Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder causes and symptoms

Obsessive-compulsif disorder (trouble obsessionnel-compulsif) is a psychiatric disorder through which a patient is accompanied by a particular idea that constantly accompanies him so that she occupies part of his consciousness and feeling.

It is a chronic anxiety disorder that may disrupt a range of things. Obsessive patient is characterized by unwanted thoughts (obsessions), repetitive and senseless behaviors, but extremely difficult to control (coercions). People often feel helpless, psychological suffering and anxiety because of their condition.

Obsessive disease is usually concealed by the patient, i.e. he suffers from obsessive disease in secret, away from the eyes, because the infected people believe that no one will understand their behavior, nor what they feel.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects up to 3 per cent of the population, regardless of ethnicity or gender. It is sometimes confused with other anxiety disorders. In fact, it is a disease that needs treatment in order to alleviate suffering from it. Up to 30% of people diagnosed with Obsessive-compulsive disorder have a history of chronic nerve disorder such as Tourette's syndrome.

What are the causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is produced by many biological, genetic and environmental factors. There are many research that has shown that changes in the level and balance of chemicals in the brain are associated with anxiety and other similar disorders. This research also suggested that Obsessive-compulsive disorder could be genetic as found in family members.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can develop as a result of certain bacterial infections (streptococcal infections) acquired in childhood, or after a head injury, brain or trauma.

Symptoms and complications of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder has a slow development. It starts with some concerns that become usually gradual in the patient. People with Obsessive-compulsive disorder often care deeply about hygiene and fear of contamination. Their repeated behaviors, such as washing their hands, bathing daily and cleaning, start so that they do these things frequently, but they become difficult to control as these things become more frequent and accurate over time.

There are some common concerns for obsessive patients:

Fire fear: Electrical appliances are constantly checked to make sure they stop.

Fear of being attacked: Doors are checked several times before going out or going to bed.

Overperformance: A tremendous amount of time is spent mastering the organization and content of tanks.

Compelling need for consistency: follow the same course of action every day, or cross the street in exactly the same place every day

Count the things he does: comb your hair according to a certain number of brush strokes, or touch the table several times before wandering around.

and fear of losing control or anger.

Intersectional sexual ideas

Some habits or some things may have their place in everyday life, but problems begin when they interfere with quality of life. People with Obsessive-compulsive disorder are unable to skip a stage of their usual behaviour, otherwise compulsive thoughts will haunt them until the ritual is performed just as they believe. They are relieved, but the rest is short-lived, because the commitment to start again comes back very quickly.

Avoidance behaviour is a common complication of Obsessive-compulsive disorder, where people try to prevent the appearance of obsessions and coercions. Fear of pollutants can avoid public spaces, while fear of unwanted ideas, such as self-destructive or harmful gestures, can avoid social interactions.

How is Obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed?

In general, the disorder is diagnosed when repeated thoughts or behaviors interfere with daily activities, take a long time and cause psychological distress. It is sometimes difficult to make a diagnosis, because a person with the disease hides his or her compulsive habits or gestures. A person with SWD may realize that something is wrong, but he doesn't dare to ask for help.

If the presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder is suspected, the doctor can begin a physical examination and then consider the medical history to try to reach a diagnosis.

How to treat or prevent obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be treated with psychological or drug measures or with a combination of both.

The main psychological intervention is cognitive behavioral therapy, especially trying to stay away, or preventing responses - which may have a high success rate in excited individuals, with few setbacks. Treatment consists of deliberately exposing a person to his or her concerns to force him or her to confront the behaviors that provoke him or her. But the therapist prevents a person from performing their habits (preventing responses). For example, if habits include knocking on the door five times before opening it, the attending therapist prevents a person from knocking on the door.

Treatment should be repeated continuously, over several weeks or even months, so that you can repel obsessive thoughts that drive behavior. With the loss of obsessive ideas to repeat, behaviors and habits should start to emerge. At this point, it is important to ensure that new behaviors do not replace those that have been removed. New behaviors must be fought with different activity..

Behavioral therapy will only be effective if you are very excited and really want to manage your situation. It is useful to learn different ways of thinking about situations that make you anxious and learn different ways of interacting with them. Since this is a challenge for you and your family, it is essential that you get your own support to help you overcome any barriers.