Does anyone know anything about obsessive compulsive disorder? Websites havent been any help at all.?

Question

I need specifics. If anyone reading this is a doctor, a therapist, whatever, please feel free to email me.

Answer 1

I know I have it and have had for some time. Will watch your answers. Thanks for the question.

Answer 2

I know those websites can be way too technical. Basically it is recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). It's a form of anxiety.

If you think you have an obssessive compulsive disorder ask yourself these questions. Does it interfere with your everyday life? Do you find yourself thinking or doing it to the point where it is all you can think about? Has it cost you loved ones or a job? If you answer yes to those then you need to find someone who can treat you with medication for it.

It's not really something you need therapy for but the medications out there for OCD really do help. The medication helps your brain deal with the obssessive thoughts to where they aren't so obssessive. If you didn't understand that you can email me. The website I have below is the National site for Mental Health and has up to date info on OCD. I know you said you hated the websites but this one is pretty easy to understand. When you get to the website type in the search menu OCD and you will get some info.

Answer 3

I know that a person with OCD, has thoughts in
their head they cannot control. This is a simple explanation.The repetitive part is to keep from thinking those thoughts. Also doubting themselves & others .. Talking on the phone, counting, repeating themselves, perfectionism. Arranging things in allignment, staying in the washroom for long intervals. Sometimes they become antisocial. And the person close to them, they push away, sometime & then miss them when they are gone. This has been the simplistic explanation. They have to want help to get it.
Some do good with meds & therapy, others, on their own,and unfortunately some get worse. I live with my fiancee, he's doing better, asked him to seek therapy. But for years it was hard. I have been an RN. for 25 yrs. Good luck

Answer 4

I am a RN with Psch background/experience. Post questions in specifics and I will try to answer. Please seek treatment with a qualified Mental Health Professional. They can give you screening tests.

Answer 5

I have met people with this disorder my whole life and it is something that you have to learn to live with. It's not easy and professional medical help is a necessary part of living with it.

Answer 6

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potentially disabling anxiety disorder. A person who has OCD has intrusive and unwanted thoughts and repeatedly performs tasks to get rid of the thoughts. For example, if you have OCD, you may fear that everything you touch is contaminated with germs, and in order to ease that fear, you repeatedly wash your hands.

The effects of OCD range from mild to severe. OCD can disrupt your social life and relationships as well as your ability to work or go to school. 1

What are the symptoms?

OCD is a chronic or long-term illness, and the symptoms typically increase and decrease over time. Treatment can lessen the severity, but some symptoms may linger after you begin treatment. Anxiety is the most common symptom of OCD. For example, you may have an overall sense that something terrible will happen if you don't follow through with a particular ritual, such as repeatedly checking to see whether the stove is on. If you fail to perform the ritual, you may have immediate anxiety or a nagging sense of incompleteness.

Symptoms of OCD include: 2

Obsessions, which are recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, and impulses that interrupt normal thinking and cause anxiety or fear. The thoughts may be sexual or violent or create a concern of illness. Examples include:
Persistent fear of harm to yourself or a loved one.
An excessive need to do things perfectly or correctly.
A fear of contamination.
Compulsions, which are behaviors or rituals that are repeated intentionally to try to control the obsessions. Some people have rituals that are rigid and structured, while others have very complex rituals that change. Examples include:
Washing or checking.
Counting, often while doing another compulsive action, such as hand-washing.
Repeating things or endlessly rearranging items to keep them in perfect alignment.
Hoarding.
Praying.
People vary in their understanding of their obsessions and compulsions. Sometimes they may recognize their obsessions and compulsions as unrealistic, and at other times they may be unsure of or believe strongly in their fears.

What causes OCD?

Researchers have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of OCD, but they are studying brain abnormalities, genetic (family) influences, and environmental factors. Brain scans in people with OCD have shown that they have different patterns of brain activity than those without OCD and that abnormal functioning of circuitry within a certain part of the brain (striatum) may be related to the disorder. Abnormalities in other parts of the brain and an imbalance of brain chemicals, especially serotonin, may also contribute to OCD. 3

How is OCD diagnosed?

A diagnosis of OCD is based on your symptoms, your medical history, and a physical examination. Many people with OCD live with the condition for years and go without treatment because they are afraid or embarrassed to talk to a health professional.

Symptoms that confirm a diagnosis of OCD include: 3

Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive and inappropriate, cause anxiety or distress, and are not simply excessive worries about real-life issues.
Attempts to suppress or ignore the thoughts or get rid of them with other thoughts or actions.
A recognition that the obsessions are created in your own mind and do not make sense.
Repetitive behaviors, such as hand-washing, ordering, praying, or checking that you're driven to do in response to the obsession. The behaviors are done to prevent or reduce distress or prevent a dreaded event.
In OCD, the obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (more than 1 hour a day), greatly interfere with your normal routine at work or school, and affect social activities and relationships.

OCD is a very disruptive illness and is different from the inflexible character traits of OCD personality disorder, such as being a perfectionist and being overly conscientious.

How is it treated?

Treatment for OCD includes counseling and medications. Antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (for example, Prozac), are most commonly used. Your doctor may increase the dosage of your medication or change to another SSRI if the first medication prescribed doesn't help. It may take several weeks before you feel the effects of an antidepressant and it begins to affect thoughts and behavior.

Counseling used to treat OCD includes exposure and response prevention, a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Exposure and response prevention is behavorial therapy that provides gradually increasing contact with the feared obsession so that anxiety is reduced. For example, if you were obsessed about germ contamination, you would repeatedly touch an object you believe is contaminated and not wash your hands afterward. You would repeat that behavior until your anxiety was reduced. Cognitive therapy may also be used to help overcome the faulty beliefs (such as fear of contamination) that lead to OCD behaviors.

The most effective treatment for OCD may be using medications and counseling together.

Answer 7

What do you want to know about it?

Answer 8

this is a you tube video that i found. its pretty informative... you should watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCkwZeAzzuE


goodluck