Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder associated with intrusive thoughts or phobia's that create fear, worry and general uneasiness. There are many different thoughts and obsessions associated with the disorder that can impede in personal and work life. Those with a form of OCD can seem paranoid or even psychotic to others, generally those with OCD are also aware of their behaviour but find it extremely difficult and distressing, if they try to prevent themselves acting on the OCD.
OCD's pre-occupy the sufferers mind, this can be in mild cases for upto an hour a day and in severe cases it can last all day, without a break. OCD affects people differently and generally come in two different forms, obsessions and compulsions, both of these usually go hand-in-hand, however in a small number the sufferer can experience just one of them.
The difference between the thoughts in Schizophrenia and that of OCD, are that OCD sufferers are aware the thoughts are their own and not of an unknown or 3rd party entity like those with Schizophrenia.
The obsessions and compulsion may become worse the longer they go on, and may become worse dependant upon the sufferer's emotional state, almost becoming a type of ritual or habit that can be extremely difficult to stop without help.
The difference between OCD and other forms of addictions are that with OCD's you have very little control around the obsessions or thoughts, they are intrusive and unwanted. Whereas with addictions the sufferer does have some control over the feelings and actions.
Obsessions and Compulsions
Obsessions
Obsessions are the intrusive thoughts experienced by the sufferer, that can be difficult to remove knowingly or without help. The thoughts can be of many different things such as:
Fear of contamination
Fear of disease or illness, this can be related to extensive media coverage (Bird flu, swine flu, HIV etc.)
Worrying about order, such as symmetrical ordering or items having to face a certain way
Worrying about causing physical or sexual harm to themselves or others, including those of children
Intrusive sexual thoughts, such as fear of exposing themselves or committing an indecent act
Fear of impending doom or something bad will happen unless some ritual is carried out
Compulsions
Compulsions are the repetitive actions to attempt to ease the obsessions, these can be physical actions or mental, such as counting or saying something, this doesn't have to be out loud either. Although the compulsions very rarely ease the actual obsession, it becomes a form of ritual or something the person can control, unlike the obsession that becomes intrusive. Some common compulsions are:
Cleaning, repetitive showering or washing of hands
Fear of touching people or objects
Excessively cleaning property, home or clothes
Checking items are ordered correctly, such as tins of food pointing a specific way
Rituals such as saying a particular phrase a set amount of times, counting to a particular number or in a particular order
Checking mail several times prior to sending, with fear of having written something wrong or inappropriate
Excessively checking windows, doors, electric plugs, taps with the fear that something is left on or open. Even having to check several times to the point of being late for meetings, work etc.
Having to lock items of danger away, in fear that the sufferer will use them to hurt themselves or others.
Saying phrases out aloud to avert or prevent irrational thoughts or disaster
Another common symptom is to ask for reassurance, usually from a partner or someone you live with. Such as asking if the door was locked, even though it has been checked several times or continuously having to ask if something had been done correctly Reassurance can also take the form of checking no harm has come to another person due to your actions.
Treatment
For the successful treatment of OCD's a combination of anti-anxiety drugs and therapy may be required. The more common method of therapy being CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), although this can be treated solely with therapy, the medication can ease the anxiety while pursuing therapy.
This method of therapy, allows the sufferer to respond differently to the intrusive and negative thoughts. Having some negative or intrusive thoughts is common in almost any person; however with OCD the thoughts become unbearable and can cause extreme anxiety, the anxiety itself can become decapitating. This could be a reason alone to ask or pursue some form of assistance and help.