What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
Whichever type of obsessive compulsive anxiety disorder you may have is based in unhealthy anxiety (fear) and can lead to depression..
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often considered a neurological disorder because it involves abnormalities in brain function and structure. Specifically, it affects areas of the brain related to serotonin regulation and certain neural pathways. However, it’s also classified as a mental health disorder due to its significant psychological and behavioural components, Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), personality disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder. It causes unreasonable thoughts, fears, or worries. A person with OCD tries to manage these thoughts through rituals.
Frequent disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions. They are irrational and can cause great anxiety. Reasoning doesn’t help control the thoughts. Rituals or compulsions are actions that help stop or ease the obsessive thoughts.
60% of Those with OCD struggle with the negative intrusive overthinking, such as what if this or that happens etc. 40% indulge in constant repetitive movements and rituals. Some of these rituals can indeed be extremely bizarre and difficult for others to understand.
What causes OCD?
Experts aren’t sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But it can also start in childhood. OCD affects men and women equally. It appears to run in families.
Other anxiety problems, depression, eating disorders, or substance use disorder may happen with OCD and OCPD.
What are the symptoms of OCD?
Obsessions are unfounded thoughts, fears, or worries. They happen often and cause great anxiety. Reasoning does not help control the obsessions. Common obsessions are:
- A strong fixation with dirt or germs
- Repeated doubts (for example, about having turned off the stove)
- A need to have things in a very specific order
- Thoughts about violence or hurting someone
- Spending long periods of time touching things or counting
- Fixation with order or symmetry
- Persistent thoughts of awful sexual acts
- Troubled by thoughts that are against personal religious beliefs
While you may know that the thoughts are unreasonable and not due to real-life problems, it’s not enough to make the unwanted thoughts go away.
Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized acts. They are meant to reduce anxiety caused by the obsession(s). Examples are:
- Repeated handwashing (often 100+ times a day)
- Checking and rechecking to make sure that a door is locked or that the oven is turned off for example
- Following rigid rules of order, such as, putting on clothes in the same order each day, or alphabetizing the spices, and getting upset if the order becomes disrupted
Compulsive acts can become excessive, disruptive, and time-consuming. They may interfere with daily life and relationships, leading to brain fog and fatigue.
People may avoid situations in which they might have to face their obsessions. Some try alcohol or drugs to calm themselves. Below is a video from psychiatrist Tracy Marks, who describes the difference between OCD and OCPD. It is quite possible for a person to have a combination of both. This being the case of both, we would look for evidence of trauma in the background.
How are OCD and OCPD diagnosed?
Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Treatment may include:
- Anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines such as Venalflaxine are often used.
- Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic and Cognitive behavioural therapy can also help.
- With my clients I use a little trick called trash can thinking. This is where there are negative thought patterns getting in the way and based on absolutely no evidence. Internally in your mind you can just say to yourself sending to trash can and not giving it anymore headspace. The healthier and more positive our thinking patterns are, the healthier the neurotransmitters in our brain and nervous systems, will become as they reproduced regularly. This useful little phrase does however require constant practising until it becomes automated thinking.
