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obsessive compulsive disorder

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

"I couldn't do anything without rituals. They invaded every aspect of my life. Counting really bogged me down. I'd wash my hair 3 times as opposed to once because 3 was a good luck number and one wasn't. It took me longer to read because I'd count the lines in a paragraph. When I set my alarm at night, I had to set it to a number that wouldn't add up to a "bad" number."

"Getting dressed in the morning was tough because I had a routine and if I didn't follow the routine, I'd get anxious and would have to get dressed again. I always worried that if I didn't do something, my parents were going to die. I'd have these terrible thoughts of harming my parents. That was completely irrational, but the thoughts triggered more anxiety and more senseless behavior. Because of the time I spent on rituals, I was unable to do a lot of things that were important to me."

"I knew the rituals didn't make sense and I was deeply ashamed of them, but I couldn't seem to overcome them until I had therapy."

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals you feel you can't control. If you have OCD, you may be plagued by persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images, or by the urgent need to engage in certain rituals.

You may be obsessed with germs or dirt, so you wash your hands over and over. You may be filled with doubt and feel the need to check things repeatedly. You may have frequent thoughts of violence and fear that you'll harm people close to you. You may spend long periods touching things or counting; you may be preoccupied by order or symmetry; you may have persistent thoughts of performing sexual acts that are repugnant to you; or you may be troubled by thoughts that are against your religious beliefs.

The disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions and the rituals that are performed to try to prevent or get rid of them are called compulsions. There's no pleasure in carrying out the rituals you're drawn to, only temporary relief from the anxiety that grows when you don't perform them.

A lot of healthy people can identify with some of the symptoms of OCD, such as checking the stove several times before leaving the house. But for people with OCD, such activities consume at least an hour a day, are very distressing and interferes with daily life.

Most adults with this condition recognize that what they're doing is senseless, but they can't stop it. Some people, though, particularly children with OCD, may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the 4th most common mental disorder in the US, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 2.3%.1,2

The disorder is often chronic and disabling. Although effective treatments exist, OCD is underdiagnosed and undertreated. More than 1/2 of OCD patients (54.9%) in the US receive no treatment at all; worldwide the figure is 59.5%.3

Due to important advances in pharmacologic treatment, many patients with OCD can be treated in primary care settings.

At this time the 2 first-line treatments for OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Many believe that a combination of these is ideal.

1/3 of adults with OCD report having experienced their first symptoms as children. The course of the disease is variable -symptoms may come and go, they may ease over time, or they can grow progressively worse. Research evidence suggests that OCD might run in families.3

Depression or other anxiety disorders may accompany OCD,2,4 and some people with OCD also have eating disorders.6

In addition, people with OCD may avoid situations in which they might have to confront their obsessions, or they may try unsuccessfully to use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.4,5

If OCD grows severe enough, it can keep someone from holding down a job or from carrying out normal responsibilities at home.

OCD generally responds well to treatment with medications or carefully targeted psychotherapy.

 

 

"Take everything you like seriously, except yourselves."


Rudyard Kipling

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"OCD is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing. It's not your fault or the result of a "weak" or unstable personality."
 

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"I couldn't do anything without rituals. They invaded every aspect of my life. Counting really bogged me down. I would wash my hair 3 times as opposed to once because 3 was a good luck number and 1 wasn't. It took me longer to read because I'd count the lines in a paragraph. When I set my alarm at night, I had to set it to a number that wouldn't add up to a "bad" number."

The disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions and the rituals performed to try to prevent or get rid of them are called compulsions. There is no pleasure in carrying out the rituals you're drawn to, only temporary relief from the anxiety that grows when you don't perform them.

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A large body of scientific evidence suggests that OCD results from a chemical imbalance in the brain.

For years, mental health professionals incorrectly assumed OCD resulted from bad parenting or personality defects.

Clinical researchers have implicated certain brain regions in OCD. They have discovered a strong link between OCD and a brain chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells communicate.

Scientists have also observed that people with OCD have increased metabolism in the basal ganglia and the frontal lobes of the brain. This, scientists believe, causes repetitive movements, rigid thinking and lack of spontaneity.

Successful treatment with medication or behavior therapy produces a decrease in the over activity of this brain circuitry. People with OCD often have high levels of the hormone vasopressin.

In layperson's terms, something in the brain is stuck, like a broken record. Judith Rapoport, M.D., describes it in her book, The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing, as "grooming behaviors gone wild."

Characteristics and Course

OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions. However, it isn't the only disorder with these symptoms. Obsessions are recurring thoughts, urges or images; in OCD these are experienced as alien, intrusive and distressing.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors (rituals) that patients feel compelled to perform.

Obsessions and compulsions can take many forms. In recent years, public awareness of OCD has been raised by movies and television shows featuring characters with OCD contamination obsessions and typical cleaning and hand-washing compulsions.

Another familiar set of symptoms is an obsessive fear accompanied by a compulsion to check (e.g., fearing burglars and repeatedly checking that doors and windows are locked shut).

However, not all obsessions and compulsions come in neat, sensible pairings.

Typical obsessions are listed in Table 1; these include preoccupation with contamination, unacceptable violent or sexual thoughts, doubting, concern about asymmetry or imperfections and thoughts that something will go wrong.

Typical rituals are listed in Table 2; these include washing, cleaning, checking, counting, repeating and arranging. Although some patients may have obsessions without any compulsions, often the compulsive behaviors are simply not recognized as they can be mental acts or very subtle behaviors.

An OCD patient might need to have specific thoughts or mental images in order to counter an obsession (e.g., the image of a loved one being harmed might be countered by picturing something good happening to the person).

Patients who have fearful thoughts may hold their breath until the thought passes, shake their head, or blink. Patients generally perform rituals to reduce anxiety created by thoughts of fearful consequences.

However, some patients perform rituals simply because of a general sense of foreboding or because it feels wrong if they do not.

OCD patients usually have good insight. They recognize that their fears are unrealistic,4 yet, their distress compels them to perform rituals.

In their worst moments, insight may waver and fears may seem not only realistic but inevitable unless the ritual is performed.

Although in severe cases of OCD insight may be lost, it must have been present at some time to meet diagnostic criteria.5 It's normal to have occasional unwanted thoughts or perform repetitive or superstitious behaviors accompanied by transient anxiety, but an OCD diagnosis requires that symptoms cause marked distress, be time consuming (≥1 hour/day), or significantly interfere with functioning.5

OCD onset is often in late adolescence or young adulthood, though it can begin at any age. Childhood onset isn't rare. Onset is earlier in males than in females. The course is chronic and waxes and wanes in severity, often in response to stress.

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OCD strikes people of all ethnic groups with males and females equally affected.

The social and economic costs of OCD were estimated to be $8.4 billion in 1990 (DuPont et al, 1994).

People can be so ashamed of their compulsions and obsessions that they refuse to seek treatment or allow anyone to know they're dealing with  OCD.

OCD symptoms usually begin during the teen years or in early adulthood and recent research shows that some children develop the illness at earlier ages, even during the preschool years.

Studies also indicate that at least 1/3 of the cases of OCD in adults began in childhood.

Experiencing OCD during early stages of a child's development can cause severe problems for the child. It's important that the child receive evaluation and treatment by an experienced mental health professional to prevent the child from missing important opportunities because of this disorder.

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OCD is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing. It's not your fault or the result of a "weak" or unstable personality.
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"Symptoms"of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD is a very real, chronic, often severe condition that's associated with recurrent intrusive thoughts that cause extreme discomfort or anxiety (obsessions) and/or senseless repetitive actions (compulsions) that are performed in an effort to try to reduce discomfort and anxiety.

OCD's symptoms can range from:

  • Excessive house cleaning

  • Excessive Hand washing

  • Object hoarding

  • Counting things over and over

In today's society the symptoms are often confused with highly driven individuals who're in total control of their environment.

Personal hygiene, domestic cleanliness and perfectionism are usually regarded as virtues:

  • Perfect grooming turns heads

  • A spotless house wins praise

  • Corporate culture rewards organizational skills

  • Counting objects is a common obsession

What are some common obsessions?

The following are some common obsessions:

  • Fear of dirt or germs

  • Disgust with bodily waste or fluids

  • Concern with order, symmetry (balance) and exactness

  • Worry that a task has been done poorly, even when the person knows this is not true

  • Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts

  • Thinking about certain sounds, images, words or numbers all the time

  • Need for constant reassurance

  • Fear of harming a family member or friend

Copyright © 1994-2005 American Academy of Family Physicians
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses

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While those experiencing OCD continue on their way, obsessing and performing their compulsions, many people who are unaware of the OCD, praise them for their efficiency and organizational skills.

There's such a thing as too much of a good thing though!

Individuals with OCD feel more like someone mysteriously enslaved by incomprehensible forces beyond his or her control. The urges to continually fulfill their tasks can often cause further problems, such as:

  • skin rashes from too much hand washing

  • a loss of hair from continual hair pulling 

  • the loss of a job because they're so compulsive in their quest for perfection that they can't fulfill their full job responsibilities
more symptoms

  • Persistent, unpleasant, and unwelcome mental images, often with a violent theme

  • Uncontrollable urges to count, touch or reorganize everything in sight

  • Washing hands until they're raw to placate an excessive fear of germs
  • Repeatedly checking that the door is locked or the stove is turned off because you're convinced that disaster will strike unless you do so

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"I knew the rituals didn't make sense and I was deeply ashamed of them, but I couldn't seem to overcome them until I had therapy."

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Most Common
Obsessive Intrusive Thoughts

Fear of Contamination

Fearing dirt, germs, cancer, AIDS, bodily waste, asbestos, chemicals, radiation, sticky substances - causing common compulsions, i.e. - ritualistic hand washing

Fear of Causing Harm to Others:

Putting poison in food, spreading illness, smothering a child, pushing a stranger in front of a car, running over a pedestrian - common compulsion that occurs - repeating or checking behavior

Imagining losing control of aggressive urges - common compulsion that occurs - checking

Fear of Making a Mistake:

Setting fire to the house, flooding the house, losing something valuable, bankrupting the company - common compulsion that occurs - praying

Fear of Behaving in a Socially Unacceptable Manner:

Swearing, making sexual advances, saying the wrong thing - common compulsion that occurs - touching

Excessive religious or moral doubt - common compulsion that occurs - counting

A need to have things "just so" - common compulsion that occurs Hoarding or saving

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OCD has been described as, "hiccups of the mind."

Obsessions: recurrent or persistent mental images, thoughts or ideas, which may result in compulsive behaviors, repetitive, rigid and self-prescribed routines that are intended to prevent the manifestation of the obsession.

OCD often co-exists with depression and anxiety. Individuals recognize that the obsessive thoughts and ritualized behavior patterns are senseless and excessive although they can't stop them, in spite of strenuous efforts to ignore or suppress the thoughts or actions.

Obsessions and compulsions don't always coexist; over 1/2 of OCD sufferers have obsessive thoughts without ritualistic behavior. There's some evidence that the symptoms improve over time and that nearly 1/2 will eventually recover completely or have only minor symptoms.

OCD is time-consuming, distressing and can disrupt normal functioning. Much research suggests that a critical feature in this disorder is an overinflated sense of responsibility, in which the patient's thoughts center around possible dangers and an urgent need to do something about it.

The obsessive thoughts or images can range from mundane worries about whether one has locked a door to bizarre and frightening fantasies of behaving violently toward a loved one.

The compulsive acts triggered by such obsessions might include repetitive checking for locked doors or unlit stove burners or calls to loved ones at frequent intervals to be sure they're safe.

Some people are compelled to wash their hands every few minutes or spend inordinate amounts of time cleaning their surroundings in order to subdue the fear of contagion.

Certain other obsessive disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), trichotillomania and Tourette's syndrome, may be part of the OCD spectrum.

  • In BDD, people are obsessed believing they're extremely ugly.

  • People with trichotillomania continually pull their hair, leaving bald patches.

  • Symptoms of Tourette's syndrome include jerky movements, tics and uncontrollably uttering obscene words.

a personal note: Here again brings into contention the importance of emotions and feelings when it comes to experiencing a mental illness. Those experiencing these symptoms have emotions and feelings concerning the acting out on the symptoms. Can you imagine having these symptoms if you aren't the one experiencing OCD, Tourette's or other mental illnesses dealing with rituals, obsessions and compulsions? It's time that we all develop empathy and learn that our emotions and feelings have a great bearing on our mental health!

kathleen

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OCD shouldn't be confused w/obsessive-compulsive personality, which defines certain character traits (e.g., being a perfectionist, excessively consciousness, morally rigid & preoccupied w/rules & order).

These traits don't necessarily occur in people w/obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is a psychiatric condition.

Common Compulsive Ritualistic Behaviors
Associated w/OCD

Cleaning/Washing

Hand washing, showering or cleaning oneself repeatedly

Checking/Questioning

Checking to see if light switches, appliances & faucets are off; if doors are locked; numbers are correct

Collecting/Hoarding

Collecting old objects, mail or trash to the point of filling up one's home

Counting/Repeating

Counting to a certain number or counting objects over & over; repeatedly performing a movement or set of movements before being able to move on.

Arranging/Organizing
Arranging items in perfect symmetry or in a particular order (i.e., cans or books on shelves)

What are some common compulsions?

The following are some common compulsions:

  • Cleaning and grooming, such as washing hands, showering or brushing teeth over and over again

  • Checking drawers, door locks and appliances to be sure they are shut, locked or turned off

  • Repeating, such as going in and out of a door, sitting down and getting up from a chair, or touching certain objects several times

  • Ordering and arranging items in certain ways

  • Counting over and over to a certain number

  • Saving newspapers, mail or containers when they're no longer needed

  • Seeking constant reassurance and approval

Copyright © 1994-2005 American Academy of Family Physicians
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

Negative comments or criticism from family members often make OCD worse, while a calm, supportive family can help improve the outcome of treatment.
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Co-existing Disorders

OCD is sometimes accompanied by:

A person having more than one disorder find that OCD is often more difficult to diagnose & treat.

Symptoms of OCD can also coexist & may even be part of a spectrum of neurological disorders, such as Tourette's syndrome.
 
Appropriate diagnosis & treatment of other disorders are important to successful treatment of OCD.

People w/OCD experience unwanted obsessions, which cause anxiety. Severe anxiety produces feelings of dread, worry, fright & apprehension (see generalized anxiety disorder GAD).
 
Certain behaviors are performed compulsively in an attempt to lessen this anxiety. Although they realize their obsessions are excessive & their behavior is unreasonable, they feel powerless to control either. In fact, their symptoms can overwhelm them & result in severe impairment & dysfunction, which can begin at an early age.

How do people w/OCD typically react to their disorder?

People w/OCD generally attempt to hide their problem rather than seek help. Often they are remarkably successful in concealing their obsessive-compulsive symptoms from friends & co-workers.

An unfortunate consequence of this secrecy is that people w/OCD generally don't receive professional help until years after the onset of their disease.

By that time, the obsessive-compulsive rituals may be deeply ingrained & very difficult to change.

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Daria used to make up excuses for the bald spot on the back of her head. Sometimes she said her head rubbed against the headboard of her bed when she was asleep. Other times she said the baseball caps she had to wear at work were too tight. She knew people doubted her stories, especially family members. But she couldn't face telling them what was really happening: She'd been pulling her hair out since she was 12.

Daria had no idea why she pulled her hair. She just knew that she couldn't stop. Many times, she did it without even thinking. Daria's mom noticed her doing it while watching TV. The two of them did some research and learned about a condition that some people have called trichotillomania.

What Is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania (pronounced: trik-oh-till-oh-may-nee-ah) is a type of psychological condition that involves strong urges to pull hair.

Doctors used to believe trichotillomania was rare. But that thinking is now changing as experts gain a better understanding of the condition and more people come forward for help. Trichotillomania affects more girls than guys. Most people who have it develop it during adolescence. But trichotillomania can start when a person is as young as 1 year old.

What Happens With Trichotillomania?

People with trichotillomania pull hair out at the root from places like the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or pubic area. Some people pull large handfuls of hair, which can leave bald patches on the scalp or eyebrows. Other people pull out their hair one strand at a time. Some inspect the strand after pulling it out, or play with the hair after it's been pulled. About half of people with the condition put the hair in their mouths after pulling it.

It might be hard to understand why someone would pull their own hair or eyelashes out — or why they wouldn't just stop. But trichotillomania isn't just an ordinary habit that a person can easily stop. It's a medical condition.

Trichotillomania is a type of compulsive behavior. This means that people with the condition feel an overwhelming urge to pull their hair. People with trichotillomania also may have other compulsive habits, such as nail biting or skin picking. Some people with trichotillomania also have problems like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Compulsive behaviors like trichotillomania can sometimes run in families.

People with trichotillomania may feel embarrassment, frustration, shame, or depression about the condition. They may worry about what others will think or say. They may feel nagged by people who don't understand that they're not doing this on purpose. They usually try to hide the behavior from other people, and this can make it difficult to get help.

Having trichotillomania can affect how people feel about themselves. Some people are self-conscious about how hair pulling affects their appearance. Because of this, they might feel less confident about making friends or dating. Others might feel powerless to control the urge to pull or blame themselves for not being able to stop. Feelings like these can cause a person's self esteem to suffer.

Why Do People Feel Compelled to Pull Their Hair?

Doctors don't know for certain what causes trichotillomania. Some think it might be related to OCD since OCD and trichotillomania both involve compulsions. Since compulsions arise as an effort to reduce tension, the urges that lead to hair pulling can be stronger when a person is stressed out or worried.

Experts think that compulsive behaviors like hair pulling may be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters (pronounced: nur-oh-tranz-mit-urs), are part of the brain's communication center. When something interferes with how neurotransmitters work, it can cause problems like compulsive behaviors.

Some people with trichotillomania say that they notice sensations in their scalp or skin. For example, it may be a tingling feeling that can only be relieved by pulling, like the feeling of relief that comes from scratching an itch. Some people say that they notice a satisfying feeling when they pull their hair. Others don't even notice when they pull, and do it without thinking.

Any relief that comes with hair pulling usually only lasts for a moment. The urge almost always returns. That's because when the mind becomes used to giving in to the powerful urges that go with compulsive behaviors, the behavior is reinforced The mind gets trapped in a cycle of expecting to have the urge satisfied. The longer this goes on, the harder it can become to resist the urge.

How Do People Overcome the Hair-Pulling Urge?

Because trichotillomania is a medical condition, it's not something most people can just stop doing when they feel like it. People with trichotillomania usually need help from medical experts before they can stop. With the right help, though, most overcome their hair-pulling urges. When someone is able to stop pulling, hair usually grows back.

Overcoming hair-pulling urges may involve talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Therapists teach people with trichotillomania special behavior techniques that help them recognize the urge to pull hair before it becomes too strong to resist. The person learns ways to resist the urge so that it eventually grows weaker and then goes away. A therapist can also help a person regain confidence and self-esteem.

Because the urges behind compulsive habits like hair pulling are so strong, someone may feel more tension or anxiety when first trying to resist the urge. That's why it helps to work with an expert who can offer support and practical advice about how to reverse this powerful habit.

Some doctors may prescribe medications that can help the brain deal better with urges, making them easier to resist. Medication therapy can help to correct the imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

Many people find it helpful to keep their hands busy with a different activity (like squeezing a stress ball or drawing) during times when pulling is the worst. In the beginning, Daria found that knitting while watching TV helped keep her hands busy at a time when she might feel the urge to pull her hair.

Homework time was harder, though. Daria worked with her therapist to realize that she tended to pull more during homework because she was worrying about doing well on a project or test. Daria and her therapist talked about ways to deal homework stress. Daria discovered that being a perfectionist was adding to her tension. When she began to feel more relaxed - and still do excellent work - her confidence blossomed.

If you're worried about hair pulling, talk to a parent, school counselor, or someone you trust about getting help overcoming the problem.

Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
Date reviewed: January 2008

source site: click here

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Other mental illnesses possibly linked to OCD are:

Genetic studies of OCD & other related conditions may enable scientists to pinpoint the molecular basis of these disorders.

Other theories about the causes of OCD focus on the interaction between behavior & the environment, on beliefs & attitudes, as well as how information is processed. These behavioral & cognitive theories aren't incompatible w/biological explanations.

Are other illnesses associated with OCD?

People with OCD often have other kinds of anxiety, like phobias (i.e., fear of spiders or flying) or panic attacks.

They may also may have:

Having one or more of these disorders can make diagnosis & treatment more difficult, so it's important to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have, even if you're embarrassed.

Copyright © 1994-2005 American Academy of Family Physicians
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

OCD is from changes in the frontal lobe

Treatment of OCD

Researchers have found that clomipramine (Anafranil), an antidepressant medication, helps alleviate painful, intrusive thoughts & repetitive behaviors. Clomipramine has a powerful effect on the neurotransmitter serotonin & helps increase the amount of this important brain chemical to improve communication between the nerve cells.

2 other antidepressant medications, sertraline (Zoloft) <click the underlined link, left, to read info included w/the purchase of Zoloft - difficult reading> & fluoxetine (Prozac), have also been shown to be effective in easing symptoms.

Researchers are currently investigating 2 other medications, paroxetine & fluvoxamine, that may be equally effective in alleviating obsessions & compulsions. Like clomipramine, these medications affect the level of neurotransmitters in the brain & have shown great promise in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder.

As w/all medications, antidepressants have some side effects. The most common side effects are:

  • Sedation
  • Hand tremors
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Weight gain
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased Perspiration

Although these are troublesome, most side effects begin to fade after a few weeks. It's important to ask your physician about potential side effects whenever taking any medication.

Equally important is telling the physician about any problems that develop after beginning a medication.

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Remember.... it's harder to get OCD under control than to keep it there, so don't risk a relapse by stopping your treatment w/out first talking to your clinician.

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Environmental stressors that can worsen OCD symptoms include the following:

Behavior therapy has proven very successful in helping people with OCD overcome the anxiety that they feel if they don't complete their compulsions.

In behavior therapy, a patient is exposed to the feared object or obsession, but prevented from completing the compulsive behavior.

i.e., people who fear contamination may be encouraged to touch dirty laundry and be denied the chance to wash their hands for a specified amount of time.

When they do wash their hands, they may be allowed to do so for only a specified period of time.

Most often, behavior therapy must include guidelines or a "contract," in which the patient and treatment team agree on certain goals.

A contract may describe whether a patient can participate in any of the compulsive behaviors. i.e., the contract may allow a patient with an obsession about cleanliness to shower for only 10 mins. a day.

Families may participate in therapy by attending an information session about the situations that may cause symptoms to worsen and the ways that loved ones can help the patient overcome the illness. Often family members can help the patient honor the terms of the treatment contract. Family members also can learn to identify the signs that their loved one is having problems.

Some of the indications that a patient is experiencing emotional difficulties include:

  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Reappearance of repetitive behaviors
  • Constant questioning of own judgment
  • Increased tardiness

Families can also learn to appreciate progress in their loved one's functioning and view small improvements as success. They can create a strong & supportive environment by encouraging an obsessive-compulsive disorder patient, refraining from criticizing him or her and not allowing the inappropriate behavior to continue.

For a more "in-depth" reading of how cognitive behavioral therapy works with OCD click here! (an out of network website for additional info!)

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self help coping methods...

Obsessive compulsive symptoms, when allowed to run rampant in your mind, will isolate you from the world around you. To satisfy those compulsions it'll require distance (first physically & subsequently mentally) from people.

You must decide which way you'll go: will you let OCD rule your life & cause you to give up relationships w/family & friends, or will you work at making a happy, healthy & fruitful life for your family & yourself?

The above decision w/in yourself to become a happy, healthy, interactive person is critically important because it'll affect your attitude toward each & every battle w/OCD you'll encounter in your lifetime.

OCD is an opponent to your goal & reminding yourself of this commitment will give you strength & a sense of overall purpose when facing a compulsion that you don't want to resist.

You need to stand your ground & fight OCD as it opposes you in your daily activities.

Recognize that giving in to your compulsions never makes your OCD better & gives fuel to the fire. When faced w/the urge to act out a compulsion, OCD'ers MUST learn to reason w/in themselves the following:

  • "If I don't engage in compulsive rituals, no one will die or be harmed.
  • "Whatever "disasters" I'm trying to prevent hasn't killed me yet & will not kill me an hour from now."
  • "If I give in to my compulsive rituals, OCD is going to continue to dominate my life & keep me from happiness."
  • "I WILL NOT let it have victory over me."

This line of reasoning is very effective for many patients. Experiment a little & discover what works best for you. Realize in the beginning that you'll probably have to start very small.

Give up washing your hands &/or check or reduce the amount of time you wash &/or check & work up to overcoming bigger anxieties at you own pace.

Don't let other people push you too much, but remember that old saying, "No pain, no gain." Every victory you achieve will bring you that much closer to your goal & will give you a sense of accomplishment & regained control over your own life.

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Find a Neutral Zone....
 
Compulsions to wash excessively, i.e., can be very strong upon arriving home after becoming "contaminated" from some experience away from the home. Coming in contact w/a sick person, touching some supposedly dirty object or walking thru a smoke-filled room may trigger the desire to ritualize.
 
Often it's very helpful to find a place in your home where you can go to sit, relax, distract yourself until the urge subsides. Call this area your "neutral zone."
 
It can be a secluded den or office, bedroom, backyard patio, any place where the urge to ritualize can be allowed to subside. After approximately 30 minutes to an hour in this neutral zone, it often is possible to return to normal home activities. Find out what works best for you.

Redirect your obsessive nature toward a more satisfying, healthy outlet...
 
Obsessions & compulsions may have been occupying most of your thinking for some time. Physical activities, crafts or hobbies can help to take the place of the OCD thoughts in your mind.
 
In dealing w/my own post traumatic stress disorder,
I can identify with this...
 
Volunteering or using your craft or hobby talent to make something to donate can help. Remember that you can truly help yourself by helping others.

Find someone - preferably a professional with OCD expertise, to guide you & encourage you in your endeavor....
 
I can also identify with this goal...
It took me years & a double digit total of counselors before I found my current counselor. I've been working on my own more than relying on her counseling me or directing me to a "certain type of therapy."
 
Educating myself as much as I can, taking my medications without fail, relying on relaxation breathing & the avoidance of stress in my life, volunteering in the public schools, working with others thru my websites & continually being vigilant with relaxation methods, when the feelings of anxiety & stress enter my world - have truly helped me.  

take the time to experience the small successes, the joys that you find & the gratitude that you can both share when something positive happens in your lives....
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Exploring emotions & learning to set boundaries...
 
Education plays an important role in the relationship with an OCD sufferer. Just like anyone experiencing any mental disorder, there are difficulties that must be faced that are sometimes agonizing & tiresome.
 
Educating yourself about OCD on a continual basis to learn of any new treatment options, medications, or any new discoveries about the disorder is essential.
 
Learning how to process feelings & emotions will certainly help you.
 
 
Make your home your peaceful oasis.
 
Use positive thinking & self talk to help each of you thru difficult times.
 
Set up a certain place to keep your equipment of hobby/craft needs out & accessible so that when the urge to perform rituals begins, the individual experiencing the distress, can go to a healthy habit & keep busy in a positive way.
 
Find a support group that you feel comfortable with. Use the resources of support & guidance of others that may be experiencing similar problems.

 
learn to commune with nature
 

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Laughter is Good Medicine
 
When the sufferer is doing well and having a good day, a bit of humor and laughter, offered with sensitivity, is great balm to soothe away some of the painful feelings and thoughts which arise.
 
 
None of the treatments or self-help programs that are available for sufferers provide quick 'cures,' or even immediate relief.
 
Recovery is a slow and gradual process.
 
Be prepared to support the sufferer on a long-term recovery  program and don't make day-to-day comparisons.
 
Recovery always includes slips and set-backs - the important thing is that the set-back isn't interpreted as failure.
 
The guilt and stress that will arise from thoughts and feelings of failure could make the set-back much more difficult to overcome, than if it's viewed as an opportunity to learn.

There can be no simple, straight-forward plan that'll smooth away every rock on the road to recovery. Every person who has OCD and every family who has a sufferer as a member, has a different set of symptoms and circumstances to deal with, different relationships, personalities and a whole complex array of different influences.
 
Try these ideas and strategies and draw upon all the resources and support that you have. Slowly, but surely, you and sufferer will discover the treatments and self-help strategies and ideas that will work for you."

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10/24/03  Gene Mutation Tied to Severe Compulsive Behavior

A double mutation on the human serotonin transporter gene (hSERT) could cause severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), says a US National Institutes of Health study.

The gene controls the movement of chemicals between nerve cells in the brain. It's believed that OCD is linked to low levels of serotonin in the brain.

Researchers analyzed DNA from a group of people, including 30 each with OCD, eating disorders & seasonal affective disorder, BBC News Online reports.

The study found that 6 out of 7 people in 2 separate families who had a single mutation on the hSERT gene had OCD. 4 people with a 2nd mutation on the same gene had the most severe OCD symptoms.

The study was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

this may be a helpful resource for you to find help or support where you live! i checked it out & it seems to be a useful tool!
 

NAMI-C.A.R.E: Consumers Advocating Recovery through Empowerment (click the underlined title link to go there now!)

What is NAMI-C.A.R.E.?

  • NAMI-C.A.R.E. is a peer-based, mutual support group program for individuals facing the challenges of recovering from any serious mental illness.
  • Led by consumers, for consumers, NAMI-C.A.R.E. employs guidelines & principles of support designed to empower its members.
  • NAMI-C.A.R.E. is not illness-specific & welcomes persons w/all psychiatric diagnoses.
  • A support group model that focuses on allowing all participants to share their experiences & learn from each other in a safe & confidential environment.

How do I join a group?

  • Find your local NAMI affiliate or state organization & ask if they have a NAMI-C.A.R.E. group.
  • Contact Maggie Scheie-Lurie (this is an e-mail link) at NAMI's national office.

How can I start a group?

  • NAMI consumer members may contact Maggie Scheie-Lurie to receive a NAMI-C.A.R.E. Startup Kit & Facilitators' Manual or enquire about facilitator training.

Find Out More

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What Kinds of Support Groups Are There?

There are several types of support groups available for people suffering from OCD. Some groups are professionally assisted, highly structured and therapeutic in nature. Other support groups are informative and provide a supportive, informal empathetic environment for people coping with OCD. They are often led and organized by people who suffer from OCD.

Professionally Assisted Support Groups

The first type is the professionally assisted support-group. This kind of group is organized and run by a mental health professional. It is actually group therapy. The therapist runs the group and members pay a fee per session. It is usually held at the therapist office and may or may not be underwritten by insurers. It is an extension of the individual therapy sessions.

Mutual Support Groups

The second type of support group is the mutual support group. This type of group is run by an individual or individuals who are OCD sufferers. Usually, these individuals have recovered from their OCD and are presently managing their symptoms. In these meetings, participants discuss specific topics, such as medication, symptoms, cognitive behavior therapy, etc.

The goal of these support groups is informational, not therapeutic. Guest speakers including mental health professionals are invited to speak on a specific topic of interest to the group. Mutual support groups usually are held at a public facility, such as a local school or church. There is usually no fee for mutual support groups unless there is a fee for the room or for refreshments.

Twelve Step Groups

The third kind of support group is the twelve step group.  There is a network of Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA) groups throughout the United States. These groups are run by the members of the group in the same manner as the original 12-step group, Alcoholics Anonymous. A listing of these groups by location is available on the OCA website at http://members.aol.com/west24th, or by calling the OCA National Headquarters at (516) 739-0662.

G.O.A.L (Giving Obsessive Compulsive Another Lifestyle) Groups

The fourth kind of support group is the G.O.A.L (Giving Obsessive Compulsive Another Lifestyle) Group. The original G.O.A.L. group was started by a psychologist and an OCD sufferer in 1981. The purpose was to prevent relapse by continuing to have sufferers work on exposure and response prevention therapy in a group. A G.O.A.L group is professionally assisted. This means that there is a therapist present at every meeting, but his/her job is merely to provide technical information; it is the members themselves who actually run the group. The OCF national office sells a manual and a video about G.O.A.L. that outline how to organize and conduct this type of group. Please call the OCF at (617) 973-5801 to purchase this video and manual.

source site: click here

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Calling all Adults with OCD in the Chicago Area

OCD Chicago, an affiliate of the OCF, holds a biweekly G.O.A.L. support group for OCD sufferers and their friends and family. This group meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 7-9pm at Flourish Studios, 3020 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657. If you are interested in participating, please call (773) 880-1635 or email info@ocdchicago.org.

To read more about OCD Chicago, please visit http://www.ocdchicago.org.

Posted: November 17, 2008

OCDTribe.com, A New Online Support Community

If you struggle with OCD, it may provide some comfort to know you are not alone. 1 in 50 adults in the United States is reported to have OCD. Imagine if you could connect with others like you, across the globe, anytime. Now you can.

OCDTribe is a free online support community, with thousands of members, designed specifically to connect individuals with OCD from around the world. Members receive 24/7 access to the latest in social networking features such as blogs, forums, messaging, profile pages, groups, games and more. OCDTribe offers members a place to share stories, encouragement, and friendship.

To read more about OCDTribe, or to join today, please visit http://www.ocdtribe.com

Posted: October 6, 2008

Attention: Adult OCD Sufferers in Colorado

Do you struggle with obsessive-compulsive behavior, anxiety, depression, or fear? All are welcome, including family members and friends, to this Christian-based support group for OCD and related disorders. Contact Larry Snapp, a licensed professional counselor who will be leading the group, at (303) 332-4384 or via email at ocdsurvival@hotmail.com. Meetings will be held at the New Life Church at 17690 East Iliff Avenue in Aurora, CO. The group meets once a month, every third Thursday, at 7pm.

Posted: July 8, 2008

Attention: Adults with OCD in Dallas County, Texas

All adults suffering from OCD (and their friends and family) who are interested in forming a support group in Dallas County, TX, please contact G.B. at (972) 322-0094. This support group will be free and G.O.A.L.-oriented. If you are interested in participating in a conference call forum for OCD support, please call (616) 597-8000, access code 890718, at 8pm CST on Wednesdays.

Posted: June 9, 2008

Calling All Adults with OCD in Central Florida

We currently have at least three local professionals (all with Doctorate degrees that treat OCD) that are definitely interested in contributing to a group; all we need now is you! Please contact Javina at javina.barton@gmail.com or call (407) 414-2719 any time if interested in volunteering or attending.

Posted: April 24, 2008

Click here to find a support group in your area!

trichotillomania

Those with OCD will learn some important terms:
 
Rituals
Obsessions
Triggers
 
There are some other important terms that I believe are being ignored and those are:
 
Emotions
Feelings
 
The reason I believe this is this:
 
Those with any mental illness will feel similar to someone with a disability. Mental illness can be considered a disability at times. But having a disability means that you are "different" than normal people. Being different than normal people, especially experiencing a mental illness which carries its own negative stigma forces you to experience certain emotions and feelings.
 
What you do with the emotions and feelings you are experiencing is very important. What the medical community hasn't stressed is the importance of expressing emotions and feelings in the "physical sense." It's barely discussed for emotional stability so how can we expect for them to expound upon the importance of how we express these very important factors?
 
Triggers are the beginning of an emotional experience aren't they? When you're triggered by a certain experience emotions and feelings begin to form within your mind and within your heart. You feel threatened by the trigger. You feel suddenly unsafe. These feelings are important to recognize. Once you begin to recognize and identify what you are feeling you can then begin to control your destiny with OCD. It's so important.
 
The same goes for other mental illnesses. Another important feeling is "acceptance." Having OCD makes you different and people are uninformed and uneducated concerning mental illnesses. Feeling unaccepted because you are different brings feelings and emotions with it!

A very important factor is learning to accept yourself. Learning to accept who you are with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's part of you and it's up to you to accept if first before others can accept it and then accept you for who you are.
 
This is why the underlined link words that take you to other sites that contain emotions, feelings and to sites that will teach you about some important tools that you can use to accept yourself are so important for you to utilize.

very important additional resources:
 
 
 
 

Myths about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Child Has ODD, I Need Help

Compulsive Cleanliness

Am I Obsessive-Compulsive?

Do You Have Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies?

it's in the news....

Estrogen Affects Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:  OCD Behaviors Reported in Study of Estrogen-Deficient Male Mice

Originally posted: February 19, 2009

Deep brain stimulation approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder

People with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder have a new treatment option available: The Food and Drug Administration has approved deep brain stimulation as a therapy for the disorder.

With deep brain stimulation, electrodes permanently  implanted in a person’s brain emit electrical signals that alter the functioning of the brain’s complex circuitry.

Scientists aren’t yet sure how the intervention works. In some cases, it may activate brain circuits that are sluggish; in other cases, it may inhibit circuits that are overactive.

With OCD, it’s believed that hyperactive circuits contribute to heightened anxiety and, often, depression. People with the disorder indulge in repetitive behaviors, such as washing their hands incessantly or repeatedly making sure a door is shut, as a way of controlling anxiety.

The FDA granted what’s known as a “humanitarian device exemption” to Medtronic Inc. for its Reclaim deep brain stimulation system as a therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. The designation allows Medtronic to market the device on a limited basis to fewer than 4,000 patients.

The agency said its decision was based on a study of 26 patients with severe OCD that showed a 40 percent reduction in symptoms after a year of deep brain stimulation therapy. All the patients had tried and failed other therapies.

This is the first time deep brain stimulation has been approved as a therapy for a psychological disorder. The treatment is already approved for patients with so-called movement disorders -- Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia.

Medtronic and other device makers see a large potential in deep brain stimulation and are working with scientists across the U.S. investigating the therapy for conditions such as severe depression, epilepsy, chronic pain and Alzheimer’s disease.

The success of these efforts depends on identifying the function of various brain circuits and learning how to alter them without damaging other brain activities. Much of this science is still in its infancy.

Experts warn that deep brain stimulation involves brain surgery, carries potentially severe complications and should only be performed at centers with proven expertise. 

source site: click here

On average, people w/OCD see 3 to 4 doctors & spend over 9 years seeking treatment before they receive a correct diagnosis. Studies have also found that it takes an average of 17 years from the time OCD begins for people to obtain appropriate treatment.

(www.ocfoundation.org)

A woman visits her dermatologist, complaining of extremely dry skin and seldom feeling clean. She showers for 2 hours every day.

A lawyer insists on making coffee several times a day. His colleagues don't realize that he lives in fear that the coffee will be poisoned and he feels compelled to pour most of it down the drain.

The lawyer is so obsessed with these thoughts that he spends 12 hours a day at work: 4 of them worrying about contaminated coffee.

A man can't bear to throw anything away. Junk mail, old newspapers, empty milk cartons all "could contain something valuable that might be useful someday." If he throws things away, "something terrible will happen."

He hoards so much clutter that he can no longer walk through his house. Insisting that nothing be thrown away, he moves to another house where he continues to hoard.

A 10 year old girl keeps apologizing for "disturbing" her class. She feels that she's too restless and is clearing her throat too loudly. Her teachers are puzzled and over time become annoyed at her repeated apologies since they didn't notice any sounds or movements. She's also preoccupied with "being good all the time".

These people suffer obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than 2% of the US population or nearly 1 out of every 40 people, will suffer from OCD at some point in their lives.

The disorder is 2 to 3 times more common than schizophrenia & bipolar disorder.

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According to a survey conducted in the early 1980's by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Federal agency that supports research nationwide on the brain, mental illnesses & mental health, provided new knowledge about the prevalence of OCD.

 Prior to this survey, the amount of individuals experiencing OCD's obsessions & compulsions was thought to be extremely minimal.

People whose brains are injured sometimes develop OCD, which suggests it's a physical condition. If a placebo is given to people who're depressed or who experience panic attacks, 40% will say they feel better.

If a placebo is given to people who experience obsessive-compulsive disorder, only about 2% say they feel better. This also suggests a physical condition.

  • Many healthy people can identify with some of the symptoms of OCD, such as checking the stove several times before leaving the house. Those with OCD can consume hours a day repeating their behaviors finding it distressing enough to interfere with daily life.

  • The course of the disease is variable, meaning the symptoms may come & go. Symptoms may ease over time, or can grow progressively worse. Research suggests that OCD might run in families although scientists haven't identified the gene.

"Getting dressed in the morning was tough because I had a routine, & if I didn't follow the routine, I'd get anxious & would have to get dressed again.

I always worried that if I didn't do something, my parents were going to die. I'd have these terrible thoughts of harming my parents. Those thoughts were completely irrational, but the thoughts triggered more anxiety & more senseless behavior. Because of the time I spent on rituals, I was unable to do a lot of things that were important to me."

Infection May be Linked to OCD

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Common Behaviors of those w/OCD

  • Persistent lateness or absence from work, school or other appointments

  • Difficulty completing simple tasks in a reasonable amount of time

  • Extreme emotional reactions to insignificant events

  • Staying up late to get things done

  • Performance of daily routine becomes a struggle

"People w/OCD often say the symptoms feel like a case of mental hiccups that won't go away."
 

OCD is likely the cause of a number of intertwined & complex factors, which include genetics, biology, personality development & how a person learns to react to the environment around them.

Resistance

Most people with OCD struggle to banish their unwanted, obsessive thoughts and to prevent themselves from engaging in compulsive behaviors.

Many are able to keep their obsessive-compulsive symptoms under control during the hours when they're at work or attending school. Over the months or years, resistance may weaken and when this happens, OCD may become so severe that time consuming rituals take over the sufferers' lives, making it impossible for them to continue activities outside the home.

Shame and Secrecy

OCD sufferers often attempt to hide their disorder rather than seek help. Often they're successful in concealing their obsessive-compulsive symptoms from friends and coworkers.

An unfortunate consequence of this secrecy is that people with OCD usually don't receive professional help until years after the onset of their disease.

By that time, they may have learned to work their lives and family members' lives around the rituals.

What Causes OCD?

Doctors don't know the exact cause of obsessive compulsive disorder.

  • Disorders such as OCD, which had previously been thought to be character flaws or worse, are now being attributed to the intricacies of the human mind.

What science is learning about the relationship between brain chemistry & individual behavior offers hope. There's growing evidence that OCD has a neurobiological basis. OCD is no longer attributed to family problems or to attitudes learned in childhood:

  • an unusually extreme emphasis on cleanliness
  • a belief that certain thoughts are dangerous & unacceptable

The search for causes now focuses on the interaction neurobiological factors & environmental influences. Brain imaging studies using a technique called positron emission tomography (PET) have compared people with & w/out OCD.

Those with OCD have patterns of brain activity that differ from people with other mental illnesses or people with no mental illness.

PET scans show that in patients with OCD, both behavioral therapy and medication produce changes in the caudate nucleus, a part of the brain.  

This is graphic evidence that both psychotherapy and medication affect the brain. Be assured that OCD is far from a rare condition.

 

OCD in children and adolescents is common compared to some other major diseases of childhood. Not as common as asthma, but OCD is far more common than juvenile-onset diabetes.

OCD appears to run in families and research data indicates that, like depression and manic depression (bipolar disorder), obsessive-compulsive illness is caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitter called serotonin.

This brain chemical, one of many that allows the nerve cells to communicate with one another, is thought to regulate mood and sleeping patterns.

Other studies have found that people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, like those who have a depressive illness, take an abnormal amount of time to begin dreaming after they've first fallen asleep. That finding adds to the theory that the illness is caused by imbalances in the brain chemicals that control sleep.

Still other research supports the theory that biology plays a role in showing that people suffering from OCD have an abnormal response in their growth hormones when they take a medication that treats high blood pressure.

These findings give some credence to the theory that links the illness to normal biological responses to threats. According to this theory, healthy people become accustomed to a stimulus that - although originally thought to be a threat - turns out to be harmless.

OCD people never develop an "immunity" to the stimulus and continue to feel anxious. Over time, their anxiety develops into obsessions, which then give rise to the compulsive behavior.

Other theories focus on the psychological reactions to a traumatic incident during childhood or to a major stress. Life events or environmental issues can affect a person's mental health.

However, because people with OCD respond better when they receive both medication and psychotherapy, many researchers think the illness may result from a biological vulnerability that can be triggered by stress.

Studies indicate that the illness can become more ingrained if patients wait before they seek help. With proper treatment people suffering from OCD can return to a fully functioning life.

Biological factors involving brain structure and activation are associated with OCD. Abnormalities of the frontal lobes, basal ganglia, and cingulum are common in people with OCD. Basal ganglia are involved in routine behaviors, like grooming and the frontal lobes in organizing behaviors and in planning.

The cingulum consists of fibrous bands that assist in communicating the brains behavioral and emotional messages. Support for its role in OCD is the fact that surgical severing of the cingulum has relieved and even cured people with the disorder.

First of all, it's important to understand that no one person causes obsessive compulsive disorder in another, nor do people bring the illness upon themselves as a result of weak morals or character.

Secondly, it's imperative that those experiencing symptoms of OCD seek a complete evaluation with a licensed psychiatrist of psychologist who can accurately diagnose the disorder.

Third, follow the treatment recommendations of your doctor and voice any concerns or questions.

One of the most effective ways to cope with OCD is to learn as much as you can about it. By doing so, you can help yourself and your loved one regain a healthy, fulfilling life.

The Serotonin Hypothesis
An abnormally low level of serotonin is perhaps the most well-established link between the brain & OCD. Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter that transmits information from one nerve to another throughout the brain.
 
It's released by one synapse(nerve ending), crosses a gap, & is picked up by another synapse. After a message is sent, enzymes in the brain clean serotonin out of the synapses. Drugs used to treat OCD, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), increase & sustain serotonin levels & reduce or eliminate symptoms.

If you're a family member or friend of someone w/OCD, your first & most important task is to learn as much as you can about the disorder, its causes & its treatment. At the same time, you must be sure the person w/OCD has just as much, if not more, access to info about the disorder.

Women w/OCD may experience a worsening of symptoms during pregnancy & postpartum. A recent study suggests that fluctuating hormones may trigger symptoms during pregnancy. The same study reports OCD in 30% of women observed.

Take a Chance and Start To Trust People Again
 
Many with OCD have symptoms that result in walls of doubt between themselves and people with whom they come into daily contact.
 
i.e., the washer who'd become terrified if a stranger would come up to and touch her babies is "convinced" that others are more careless about the presence of dirt or germs on their hands.
 
Fact is, most family members, friends and fellow employees wouldn't touch our babies or walk on our carpets if they thought that something harmful was on their hands or shoes.
 
True, your definition of what's harmful may be different from theirs, but this is where you must put the principle into practice.
 
Being a participant in society involves trusting the people around you to a reasonable extent. If you've lost the ability to judge what's "reasonable trust," remember how you acted toward people before developing OCD or take notes from a friend you respect in a similar role as yourself (i.e., another mother, father, student, business person, etc.).

Trusting other people is probably one of the most difficult things someone with OCD needs to do. It involves giving up control to someone else and control is to a great extent what OCD is all about.

Start small and work up to more difficult matters. If you feel compelled to clean excessively after a guest has been in your home, try to delay responding to this urge.

Remind yourself of your need to be more trusting of people. If you must clean or wash, keep it to the bare minimum and stay committed to delaying longer and doing less the next time.

It'll take courage, but you'll be happier in the long run.

OCD and Relationships

Let's look at the basics of how OCD can affect a relationship....

Just like living with a chronic physical illness that includes certain disabilities from its symptoms, OCD is a medical illness with  debilitating symptoms that can cause a strain on most relationships.

Whether it be with your immediate family, a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend or your close friends, having OCD causes most people to tend to isolate themselves because of the despair, shame and frustration that they suffer with as a result of their obsessions and compulsions.

For the family, spouse or friends who don't have OCD:

The OCD sufferer, on the other hand, feels:

In the same light, the individual that is experiencing the OCD realizes that their own obsessions and compulsions are strange, hard to deal with and annoying. Sometimes feelings of guilt emerge for having to expose a loved one to these behaviors.

It's extremely important to maintain a peaceful environment and a flow of communication between the OCD sufferer and their loved ones. Stress can trigger the disorder to escalate. Each person in the relationship must get in touch with their feelings and emotions to allow themselves the freedom to feel the pain and process it. 

A Supportive Home Environment:
 
The home is often the primary setting of compulsions and is also generally the 'haven of avoidance' for the anxiety sufferer.
 
The less tension that in 'in the air' the better. If there are significant conflicts in some the family relationships, it would be very helpful to the sufferer if these conflicts are worked through and resolved, including those conflicts that include the sufferer.
 
Explaining this to friends and family may seem difficult to do, but in the long run, everyone involved will appreciate your efforts. Sometimes there can be tension from lack of information and education about your disorder.
 

People with OCD avoid many situations or objects that trigger their compulsions. The family and friends that surround the ocd sufferer may trigger avoidance behaviors without even realizing it.
 
After you've come far enough in your recovery to feel that you've identified your triggers, communicate them to your close ones, so they can be aware of what could set your compulsions off.

Share your knowledge and understanding of the disorder with your family and friends....

The isolation that you feel with your disorder, has your family members feeling an enormous burdendistress and guilt about the affects of the disorder on you.
 
Hopefully, you'll both be able to talk about the disorder and express your feelings about it, openly and honestly. This will be a great beginning to the healing process for both of you and any other family members of friends that are involved.
 
Communicating your knowledge of the disorder, especially when you learn something new and enlightening can be the foundation for a truly supportive home life.

Tell your family members when you're having a particularly hard day....
 
Your symptoms may flare up when your anxiety is high, when depressed or when stressed about something. Offer what support you can and be flexible in terms of what you're expecting from your family on that day.
Ask your family to acknowledge your improvements, however small, for encouragement and reward for the progress. Things like cutting down a hand washing routine by 5 minutes or reducing a checking ritual from 50 checks to 40 checks may seem insignificant, but represents a great step forward and gets easier if there's acknowledgment by others. 
 
Recognition and praise is always encouraging, but family members or friends may not realize the importance. 
 
Telling your friends and family what you expect from them can lead to less disappointment. They can't read your mind, so asking them to try to maintain a non-judgmental and accepting attitude toward you, helps them to help you. A non-judgmental attitude and avoidance of personal criticisms, can enable you to focus on your efforts at coping and getting well, rather than expending energy dealing with anger and resentment.

Recently, Dr. Phil did a show on those who are experiencing obsessive behaviors... click here to go to Dr. Phil's website & read more about OCD.
 
information about self help methods were found at www.ocdhope.com
 
 
 

The American Red Cross

Click here to visit the Red Cross page that allows you to access your local chapter of the Red Cross by entering your zip code in the specified box, to see how you can help in your area. You can also call your local Red Cross Chapter that you can find the number for online or in your local phone book to volunteer for any openings that may need to be filled or you can find another way to help others there as well!

consider yourself hugged by a friend today!
you've been visiting anxieties 101...
 
please have a great day & take a few minutes to explore some of the other sites in the emotional feelings network of sites! explore the unresolved emotions & feelings that may be the cause of some of your pain & hurt... be curious & open to new possibilities! thanks again for visiting at anxieties 101!
 
 
until next time: consider yourself hugged by a friend today!
 
til' next time! kathleen

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