OCD Symptoms – What are the symptoms of OCD?

OCD Symptoms – What are the symptoms of OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness or mental disorder in which compulsive and repetitive behavior preoccupies a patient's mind. The patient tends to suffer from excessive anxiety and relieves his anxiety by following a repetitive behavior or an extensive ritual.

The causes of OCD are unknown, but they can occur due to family history, genetic factors, hormonal changes, brain chemistry disorders, everyday stress, traumatic events, depression, toxic relationships, financial, professional or social stressors, or even bullying in the workplace. The cause can be personal to everyone.

OCD behavior

People suffering from OCD can exhibit different types of OCD. These can include:

1. Indulging in excessive cleanliness.

2. Fear of infection and germs visible everywhere.

3. Organizing things in a particular pattern, orientation, or symmetry.

4. Always reorganize things with the intention of not breaking the cycle.

5. Hoarding items or compulsive shopping.

6. Organizing things or maintaining behavior patterns to perfection.

7. Compulsive belief in taboo thoughts.

Symptoms of OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves two types of emotions:obsessionandObligation. By and large, the symptoms are also assigned to these two emotions.

Obsessive symptoms include:

• Repetitive and aggressive thoughts. It can be about yourself or others.

• Maintain things or plan them in a specific order.

• Fear of contamination and germs.

• Remember to be busy with unnecessary thoughts all the time.

• Developing compulsive behavior for religion, sex, hurting yourself or others.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms include:

• Compulsive counting of objects.

• Overly focused on cleanliness.

• Organizing things or daily work in a specific symmetrical order.

• Compulsive checking of some activities, such as whether the door is locked or not, whether the oven is turned off or not, etc.

Treatment programs

An OCD treatment program depends primarily on medication and psychotherapy. In cases where medication and psychotherapy are not enough, intensive treatment programs are also available. Psychotherapy alone is not enough to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and relapses would often occur.

Medications focus on increasing serotonin levels in the blood to reduce symptoms of OCD. There are medications like paroxetine, fluoxetine, etc. that have worked well for OCD in the past, but these medications need to be prescribed by a doctor after a proper diagnosis.

Psychotherapy by healthcare professionals has been shown to be an effective level of treatment in treating OCD. It is successful in breaking the compulsive behavior by redirecting the compulsive thought process. More commonly, psychotherapy is combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) to work on the patient's obsessive behavior patterns.

In addition to psychotherapy and meditation, self-management strategies such as exercise, yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques and leisure activities can also help to relieve OCD. Previous studies have proven that transcranial magnetic stimulation and neurosurgical methods have also been effective in controlling obsessive-compulsive disorder.

When to consider intensive treatment programs

For some patients, a treatment plan that includes medication or psychotherapy or another form of the above treatment may not simply work. These patients are categorized under treatment-resistant OCD.

Intensive residential treatment programs are developed to combat treatment-resistant OCD. The fundamental characteristic of intensive inpatient treatment programs is that they offer both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Treatment includes individualized self-assessment tools to determine the severity of OCD. Based on the severity of the OCD, a treatment plan is determined and planned for the patients. It may be necessary to admit the patient for days, months, weeks, just weekends or years, depending on the frequency of relapse, history and duration of the illness.

Patients with mild symptoms may opt for treatment in outpatient centers. These centers provide facilities for healthy living in a controlled environment to prevent relapses. They are well-equipped with medical facilities and allow patients to remain under the supervision of doctors, support network, paramedics, occupational therapists and psychologists 24/7. They offer a list of combined therapies including psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, group therapy, family therapy, educational therapy, relaxation therapy, and recreational therapy.

Inpatient treatment program: These treatment programs focus on patients who have a tendency to harm themselves and who relapse repeatedly. Hospitalization helps ensure the safety of these patients. While the patient is in the hospital, the staff teaches them how to deal with emotional pain, change behavior patterns, teach them life skills and guide them on the right path to address the symptoms of OCD at the root. They are kept under 24-hour medical supervision and treated for OCD using a combination of therapies.

Residential treatment program: This type of treatment program is suitable for patients who do not pose a threat to themselves or others but do not respond well to typical coercive treatment and need additional help. For such patients, the accommodation plans are usually carried out in a homely setting in which a person stays for a certain period of time and is cared for around the clock. The program usually lasts about 60 days but varies from person to person.

An overwhelming mental disorder, OCD has disrupted more lives than we would like to admit. People who struggle with this OCD are ridiculed for their obsessive and compulsive behavior. It has affected families and caused patients to fall into depressive episodes.

Alternative practitioner psychotherapy

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