Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder characterized by repeated, uncomfortable feelings (obsessions) and repetitive activities (compulsions) that people feel driven to undertake. Such compulsions and obsessions can disrupt everyday activities and relationships, causing severe discomfort in those who suffer from the illness.

OCD’s actual etiology is unknown, although research shows that it may be caused by anomalies in some neural pathways, as well as a mix of hereditary and environmental variables. OCD has been demonstrated to run in families and is frequently associated with certain other mental health issues such as sadness and anxiety.

Common Symptoms of OCD

OCD symptoms often appear in teens or early adulthood and can range in severity. Fear of pathogens or infection, anxiety about regularity or order, and unwelcome ideas about damage or violence are all common obsessions. Repeated scrubbing or cleaning, repetitive checking, and hoarding are examples of compulsions.

• Possessing unwelcome and challenging obsessive thoughts or ideas is a frequent OCD symptom. These ideas can be about a variety of things, including the desire for symmetry or order, injury to oneself or others, germs and contamination, or harm to oneself or others. OCD sufferers may attempt to ignore or repress these ideas, but they frequently recur, creating worry and suffering.

• Compulsive activities, such as repetitive washing of hands or tidying, checking items repeatedly, or organizing objects in a certain manner, are another typical OCD characteristic. These actions can be time-consuming and inconvenient to everyday life, but they may temporarily ease the tension brought on by obsessive thoughts.

• Additional signs of OCD include hoarding, excessive doubt, and a need for frequent reinforcement. The intensity of these symptoms might vary, and they may evolve with time.

OCD may significantly disrupt daily tasks including profession, education, and relationships in addition to causing severe mental suffering. People who have OCD may steer clear of circumstances that make them feel obsessed or compelled, which can result in social isolation and a worse quality of life.

A clinical evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist, who will analyze a patient’s complaints, signs, history, and experience, as well as rule out other probable reasons, is used to make an OCD diagnosis. Treatment for OCD frequently consists of a mix of medication, self-help techniques, and treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that can teach people how to control their compulsions and obsessive behaviors.

While OCD may be a difficult disorder to live with, people who get the right therapy frequently see a dramatic reduction in their symptoms and general quality of life. Individuals suffering from OCD should seek support from a specialist in mental health and collaborate in order to develop a successful treatment plan.

Read Blog: All about OCD and effective self-help strategies to break free from OCD

The Different Types of OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can manifest itself in a variety of ways and is far more complex than the widespread belief that it is limited to the light switch and hand-washing rituals. These perspectives ignore the unpleasant thoughts that precede these behaviors, even if they are legitimate OCD compulsions, and they also fail to emphasize the complete destruction that persistent compulsions (regardless of what they are) may create.

Despite the fact that there are countless variations of OCD, it has historically been assumed that a person’s OCD will fit into one of the following five major groups, with themes frequently crossing over across them. There are countless variations of OCD; it may affect any idea, subject, person, or fear, and typically centers on what is significant in a person’s life. For instance, if someone has a strong religious belief, OCD may focus on unwelcome intrusive thoughts related to religion, sometimes leading the patient to feel their acts or thoughts may displease their deity.

The following are the common types of OCD:

Checking OCD

People with this kind of OCD may feel forced to check objects frequently, such as locks or including their own parts of the body, to verify that they really are healthy or in excellent shape. An individual with checking OCD, for example, may repeatedly check the oven to verify it is switched off, or they may reconfirm their heart rate to verify they are still living.

Checking OCD symptoms include, among others:

1. Repeatedly inspecting items to make sure they are secure or in excellent health conditions, such as windows, doors, devices, or bodily parts
2. Inspecting things for an extended period of time
3. If unable to check something or if unable to check it in the proper manner, it can cause distress or worry.
4. Avoidance of circumstances or actions that could need checking stuff
5. If anything requires the individual to stop inspecting items, they may have trouble making judgments or finishing chores.

Religious OCD/scrupulosity

People who have this type of OCD struggle with repetitive and compulsive religious rituals, reassurance seeking, avoidance, unwelcome blasphemous ideas and imagery, and obsessive religious doubts and anxieties. Religious OCD patients have a strong belief in a higher power and are terrified of being punished by them. According to experts, scrupulosity can affect 5% to 33% of OCD sufferers.

Scrumptiousness affects even those who are not very religious since they are concerned about compromising their morals or accidentally upsetting others. People with scrupulosity think their ideas are the same as their acts, therefore they worry not only about the things they’ve performed but also concerning the things they’ve thought. This belief is a recurrent theme throughout the spectrum.

Following are the few symptoms of religious OCD:

1. Fear of lacking sufficient trust
2. Apprehension about hell
3. Apprehension about consuming contaminated or inappropriate foods
4. Aversion to doing sin
5. Unwanted sexual or improper ideas regarding religious figures or God
6. A few rituals are excessive church attendance, prayer, cleaning, and resisting unwanted thoughts.
7. Seeking feedback from others on their behavior
8. Repeating the process of behavior analysis
9. Excessive begging for pardon or apologizing to God

Contamination OCD

This kind of OCD is distinguished by a preoccupation with contamination. Contamination OCD patients may experience great anxiety when handling things or interacting with potential contaminants, and they may feel compelled to clean their hands or sanitize their environment excessively. A person suffering from contamination OCD, for example, might dread exchanging handshakes with people or touching doorknobs.

Following are a few typical signs of contamination OCD:

1. Extreme aversion to touching or using tainted items or substances
2. Excessive object or surface cleaning or hand washing
3. Avoiding circumstances or actions that might cause infection, including shaking hands or touching doorknobs
4. Eating and drinking may be challenging if things or materials are not thought to be clean.
5. Inability to prevent or rid oneself of imagined contamination that causes distress or worry

Hoarding OCD

People with hoarding OCD can have trouble getting rid of items, regardless of when they’re no longer needed. This may result in congested living areas and trouble doing routine activities. For instance, an individual experiencing hoarding OCD may find it difficult to discard outdated newspapers or other materials, even though they are worthless or unusable and do not have any sentimental value attached to them.

The following are some typical signs of hoarding OCD:

1. Collecting and preserving a lot of things, even if they aren’t useful or have any sentimental significance
2. Having trouble getting rid of things, even when they aren’t  required or desired
3. Having a heap of clutter that restricts movement or the use of living spaces in an intended manner
4. Arranging and managing belongings with difficulty
5. Refusal to open the door to guests out of shame over the mess
6. Strong emotional ties to things, even if they are worthless to others or have little value

Symmetry OCD

OCD with symmetry is characterized by a desire for order. People who have symmetry OCD could feel compelled to arrange things in a certain manner or carry out duties in a specific sequence. For instance, an individual exhibiting symmetry OCD might feel compelled to organize their books on their bookshelf in a particular sequence or to stomp their foot a predetermined amount of times before doing anything.

A few typical signs of symmetry OCD entail:

1. A great need for order, symmetry, or precision in their environment or in how they go about their work.
2. If symmetry, organization, or exactness cannot be reached, it will be challenging to complete activities or make judgments.
3. Putting a lot of effort into setting things up or doing things in a certain way.
4. Avoid activities or circumstances that might disturb symmetry or exactness when things are not placed in the appropriate manner or tasks are not completed in the desired sequence.

Treatment for OCD

While OCD can be a difficult disorder to live with, it is curable, and many people can control their signs and symptoms with the correct approach. Effective treatment also helps individuals suffering from OCD for improving their life quality and well-being. The treatment options available for people dealing with OCD are usually a combination of therapy, medication, and self-help techniques.

• The most successful treatment for OCD is usually a mix of therapy and medication. Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help lower the severity of obsessions and compulsions. These drugs operate by raising the amount of serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood.

• Therapy, alongside medication, can be an appropriate cure for OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which emphasizes assisting clients in identifying and changing harmful thinking patterns and behaviors, is one of the most often utilized therapies for OCD. Individuals suffering from OCD can begin to spot and manage their compulsive behaviors and obsessions through CBT. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that is particularly developed to treat OCD. Patients are usually exposed to circumstances and things that trigger their compulsive behaviors and obsessions during ERP, and they are subsequently taught how to avoid completing their compulsions. This can help people lessen their stress, anxiety, and worry and effectively manage their symptoms over time.

Read Blog: How to use exposure therapy?

• Other OCD treatment options include family therapy, which fosters collaboration with loved ones to better understand and assist the OCD sufferer, and supportive therapy, which concentrates on offering people emotional support and direction.

• Learning about OCD and its therapy is one of the best self-help methods for beating the disorder. Individuals may find it easier to comprehend their symptoms and learn what works and doesn’t work for them as a result. Numerous tools are available that help educates and support people with OCD, including online/offline course, workshops, publications, websites, and support groups.

• Practice relaxation techniques, including breathing exercises, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and muscle relaxation, as another self-help method for OCD. These methods can lessen anxiety and enhance general well-being. Taking a few minutes each day to practice relaxation methods and finding a calm, cozy area to do so might be beneficial.

• Creating and adhering to a daily schedule is a crucial self-help technique for overcoming OCD. This can give a sense of order and control, as well as serve to lessen uncertainty and worry. Regular activities like exercise, interaction with others, and leisure pursuits should be incorporated into the daily schedule along with downtime and self-care.

• Furthermore, seeking out assistance from others might be helpful for OCD sufferers. This might entail reaching out to friends and family, establishing a support system, or asking a professional in mental health for guidance. Having the support of others can increase connection and assist to lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation

Download our free worksheet to get access to activities that will help you manage your symptoms of OCD.

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