Mental Disorder: Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Mental Disorder: Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

            Many people suffer from mental disorders. Mental disorders are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood. One of the most widely spread disorder across the USA are obsessive-compulsive disorders, known as OCD. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders may be developed at all ages, and may play an important role in how person’s life goes every day, and daily stresses he or she gets into. Further, it is important to explain the signs, therapy/medications and prognosis of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders.

   Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a very real and very disrupting anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by repetitive, unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions), and irrational excessive urges to do certain actions (compulsion). Most people with OCD may know that their thoughts and behavior do not make sense; however they are often unable to stop them. (Health, 2016)

    Symptoms usually begin during childhood, the teenage years or young adulthood; however, males often develop them at younger age then females. More than 2% of U.S. population is diagnosed with OCD during their lives (National Aliance of Mental Illness, n.d.).  A lot of people have occasional obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors. In an obsessive-compulsive disorder; however, these symptoms generally last more than an hour each day and interfere with daily life. Obsessions are intrusive, irrational thoughts or impulses that repeatedly occur. People with these disorders know that these thoughts are irrational but are afraid that somehow they might be true. These thoughts and impulses are upsetting, and people may try to ignore them. The examples of obsessions would be thoughts about harming someone, doubts about doing something right, unpleasant sexual images, and fears of saying inappropriate things in public. Compulsions are repetitive acts that temporarily relieve the stress brought on by an obsession. People with these disorders know that these rituals do not make sense but feel they must perform them to relieve the anxiety, and prevent something bad from happening. Examples of compulsions would be hand washing due to fear of germs, counting and recounting money, checking to see if a door is locked or a stove is off. (National Aliance of Mental Illness, n.d.).

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorders may not result in a cure; however, it can help bring some symptoms under control, so they do not rule a person’s daily life. Some people require the treatment for the rest of their lives. The most effective treatments for OCD are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and medication. Research has shown that 75 percent of people with OCD are significantly helped by cognitive behavioral therapy. (National Alliance of Mental Illness, n.d.). According to National Institute of Mental Health the most powerful treatment is a type of CBT called “Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which has the strongest evidence supporting its use in the treatment of OCD, and a class of medications called serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or (SRIs) and a type of serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) called clomipramine. CBT teaches people different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to the obsessions and compulsions. Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) is a specific form of CBT which has been shown to help many patients recover from OCD. EX/RP involves gradually exposing people to their fears or obsessions and teaching them healthy ways to deal with the anxiety they cause. SSRIs and SRIs are commonly used to treat depression, but they are also helpful for the symptoms of OCD. SSRIs and SRIs may take 10 – 12 weeks to start working, longer than is required for the treatment of depression” (Health, 2016). These medications may also cause side effects, such as headaches, nausea, or difficulty sleeping.  People taking clomipramine, which is in a different class of medication from the SSRIs, sometimes experience dry mouth, constipation, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness on standing. These side effects are usually not severe for most people and improve as treatment continues, especially if the dose starts off low and is increased slowly over time. (NIMH, 2016) The other therapies that can help people overcome OCD would be habit reversal training. Lastly, people should not give up on treatment too quickly. Both psychotherapy and medication can take some time to work. While there is no cure for OCD, current treatments empower most people with this disorder to control their symptoms and lead full, productive lives. A healthy lifestyle that involves relaxation and managing stress can also help combat OCD. (NIMH, 2016) People who suffer from OCD have to make sure also to get enough sleep and exercise, eat a healthy diet, and turn to family and friends whom they trust for support.