Thraxulon Kritdel 
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that many people around the world suffer from. Yet it’s still misunderstood. The large array of symptoms that characterize this condition, ranging from intrusive thoughts to performing repetitive gestures, can bring significant disruption to the patient’s life and functioning.
Today, the need to know more about this disorder is more important, particularly for psychology students completing online masters in counseling psychology programs. Throughout this article, we will take a deep dive into the topic of OCD, looking at its symptoms and treatment, among other things.
OCD and Its Symptoms
OCD consists of both obsessions and compulsions, which cause a disruption in a person’s daily life and can lead to a lot of feelings of persistent stress and distress. Individuals with OCD typically experience both obsessions and compulsions, though some people experience only obsession symptoms or compulsion symptoms.
Obsession
Individuals may experience intrusive and recurrent obsessions in the form of unwanted thoughts, urges or images that constantly come back and cause severe anxiety. The individual may try to ignore these thoughts, but still, these thoughts appear time and again, compelling the individual to do something to alleviate their distress such as following specific rituals.
These obsessions often have certain themes including thoughts of losing control and harming yourself or others, fear of contamination, and requiring things to be orderly and balanced, among others. Symptoms of OCD obsession include immense stress when things aren’t orderly, images of driving your car into people, doubting whether you have locked the door or turned the stove off, and much more.
Compulsion
OCD compulsions are repeated behaviors the individual feels compelled to do. These repetitive behaviors are done to reduce the anxiety related to the obsessions. However, acting on the compulsions doesn’t necessarily bring pleasure and provides limited relief.
Similar to obsessions, compulsions also follow specific themes, such as cleaning, counting, and following a strict routine, among others. Some examples include excessively washing your hands, checking doors or the stove over and over again, counting in a certain pattern, and more.
The Causes of OCD and Its Impact on Daily Life
OCD is among one of the most complicated psychiatric disorders, having its roots in a variety of physiological processes and behavioral negative consequences. Among other things, genetics can be involved, although relatives of patients with OCD claim to be at a higher risk of developing the disorder themselves. It is believed that neurotransmitter-mediated serotonin dysfunctionalities are considered to be at the root of the symptoms of OCD. In addition, another cause is suggested that may occur on genetic and neuroanatomical levels, which are associated with neural connections, brain structure, and functional mechanisms of control.
Furthermore, environmental factors may be interconnected with the symptoms of OCD from their inception or worsening. People sometimes turn to their past as a source of their improbable desire, whether it be marked by abusive experiences, or had been filled with severe life stresses. Also, specific care can be taught as a way of drawing someone into the stress of the situation, and it can be used to maintain OCD symptoms over time.
OCD can deeply disrupt an individual’s daily life. The uninterrupted inclination of obsessive, unwanted thoughts and the urge to do compulsive acts can take up a large amount of time and heavily impact one’s peace of mind. These thoughts and behaviors, in turn, impact every aspect of life, from work and school to the home and household chores, for example. They might exhibit the knowledge that the vicious circle of thoughts, prayers, and actions, and the emotions that are associated with it may lead to a few problems, such as the feeling of self-indulgence, destruction, and loneliness, which also compound the emotional brunt.
Untreated OCD can also raise the likelihood of other mental health conditions, e.g. depression and anxiety disorders. If left untreated, OCD can lead to a significant reduction in the quality of one’s life and impact everything from their personal relationships to their career. Thus, it is of utmost importance to seek intervention and effective treatment to mitigate the potentially debilitating effects of OCD.
Treatment Options
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The treatment that is commonly mentioned first when considering the treatment of OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This treatment involves a form of exposure and response prevention. This model of therapy comprises small steps that are tailored to the specific needs of the individual. Patients learn to tolerate thoughts that trigger anxiety related to their obsessions.
To achieve this goal a part of the therapy requires such exercises as exposure and response prevention during daily activities. The goal of undertaking this therapy is to decrease the number and intensity of an individual’s obsessions and compulsions to alleviate anxiety and distress and ultimately minimize disruptions in their lives.
Medication
Pharmacotherapy stands out as the first-line treatment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Such therapy involves medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have shown outstanding performance in the treatment of OCD. These kinds of drugs possess the ability to increase the amount of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter invariably involved with mood regulation, in our system. This is specifically done by the SSRIs, resulting in a reduction of the patient’s OCD symptoms over time.
Conclusion
Understanding OCD is a significant first step in reducing the stigma surrounding the disorder. It enables people to recognize the symptoms, seek appropriate treatment, and support those affected by this problem. Through increasing awareness of OCD in daily life, the stigma associated with it can be reduced and patients can receive the required care and assistance to manage their symptoms effectively. Even with a good match of treatment, therapy, and support, persons with OCD disorder can pursue and enjoy their dreams.
