They may start by asking some of the following questions. If you are concerned that you may have OCD, you should see your doctor and explain your concerns. How is obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed? This means it tends not to be cured, but you learn ways to manage it. See the separate leaflet called OCD in Children and Young People. Up to 2 in 100 children are also thought to have OCD. Anyone at any age can develop OCD but it usually first develops between the ages of 18 and 30. It is thought that between 1 to 3 in 100 adults have OCD. Other theories about the cause of OCD have been suggested but none proved. However, so far, no genes have been found to be linked with OCD. So, there may be some genetic element to OCD. This is why medication is thought to help (see below).Īlso, the chance of developing OCD is higher than average if you have a first-degree family member who is affected (mother, father, brother, sister, child). Slight changes in the balance of some brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin may play a role. If you are concerned that you may be depressed (for example, if you have been feeling very down and you no longer take pleasure in the things that you used to enjoy), you should see your doctor. It is not your fault and treatment often works. However, if you have OCD, you are not crazy or mad. As a result, many people with OCD also become depressed. Some people with OCD may feel ashamed of their symptoms, especially if they contain ideas of harming others or have a sexual element. They fear that other people might think they are crazy. Many people with OCD do not tell their doctor or anyone else about their symptoms. OCD can affect your work (or schoolwork in children), relationships, social life and quality of life. Other people may seem to cope with normal activities but are distressed by their recurring obsessive thoughts. Some people do their compulsions over and over again in secret (like rituals). For example, some people spend hours carrying out compulsions and, as a consequence, cannot get on with normal activities. However, you find it difficult or impossible to resist them. You know that the obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. The severity of OCD can range from some life disruption to causing severe distress. The compulsions that you have may help to relieve this distress temporarily but obsessions soon return and the cycle begins again. The obsessions that you have with OCD can make you feel really anxious and distressed. How does obsessive-compulsive disorder affect your life? Other compulsions include repeated cleaning, counting, touching, saying words silently, arranging and organising - but there are others. Another example is you may keep on checking that doors are locked, in response to the obsession about doors being unlocked. A compulsion is a way of trying to deal with the distress or anxiety caused by an obsession.įor example, you may wash your hands every few minutes in response to an obsessional fear about germs. Usually the compulsive act is in response to an obsession. What are compulsions?Ĭompulsions are thoughts or actions that you feel you must do or repeat. You normally try to ignore or suppress obsessive thoughts for example, you may try to think other thoughts to neutralise the obsession. Obsessive thoughts can make you feel anxious or disgusted. Obsessions can be about all sorts of things. A need to collect things that others might throw away (hoarding).A need for exactness in how you order or arrange things.Fear of making a mistake or behaving badly.Intrusive thoughts or images of swearing, blasphemy, sex, someone harmed, etc.Worries about doors being unlocked, fires left on, causing harm to someone, etc.Fears about contamination with dirt, germs, viruses (for example, HIV), etc.Obsessions are not simply worries about your life problems. Obsessions are unpleasant thoughts, mental images or urges that keep coming into your mind.
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