Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of mental health issue, which causes repetitive behaviors. Individuals with this disorder experience reoccurring thoughts and obsessive behaviors. Which trigger intensely distressing feelings in them. It is a common type of disorder that can affect individuals of any age. It is a chronic disorder, which remains for a lifetime, although the symptoms might disappear and reappear.
Such individuals are subject to compulsions that cause them to develop urges to get rid of their obsessions and alleviate distress. It can also make them do something repeatedly and gets them caught in a repetitive pattern. This obsessive behavior can be extremely frustrating for them as well as their family or friends. Such people face constant struggle.
Example
For example, if a person has OCD, which causes them to become fastidious about their hygiene, then the person may feel like washing their hands or bathing several times a day. They might not feel like engaging in such a repetitive behavior. But they feel like they can’t control themselves and keep doing it regardless.
Symptoms of OCD
Individuals with OCD exhibit obsessive and compulsive behaviors that interfere with their day-to-day activities. They may struggle to give their full attention to tasks. Which is why they might not perform the required work properly. Their behaviors get them caught in a loop of reoccurring patterns, thereby affecting their quality of life.
Despite knowing that these behaviors are unwanted, still, if the individual does not fulfill the urge to repeat the behavior. It might cause great distress among them. It may also trigger anxiety in them. They remain stuck in a vicious cycle of obsessive and compulsive patterns forever. Let us understand both obsessive and compulsive behavior in detail.
Symptoms of obsession
Individuals with OCD tend to have obsessive behavior which traps them in a cycle of repeated, persistent, and unwanted urges or thought patterns which leads to distress or anxiety. The feelings of distress and anxiety worsen when they try to ignore the urges. Even when such an individual tries to divert their mind by performing some activity, the thoughts regarding the urges may still pop up until they finally give up.
People often develop an obsession with the following things:
- Obsessing perfection and preferring only symmetrical things, which makes them avoid asymmetrical things.
- Hateful or atrocious thoughts toward others and self. Which potentiates self-sabotage and bad behavior.
- Fearful about dirt and non-hygiene, due to which they may repeatedly wash their hands or bathe several times, or even avoid going to certain places.
- Entertaining derogatory thoughts about religion and sex.
Symptoms of compulsion
Compulsion makes such individuals driven to take action on their obsessive, repetitive thoughts. If they try avoiding the thoughts, it might increase their mental distress. Their obsessive thoughts compel them to perform the action, and once they do so. It brings down their anxiety and calms their mind.
The individual may be compelled to act on the kind of following things:
- Repeatedly checking whether the doors are locked properly.
- Repeating the same thing either silently or loudly.
- Washing hands repeatedly or cleaning the room until exhaustion.
- Arranging things in a particular way to make them look perfect and symmetrical.
Such individuals may relieve themselves from compulsive behavior by simply avoiding the situations that particularly trigger that obsession within them. The symptoms may exacerbate, ease, or disappear with time. Those trying to avoid such patterns may find the behavior pointless, they perform it regardless.
Most of the time children and older adults might not think too much and they may not even realize that they are trapped in a loop of obsessive-compulsive behavior. In children, the symptoms can be detected quite early, and if the action is taken at the right time. It might help the parents in managing their child’s condition well.
When is the right time to see a doctor?
One should be able to distinguish the individual’s behavior by observing them and understanding their triggers. The person with OCD may not realize they are doing something wrong or behaving in an unusual way. For them, it might be a normal thing but for the rest, it might be peculiar.
In case you see your child’s behavior is different from the children of his age. Then it is necessary to observe him for some time and act early on by consulting a doctor. This will help you in understanding the triggers that lead to such behaviors in them and you will be able to prevent any danger to the child.
For Adults
Adults suffering due to this disorder can be well aware of their behavior and they must try to avoid the things that act as triggers that induce such peculiar habits. They must also seek medical assistance to prevent the worsening of their condition.
For Older
Older adults may struggle a lot, they might fail to recognize their triggers and hence find it difficult to control their urges and thoughts. Which compels them to engage in repetitive behaviors. The condition can cause too much harm due to exhaustion in them. So, they necessarily need a doctor.
Seek A Doctor
Lastly, it doesn’t matter what the age is, seeking a doctor’s attention as immediately as you come to know that your loved one is suffering due to such a disorder is necessary. This step will help you in preventing any major health risk.