Obsessive compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety that causes a person to have repeated thoughts or ideas that often lead to repeated actions. The person normally repeats the tasks as a way to get rid of the obsessive thoughts, but this only makes them feel relaxed for a short period of time, and then the obsessive compulsiveness returns.
<h3>Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</h3>
Professionals have identified many possible causes of obsessive compulsive disorder. However, none of these causes have been completely verified.
If you have suffered from a head injury or infection, you may be more at risk of developing the disorder. Obsessive compulsive disorder may be genetic or it could be due to a lack of serotonin, a chemical in your brain.
<h3>Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</h3>
Some common symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder include:
– Obsessive thoughts
– Nervous tics
– The desire to arrange things in a neat, or symmetrical, way
– Obsessive thoughts and compulsions that interfere with daily tasks
– Checking to make sure tasks were done correctly
– Fear of germs
– Feeling the need to wash your hands often
People with obsessive compulsive disorder feel anxious and stressed. They often feel that they can’t control repetitive thoughts and feel even more anxious if they don’t follow through with compulsive behaviors.
Obsessive compulsive behaviors include things like counting, checking several times to make sure the door is locked, doing the same thing over and over, or excessive cleaning. Often times, people with this disorder feel the need to complete these tasks or to double-check things before they can move on to another activity.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should talk with a professional. A doctor can do a physical exam to make sure your symptoms aren’t due to any medications you are taking or any physical causes. Your doctor can also administer a test, a serious of questions, that will solidify your diagnosis. You should also be prepared to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and anxious feelings.
<h3>Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder</h3>
The best treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and its accompanying anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy. One of these programs will teach you how to identify and then cope with the root cause of your disorder.
In a cognitive behavioral therapy program, you will learn how to put an end to your obsessive compulsive disorder, so you can live free of your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
