Being a slave to thoughts and actions that seem strange even to oneself. This is how a patient of mine described obsessive compulsive disorder. What a beautiful definition.
Indeed, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsession-compulsive disorder, or commonly known as obsession disease) is such a mental illness. A disorder characterized by the person trying to relieve the distress caused by thoughts that come to his mind involuntarily and often seem meaningless and absurd, with various repetitive behaviors and movements.
In OCD patients, obsessions (i.e., obsessive thoughts) and compulsions (i.e., compulsive behaviors) occur together. or it can be seen alone.
Obsessions are unwanted, repetitive, disturbing thoughts and images. They cause feelings of anxiety and restlessness in the person. The most common themes of obsessions are:
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Fear of contamination or contamination: For example, holding door handles or shaking hands with people may cause the thought that dirt or germs will be transmitted from there. the idea that if one passes by garbage on the street, the dirt there will settle on one's clothes
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Feeling obliged to make things correct, orderly or symmetrical : Not being sure whether to close the door or unplug the iron, feeling intense distress if things are not symmetrical and organized
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Unwanted, inappropriate thoughts about sexual or religious matters: While praying or praying, inappropriate thoughts or thoughts about swearing come to mind, images or thoughts of a sexual nature that may disturb the person come to mind
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When you think about yourself or frightening or aggressive behavior about harming others or Thoughts:Frightening thoughts that he might kill his child or a loved one, worry about committing suicide even though he does not actually have the intention of killing himself.
Compulsions are behaviors that are repetitive and felt obliged to do. These behaviors are sometimes done to relieve the anxiety and unrest created by an obsessive thought, and sometimes to prevent an undesirable event from happening, and they do not give the person pleasure. It is either irrational or excessive behavior. The most common compulsions are as follows:
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Cleaning, washing:Washing your hands many times because they touch anything outside, undressing your child coming from school in front of the door and washing all his clothes in the machine. washing and bathing the child immediately
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Doing by counting or not counting:Repeating each action 5 times to avoid harm to his family
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Arrangement:Making all items symmetrical
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Constantly asking for reassurance from those around you:By constantly asking questions from those around him about matters he is not sure about and Seeking reassurance by getting checked
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Following a strict routine:Trying to do everything at the same time and in the same way, believing that bad things will happen if the routine is deviated from
All these symptoms can be seen at various levels. It may be so mild that it does not bother the person, or it may be so severe that it disrupts his entire life and functionality.
My clinical observation for this disease is The most important risk factor in my opinion is having a person with OCD in the family. Since these behaviors are learned, the treatment of the person with OCD in the family becomes important for all individuals, especially the person himself, including children.
The most preferred method in my clinical practice for treatment is medication. Although the treatment is + psychotherapy, I sometimes use medication and therapy alone due to the person's special condition.
Patients with OCD often seek treatment too late because they are ashamed of their symptoms or because they think they will seem strange to others. I would like to remind OCD patients and their relatives who read the article that OCD is a treatable anxiety disorder. There are many people with symptoms like you and they are being treated, so you are not alone.
I wish you all happy and peaceful days.
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