What once was thought to be a rare disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the 4th most common out of any mental disorder. About 1 in every 200 adults suffer from OCD, and twice as many have had it at one point or another in their lives (www.understanding_OCD.tripod.com). OCD generally begins to reveal symptoms between the ages of 6 and 15 for males, and 20-29 for females, though research has shown that OCD can start in early childhood, and even in the pre-school years. Many people with Obsessive C

Compulsions are the second half of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Compulsions are defined as “an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act.” They are the results of the obsessions produced anxiety. For instance, if one has a fear of germs and dirt, then, with OCD, he or she would most likely wash their hands repeatedly. Doing these things repeatedly makes the subject feel more comfortable, but only temporarily. However, once the person no longer feels comfortable, he or she will repeat the act and the vicious cycle starts all over again. Common compulsive actions include: repeatedly washing your body parts, brushing your teeth, making sure doors and drawers are shut and locked, ordering and arranging things in certain ways, counting things that they do over and over, hoarding unnecessary things when they are no longer needed, and seeking constant approval from others (www.familydoctor.org/handouts/133.html).

(Foa EB. Stop Obsessing). Cognitive therapy helps one to gain more acceptances. During cognitive therapy, a therapist tries to help a patient identify inaccurate thoughts and replace them with more realistic, accurate ones. OCD patients will tend to overestimate and over analyze things. In this therapy, a patient will learn not to overestimate outcomes and/or results and not to over-analyze things. Cognitive therapy generally has a positive outcome in a patient’s life, especially when used along side behavior therapy.

ompulsive Disorder tend to try and ignore the symptoms, not seeking professional help.

There are many common symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These symptoms are generally broken down into two main categories. The first of the two is obsession. Webster’s Dictionary defines obsession as “a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often-unreasonable idea or feeling.” When a person has OCD, these uncomfortable ideas and feelings are uncontrollable and quickly become an everyday annoyance. Common obsessions include: fear of dirt or germs, disgust with bodily waste or fluids, concern with order, symmetry and exactness, worry that a task has been done poorly even though it has been, fears of thinking or saying evil or sinful things, and even fear of harming a family member or friend (www.familydoctor.org/handouts/133.html). These obsessions commonly intrude when one is simply trying to think about or complete other tasks. The thoughts interfere with everyday obligations and serve as a barrier to the completion of these duties. The more these thoughts occur, the more they are l

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