a need to have things in a particular order, aggressive or horrific impulses (to hurt one's child) .
sexual imagery (recurrent pornographic image) .
The individual with obsessions usually attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts or to neutralize with other thoughts and actions. For e.g. an individual plagued by doubts about having turned off the stove attempts to neutralize them by repeatedly checking to ensure it is off. (Internet 2) .
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors like hand washing, ordering and checking or mental acts like praying, counting and repeating words silently. The reason for doing this is to prevent or reduce anxiety and distress, not to provide pleasure or gratification. The person feels driven to perform the compulsion to reduce distress that accompanies an obsession or to prevent some dreaded event from happening. In some cases individuals perform rigid acts according to elaborate rules without being able to indicate why they are doing them. By definition, compulsions are either excessive or not clearly connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent. The most common forms of compulsion include washing, checking, counting, cleaning, requesting or demanding assurances and ordering. (Internet 2) .
When an individual attempts to resist a compulsion, he/she may experience a sense of mounting anxiety or tension that is often relieved by yielding to the compulsion. After repeated failed attempts to resist the compulsion, the individual finally gives in to them and may no longer experience a desire to resist them. After a while, these compulsions are incorporated into the individual's daily routine. (Internet 2) .
For such a behavior to be considered a disorder, these obsessions and compulsions must cause marked distress, be time consuming, (take more than an hour per day), or significantly interfere with the individual's normal routine, job and social activities i.
If people recognize the symptoms and seek treatment, OCD can be controlled. OCD plagues people with intrusive, unwanted thoughts or obsessions, which are rarely pleasant. ... These behaviors generally are intended to ward off harm to the person with OCD or others. ... People with OCD usually have considerable insight into their own problems. ... OCD affects as many as 2 percent of all Americans. ...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that can be disabling to a persons life. Someone who suffers from OCD can become trapped in repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are seemingly senseless. OCD can occur in a varying degree, from mild to severe.... Therefore it can seem plausible that OCD is not caused by a neurochemical imbalance.... Both ideas are used today as a major part in treating OCD. ...
Many people without OCD experience these obsessions, but in a different way. People without OCD may experience these obsessions momentarily and then move on. ... People with OCD typically have a difficult time throwing things away. ... People with OCD may be very reluctant to work with a group or team. ... There are two main treatments for OCD: psychotherapy and medications. ...
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Outline Thesis: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental illness characterized by the presence of recurrent, unwanted ideas or impulses (obsessions) and an urge or compulsion to do something to relieve the discomfort caused by the obsession. I. Four primar...
The misconceptions about OCD are not all new. ... OCD even made an appearance in a classic piece of literature. ... When you have OCD you know how it feels (Summers, 1999)." ... Perhaps obsessions are things that people who do not have OCD see as odd and abstract, but to the people with OCD, they are very real. ... People with OCD know their compulsions are absurd. ...
OCD was once thought to be rare. It is now estimated that up to 3 percent of the U.S. population may suffer from OCD at some point in their lives (about 5 million people). The disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but it may also occur in childhood. OCD is characterized by recu...
Quirky behavior or something more serious? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD affects nearly two to three percent of the U.S. population. OCD affects both males and females, but males start to show signs of OCD at an earlier age, between the ages of six and fifteen, while in females it tends t...
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Outline Thesis: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental illness characterized by the presence of recurrent, unwanted ideas or impulses (obsessions) and an urge or compulsion to do something to relieve the discomfort caused by the obsession. I. Four primar...
OCD strikes people of all ethnic groups, both male and female. ... There is no single, proven cause of OCD, but research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain and deeper structures. ... Left untreated, OCD usually grows worse as patients age. ... Behavioral psychotherapists are a good option for the treatment and management of the OCD. ... The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation provides a forum for people with OCD and professionals interested in OCD. ...
