OCD, otherwise known as obsessive compulsive disorder, is a mental health disorder that causes people to have uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts and behaviors. As the name suggests, OCD creates obsessions, or repetitive desires, thoughts, or ideas that take place mainly in the mind; and compulsions, which are physical behaviors one feels the need to exhibit. It is a common disorder among all ages.
Signs
Of obsession:
- Reoccurring unwanted ideas or thoughts
- Repeated thoughts about harming oneself or others
- Fear of contamination, germophobia
- Aggressive feelings
- Constantly checking something
- Constant counting
- Repeated cleaning or washing of items
- Arranging items in a specific order or way
The Fine Line
Often, people can be particular with how they do things or repetitive in thought. However, there is a fine line between the two which can be characterized by the following:
|
Particular and Repetitive
|
OCD
|
How to handle OCD
- Gaining knowledge of OCD to understand what you or a loved one is dealing with
- Patience and understanding with yourself or an affected loved one
- In some cases, prescribed medication from doctors
- Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy: exposing patients to things that they fear, giving them more contact with it, and hopefully lessening their fears, as well as response prevention, making the patient have a different response to their fears then normal
Credit: Brody Brian Darik
Warning: Video does contain mild language, inverted colors, and occasional loud beeping noises
Warning: Video does contain mild language, inverted colors, and occasional loud beeping noises
Reliable Sources and More Information
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
- https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/
- https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder#1
- https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/just-for-teens/whats-normal-whats-not