OCD

We all have certain habits which we cannot stop doing. These may include making sure that we did not leave the tap running or that the iron was not left turned on. However, individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder have thoughts and behaviors which become so ritualized that they can seriously impact the lifestyle of the individual. These individuals are caused mental discomfort if a situation is different from how they would like it to be. For instance, a person with OCD will become anxious and irritable if they enter a room that is highly disorganized or unclean. Their anxiety will be based on an unreasonable fear, so they need to organize or clean the space to come to terms with it.

Identifying a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder is relatively easy because the symptoms are fairly straightforward. Too much cleanliness is usually an issue with a person with OCD. If a person is always afraid of becoming dirty upon contact with another individual or object, and spends a lot of time cleaning them self even when it is not necessary, there may be a fair chance of that person being obsessive compulsive. Other symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Counting in certain patterns
• Arranging things in a particular way to ensure symmetry
• Repeatedly performing one action, and feeling anxious or insecure if asked or forced to stop

It may be difficult to distinguish between a perfectionist and someone who has OCD. However, if any of these behavioral patterns begin to grow in intensity and interfere with the individual’s lifestyle, you should consult with a doctor or a mental healthcare professional immediately.

Treatment for OCD can be difficult, and requires a combination of psychotherapy and medication. The prescribed dosage of medications varies from person to person, and this is based on the severity of symptoms and other factors. These medicines may include drugs like antidepressants, such as Prozac, Luvox, or Zoloft, to help calm the individual down and prevent the anxiety from causing the person any harm to himself or others.Cognitive behavioral therapy is used by professionals to help individuals with OCD to pinpoint the reason for their obsessive behavior, and then develop a way to overcome this problem. 

In most cases, therapy is effective and individuals are able to gain more control over their symptoms, even eliminating them in many cases.