Other compulsive .
behaviors include counting (often while performing another compulsive action such as hand .
washing), repeating, hoarding, and endlessly rearranging objects in an effort to keep them in .
precise alignment with each other. These behaviors generally are intended to ward off harm to .
the person with OCD or others. Some people with OCD have regimented rituals while others .
have rituals that are complex and changing. Performing rituals may give the person with OCD .
some relief from anxiety, but it is only temporary. .
These obsessions are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of the .
person with OCD. Persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, an unreasonable .
belief that one has a terrible illness, or an excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly, are .
common. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought, such as, "My hands .
may be contaminated--I must wash them" ;"I may have left the gas on"; or "I am going to injure .
my child." These thoughts are intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety. Often .
the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness. .
People with OCD usually have considerable insight into their own problems. Most of the time, .
they know that their obsessive thoughts are senseless or exaggerated, and that their compulsive .
behaviors are not really necessary. However, this knowledge is not sufficient to enable them to .
stop obsessing or the carrying out of rituals. .
Because victims of OCD realize their obsessive thoughts and behaviors are senseless and .
unnecessary, they may try to hide their problem. They fear people will think they are "crazy" or .
silly, and they may feel that they're all alone. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. .
OCD affects as many as 2 percent of all Americans. Research indicates that, like depression and .
bipolar disorder, OCD is caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitter called serotonin.
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...
The key features of OCD are obsessions and compulsions. ... OCD occurs on a continuum from mild to severe. ... What is OCD The key features of OCD are obsessions and compulsions as stated in DSMIV. ... How Prevalent is OCD For many years, mental health professionals thought of OCD as a rare disease because only a small minority of their patients had the condition. ... The survey showed that OCD is more commo...
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. ...
