Obsessive Compulsive Disorder-OCD-I

A chronic mental health problem related to obsessive thoughts leading to compulsive behaviour is known as Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). An obsession can be described as undesired thoughts, urges or images that enter the mind of the person repeatedly. A compulsion is described as a mental act or behaviour which a person is forced to perform.
Usually in compulsive behaviour a person gets pleasure in performing the act like gambling or addiction to drugs, but in OCD it does not give any pleasure and the person performs the act compulsively so that his obsession should not become true. For example, a constant fear in a person that he might catch a serious disease leading to his every time taking a shower after using a public toilet.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER’S SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of OCD can begin from childhood, but normally males may develop OCD symptoms during adolescence, whereas in females it usually starts in early 20’s. As per the data available 2% children and teenagers and 3% adults are suffering from OCD. The OCD symptoms ranges from mild form of OCD to very severe form of OCD which means engaging oneself in terms of time range from one hour a day to a stage where the life is completely dominated by the symptoms of OCD. Generally there is a set cycle or pattern of thoughts and behaviours observed in people with obsessive compulsive disorder which can be divided into four stages namely:
Obsession: the mind gets overpowered by a constant fear or concern like fear of a burglary in the house.
Anxiety: the constant fear or obsession initiates a feeling of intense distress or anxiety.
Compulsion: the mind then sets into motion a pattern of compulsive actions or behaviours to decrease the anxiety like checking all doors and windows three times before leaving the house.
Temporarily relief: These compulsive behaviours or actions do provide a temporary relief from stress and anxiety however they soon return and the behaviour cycle begins again.
Obsessive or Unwanted Thoughts
Almost every person gets unpleasant and unwanted thoughts like nagging job insecurity or a brief spell of suspicion of unfaithful partner, but usually people put these concerns and thoughts into context and carry on with their daily routine life however if these thoughts try to dominate the thinking process to such an extent that they interrupt the normal thought, it is an indication of development of an obsession. Some of the obsessions of people suffering from OCD include:-
Fear of causing harm to others or being harmed by others.
Fear of committing unpleasant act or getting aggressive.
Fear of infection, contamination by disease or other unpleasant things.
A desire of orderliness or symmetry like a desire that all tins should be arranged in the cupboard in such a manner that all labels face the same side.
Fear of seriously offending religious beliefs
Fear of being considered a sexual deviant
Constant fear of making mistakes leading to serious consequences like thought of leaving the gas on resulting in house getting burned or forgetting to lock the door thereby losing all the possessions.