Obsessive compulsive disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder :

• It is a set of irrational thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
• Obsessive-compulsive symptoms vary from person to person.
• The disease is characterized by impeding the performance of daily tasks and wasting a lot of time.
• There are two main types followed in treatment, which are psychological and medicinal.
• There are many ways to deal with a patient’s condition, and others cooperate with it.

Definition of disease:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of mental disorder associated with anxiety, characterized by irrational (and obsessive) thoughts and fears that lead to forced repetition of certain behaviors (compulsive), which impedes daily life.
Sometimes people with obsessive-compulsive disorder are aware of the fact that their obsessive behavior are illogical and try to ignore or change them, but these attempts increase feelings of distress and anxiety, so these actions are mandatory for them to relieve the feeling of distress.

the reasons:

There is no clear and explicit cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and theories about the possible causative agents of obsessive-compulsive disorder include:

• Biological factors: It may be the result of a chemical change in the functioning of the brain.
• Genetic and genetic factors.
• Environmental factors: It may be due to infection and infections.

Symptoms:

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms – disturbing thoughts and compulsions – vary from person to person.

Most disturbing thoughts:

• Fear of dirt or pollution.
• Fear of getting sick.
• Fear of causing harm to himself and others.
• Fear of mistakes.
• Fear of embarrassment or failure and getting involved in inappropriate behavior in public.
• Fear of bad thoughts or feelings of sin.
• The exaggerated need for organization, integration, and accuracy.

The most common compulsive behaviors:

• Repeated ablution and prayer.
• Showering more than once, or washing hands frequently.
• Refraining from shaking hands or touching the door handle.
• Excessively checking things, such as locks or gas stoves.
• Counting continuously – whether silently or loudly – during normal daily work.
• Emphasizing the arrangement and organization of personal belongings permanently, and consistently.
• Eat a certain fixed set of foods, and in constant order.
• Stuttering during speech, as well as disturbing fantasies and thoughts that do not go away on their own, can cause sleep disturbances.
• Repetition of words, or terms.
• Feeling the need to do the same tasks multiple times (such as praying and ablution).
• Collect and maintain objects that have no apparent value.

When to see a doctor:

The majority may experience some obsessive behavior at some point in their lives or may be part of their personality, but that does not necessarily mean that they have obsessive-compulsive disorder, as what distinguishes the disease is that it impedes the performance of daily tasks and wastes a lot of time.

Diagnosis:

• Clinical examination.
• Laboratory tests.
• Psychological evaluation.
• Use of measures and criteria for mental disorders.

Risk factors:

• Family history.
• A life burdened by stress and stress, or from traumatic events or traumatic events.
• Having other mental illnesses.
• The condition of the obsessive mother may get worse after pregnancy.

Complications:

• Social Relationship Disorder.
• Inability to go to work or school.
• Depression and other mental disorders.
• Suicide thoughts and behavior.
• Skin inflammation as a result of washing hands frequently.

treatment:

Treatment varies according to the severity of the condition and the extent of the obsessive effect on the patient’s life, and there are two main types followed in his treatment, namely psychological and drug therapy.

Psychiatric treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder:

In non-severe cases, the method (exposure and prevention of response) will be used, by making the patient face the triggers of obsessions and preventing him from fixing it or placing it properly.
Another method called “cognitive / cognitive behavioral therapy” is considered the most successful among children and adults alike.
In severe cases, treatment may take several months to show effects.

Medicinal treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder:

Medication may be used in advanced cases, often starting with antidepressants, and as the condition progresses, sedatives are used and the effects of anxiety are addressed.
Be careful not to stop medications without consulting a doctor even if there is an improvement in the condition, and be sure to use them as prescribed by the doctor.

Tips for obsessive-compulsive disorder:

• Express feelings by talking to a close person, or resorting to writing.
• Spend more time with family and friends to consolidate the relationship with them and then feel comfortable when talking about obsessive thoughts, which reduces their severity.
• Managing stress, as it increases the obsessive intensity, and it is advised to practice relaxation exercises to relieve it.
• Take care to get enough sleep to provide the body with sufficient strength to deal with life’s difficulties.
• Ensure eating healthy food and maintaining blood sugar level, which controls mood and energy of the body.
• Exercising regularly is beneficial for mental health.

Instructions for dealing with OCD:

• Read more about the condition to know what the patient is going through.
• Patience when dealing with the patient, and taking into account the seriousness of his concerns, even if they seem illogical.
• Help the patient with his affairs and arrange things as he wants.
• Reassure the patient and remind him that it is not the cause of errors or accidents.
• Helping the patient resist some compulsive actions, such as asking him about the goal of repeating the action more than once, and reminding him that obsessive does not make sense.
• Supporting the patient and asking him what he needs to help him facilitate his affairs and not to waste much of his time.
• Encourage the patient to follow the treatment sessions, and tell real stories of successful treatment experiences.
• It is not easy to deal with the patient, so the soul should not be neglected and given the right to rest.

wrong concepts:

Women only get obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Truth: In fact, it is a disease that affects all age groups of both sexes.

 

prepared by Dr. Fatin Mirza