What is OCD? Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and the Symptoms
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD is a subject that many people have an opinion about, but the phrase is also abused.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is characterized by consistent obsessions, accompanied by compulsions that disrupt a person's ability to handle everyday life.
When you exhibit an obsessive personality you are constantly having unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, and/or impulses that plague your mind even when you try your best to eliminate them.
Everyone has had some thought, good or bad, nag at them from time to time.
But to be obsessive means that you can't get the distressing thoughts out of your mind no matter how hard you try.
These obsessions are usually negative in nature.
They can be violent thoughts or even thoughts about germs and sanitation.
These thoughts often cause you to be unproductive and withdrawn from society.
The compulsive part of OCD is the behavior associated with the obsessions.
These compulsive tendencies are strong urges to follow through on your obsessive thoughts over and over.
Even when the actions are understood as being completely unnecessary, like washing your hands five times in a row every hour, you can't help yourself.
The only thing that can relieve the obsessive thoughts is performing the actions that the thoughts provide.
These actions can include washing your hands repeatedly or some other cleaning regime, the constant counting of items, checking for hazards around your home, arranging and rearranging objects and related repetitive behaviors.
Treatment for OCD can be medical or natural.
Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic clomipramine are often prescribed by your doctor to aid in the reduction of OCD symptoms.
There are also natural remedies that can be used to treat OCD or the side-effects of the medicines prescribed.
Some remedies include the use of St.
John's Wart, which has been tested as rivaling the efficacy of medicines like SSRIs and Prozac.
Other natural substances used to help in the treatment of OCD are Passiflora, Kava-Kava, Ginkgo Biloba, and Gotu Kola to name a few.
If you are still unsure of what is OCD (obsessive complusive disorder), or whether you or a loved one are a victim of OCD, you need to contact your physician or psychiatrist.
He or she can definitely give you their diagnosis after an initial interview and testing.
Compassion is important when you try to help a friend or family member as there is a great deal of self-consciousness in admitting this to others.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is characterized by consistent obsessions, accompanied by compulsions that disrupt a person's ability to handle everyday life.
When you exhibit an obsessive personality you are constantly having unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, and/or impulses that plague your mind even when you try your best to eliminate them.
Everyone has had some thought, good or bad, nag at them from time to time.
But to be obsessive means that you can't get the distressing thoughts out of your mind no matter how hard you try.
These obsessions are usually negative in nature.
They can be violent thoughts or even thoughts about germs and sanitation.
These thoughts often cause you to be unproductive and withdrawn from society.
The compulsive part of OCD is the behavior associated with the obsessions.
These compulsive tendencies are strong urges to follow through on your obsessive thoughts over and over.
Even when the actions are understood as being completely unnecessary, like washing your hands five times in a row every hour, you can't help yourself.
The only thing that can relieve the obsessive thoughts is performing the actions that the thoughts provide.
These actions can include washing your hands repeatedly or some other cleaning regime, the constant counting of items, checking for hazards around your home, arranging and rearranging objects and related repetitive behaviors.
Treatment for OCD can be medical or natural.
Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic clomipramine are often prescribed by your doctor to aid in the reduction of OCD symptoms.
There are also natural remedies that can be used to treat OCD or the side-effects of the medicines prescribed.
Some remedies include the use of St.
John's Wart, which has been tested as rivaling the efficacy of medicines like SSRIs and Prozac.
Other natural substances used to help in the treatment of OCD are Passiflora, Kava-Kava, Ginkgo Biloba, and Gotu Kola to name a few.
If you are still unsure of what is OCD (obsessive complusive disorder), or whether you or a loved one are a victim of OCD, you need to contact your physician or psychiatrist.
He or she can definitely give you their diagnosis after an initial interview and testing.
Compassion is important when you try to help a friend or family member as there is a great deal of self-consciousness in admitting this to others.