Symptoms And Treatments Regarding Ocd example essay topic

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Imagine if you couldn't get your job done because throughout your shift you had to continuously wash your hands. To many people this would be an easy problem but not if you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Several little thoughts or rituals irritate a person with OCD daily. There are many factors, symptoms, and treatments regarding OCD. OCD is known as one of the anxieties disorders (geo cities).

It can be a crippling condition that can persist throughout a person's life (geo cities). Someone who suffers from OCD can become trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but very difficult to overcome (geo cities). OCD is linked to a kind of "short-circuit" in the way the brain processes worry thoughts (kids health). People with OCD have obsessions and compulsions. Obsession is defined as a compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or unwanted emotion (American Heritage). "Obsessions lead to anxiety (kids health)".

To relieve their anxiety people will perform compulsions. Compulsion is defined as an irresistible impulse to act (American Heritage). An example of this would be someone who feels dirty may wash their hands 100 times a day (kids health). "In the United States, more than one million children this disorder (kids health). No one knows for sure exactly what causes OCD (kids health). However, OCD and related disorders do run in families (kids health).

Scientists have not found what is passed on to make a person more prone to have OCD (kids health). Scientists believe it could be a communication problem with the front of the brain and other parts that use neurotransmitters (kids health). Though the cause is not known there are numerous symptoms for OCD. OCD symptoms normally will start to show during teenage years or early adulthood (geo cities). The person will start to continuously experience disturbing thoughts such as: "My hands are contaminated, I must wash them;"I may have left the gas on"; or "I am going to injure my child" (geo cities).

"These thoughts are intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety" (geo cities). The most common compulsions are washing and checking (geo cities). Dr. Ian Osborne tells an account of a man who had fears that his hands were infected (11). This man repeatedly washed and scrubbed his hands until they bled (Osborne 11). Dr. Osborne also notes a college female who couldn't stop bombarding herself with questions (23).

To ease these compulsions one may perform rituals (geo cities). Rituals are only temporary relief from the anxiety (geo cities). Some rituals may include: constant counting, touching, checking things over and over, having to do things a certain number of times, or collecting or saving useless things (kids health). There are different kinds of people with OCD.

"Insight people with OCD show a range of insight into the senselessness of their obsessions" (geo cities). At times insight people can tell whether their obsessions are real or not (geo cities). Resistance most people with OCD have a hard time banishing their unwanted, obsessive thoughts and preventing them from engaging in compulsive behaviors (geo cities). Some are able to control their symptoms while at work or attending school, but over time their strength may weaken, and they will not be able to function in activities outside of the home. (geo cities).

Shame and secrecy sufferers try to hide their disorder instead of seeking help (geo cities). The problem with secrecy is that they do not get professional help until late and then they learn to live their lives around the rituals (geo cities). Long-lasting symptoms OCD normally lasts for years, even decades (geo cities). The symptoms may seem to fade for long intervals, but for most the symptoms are chronic (geo cities). With a lot of the symptoms, it is important to get treatment. Treatment of OCD can vary from patient to patient.

A patient could benefit from behavior therapy or (geo cities). Some patients will use both, while some will begin medication and then move onto behavior therapy (geo cities). Trials have shown that drugs that affect the neurotransmitter serotonin can reduce the symptoms of OCD (geo cities). There have been several drugs used in the treatment of OCD.

They are all grouped under serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SR Is) (geo cities). It normally takes the medication almost a month to show improvement (geo cities). Patients have to be careful to avoid a relapse if they stop taking the medication (geo cities). Marc Summers, former TV show host, is an OCD sufferer.

Marc had battled OCD for a long time, and with medication had improved (Summers 198). Marc thought he had OCD beaten, and stopped taking his medication without consulting his doctor first (Summers 198). While Marc moved, he began to relapse (Summers 199). He began obsessing over the death of his mother-in-law (Summers 199).

Marc once went out and checked and rechecked the locks on his car five times (Summers 201). Marc eventually snapped out of his relapse, and now knows when they " ll happen (Summers 204). Turning points for recovery vary in duration and intensity (Levenkron 145). Sometimes the turning point is drastic, but normally it is a gradual process (Levenkron 145).

The patient who puts less intensity upon the rituals tends to gradually forget them (Levenkron 145). There are several things you can do to ease the anxiety. First, you can let go of your worries and tensions (Foa 87). You should shift your attention toward a new activity (Foa 87). Say supportive statements to yourself to help end obsessions (Foa 88). Next, you should take calming breaths and use calming counts (Foa 91).

Sometimes forcing yourself to become distressed can ease the anxiety (Foa 95). The benefits of behavior therapy are received once the treatment has ended (geo cities). Treatment of OCD can affect the whole family (geo cities). Family members cannot always accept the fact that the person can't control his / her behaviors (geo cities). When family members show anger, it increases the OCD behavior (geo cities). The family may assist in the rituals or give constant reassurance to keep peace (geo cities).

"Education about OCD is important for the family" (geo cities). Families may learn ways to encourage the patient to fully adhere to the behavior therapy (geo cities). Self-help books are a great source of information, and the family sometimes will seek the help of a family therapist who is trained in the field (geo cities). People who have OCD need the support of their family to have a successful recovery (Levenkron 117).

Research is still ongoing for the treatment of OCD (geo cities). They are looking at relapse prevention, increasing availability of behavior therapy, and looking for small liquid doses of medication for patients (geo cities). Researchers are also trying to link OCD to several other autoimmune diseases (geo cities). Treatment for OCD has several key factors. Not only is therapy and medication important for the patient, but the patients need family support as well. The symptoms of OCD are becoming more noticeable with more research.

The main symptoms hand washing, and repeated checking can all be treated if handled properly (kids health). The background of OCD shows that it can be a crippling disease, but it can also be a curable one.