can you get stressed from ocd and can that stress lead to a tumor?

Answer 1

popwarsboards,

"Stressed"? That depends on what you mean. I've known several ocd folks who didn't like what they were doing, whether they were checkers or ritualists, and this bothered them until they looked for help. The checkers, especially, seemed prone to doing what they knew they shouldn't have to do until they were late for everything.

So, sure, in a way, ocd can lead to a kind of stress, but the stress that it leads to doesn't cause cancer.

Emotional stress doesn't do that. Cancer is a kind of genetic disease in that it starts in our genes. A gene is damaged so that the cell it governs grows uncontrollably and doesn't die when it was originally programmed to. there are several possible avenues for this to hapen, but stress isn't one of them. Stress doesn't damage genes.

Rest easy.

Answer 2

Stress is the most obvious symptom of ocd unless you have those ritualistic traits, like chronic hand washing. My obsessive compulsive symptoms are much more subtle. I obsess over anything that is happening in my kids' and husband's lives. I have compulsive behaviors that disrupt my life and all of this causes STRESS.

Stress can lead to many physical symptoms...nausea, stomach pain, headaches, diarrhea, etc. I don't know that it can directly cause a tumor, but studies have shown that a positive outlook and low stress life can help to keep a person healthy and help a sick person get well quicker.

Answer 3

OCD can definetley be stressful...I have some problems with it myself (double checking everything and so on..) but this will not lead to a tumor...but you shouldnt be stressing about stressing!..just relax and take a breather and try not to worry so much because stress is hard on your body in some ways and your on edge if your stressed all the time and cant enjoy life!! Dont worry, be happy!

Answer 4

Stress does not cause cancer. Abnormal cell growth causes cancer. Learn more about cancer at:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp