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OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Suparna Ghosh

Let me tell you about a shopkeeper. Every night after he closes down his shop he locks the shutters and puts three locks. You might be wondering what is there to talk about?

The story does not end here. After he locks the shutters with padlocks he keeps pulling at the locks to ensure that he has locked them properly. He keeps repeating this for few more times before he heads towards his home. On his way back he continues thinking and doubting whether he has locked the shutters properly or not and these thoughts does not allow him to relax after a day’s hard work.

 

A young girl keeps on arranging her books and pencil box several times before she goes to bed. It keeps troubling her that the books are not arranged in order. Hence, she goes to bed with an anxiety.

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A lady constantly worries about her hands being dirty so she keeps washing her hands several times during the day and still she feels her hands are not clean enough. As a result she is unable to relax throughout the day.

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By now you must have realized that all these people are all suffering due to their thought processes. They are suffering from a mental health disorder called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD.

 

What is OCD?

In OCD a person has some repeated thoughts or images called obsessions or feels the urge to carryout certain activities repeatedly called compulsions. The person cannot control these thoughts for more than a short period of time.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness. It's made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. People may experience obsessions, compulsions, or both, and they cause a lot of distress. Obsessions are unwanted and repetitive thoughts, urges, or images that don't go away.

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There are four types of OCD :

  • Checking, such as locks, ovens, or light switches, or thinking you have a disease.

  • Contamination, a fear that things might be dirty or a compulsion to clean. Mental contamination involves feeling like you have not been given importance.

  • Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things arranged in a certain way.

  • Ruminations and intrusive thoughts, an obsession with a violent or disturbing thoughts.

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From which age do we see OCD?

OCD can occur in children and teenagers, with the disease usually beginning gradually and worsening with age. Symptoms of OCD can be mild or severe. Some people experience obsessive thoughts only, without engaging in compulsive behaviour.

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Is OCD treatable?

Yes, OCD can be treated with psycho therapy like (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) or with the combination of therapy and medicine. Without treatment, mild OCD can improve, but moderate-to-severe OCD may get worse. Successful treatment can significantly improve and even cure OCD.

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If you feel these kind of symptoms is present in you or your loved ones please do not waste time and seek help.

Let your life be a storehouse of happiness

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