe they may need to constantly have something with them that they think will protect them.
They could also be in a situation where they feel like things are always out of order. They have to constantly place them in order.
This can disrupt everyday life because of the constant worries that go through a child’s mind who has this disorder.
They are thinking of doing a certain task so much that they have to do it in order to feel comfortable or safe.
If you know that your child has this disorder, it is best to seek treatment options right away.
It will only get worse the longer you let it go on without doing anything about it.
Children have different symptoms just as adults with OCD do.
They could worry about things that may happen to them or even to people in their family.
They could also feel like their hands aren’t really clean or that they will catch a horrible disease by touching door knobs or other things that others have touched.
You have to know how to tell the difference between regular worries and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder worries.
It is normal for everyone even children to have some worries.
The difference is that normal worries will go away and OCD will go away only to return in a short period of time.
Some normal worries can be good as they help children to be able to cope with life better.
This disease is not healthy however and can lead to mental breakdowns if left untreated.
OCD in children can be mild or it can be extreme.
You have to monitor your child to make sure if it is just a natural worry or if they are obsessed with something to the point of feeling like they have to act upon it.
If you think your child or a child close to you has this disease you should seek professional rescue program.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children is something that should be taken very seriously.
5-Foods To Avoid With OCD
Avoiding certain foods and following a diet that emphasizes nutrient-rich whole foods may also help control anxiety disorder symptoms.
Here’s a food list that you have to avoid if you have OCD:
- Processed foods such eating Pizza and Burger.
- Pastries, Candy, Soda and Sugary drinks.
- Canned soups, wheat bread and other Gluten-based foods.
- Dark chocolate coated coffee beans, coffee liqueur, milk chocolate and chocolate cake with frosting.
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