OCD, which stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental disorder that makes it difficult for someone to deny their obsessions or impulses. People are tempted every day to do things, but for someone with OCD, they can’t deny their temptation. They know their behavior is unusual and sometimes bothersome, but they can’t stop it at all.
1. Anyone Can Get It
It is estimated that about 1 out of every 50 people in the world today will deal with at least one bout of OCD during their lifetime. It can get better and worse at any given time and it strikes men and women equally. It usually starts sometime in the late teens or early twenties, but anyone at any age can be affected by this disorder.
2. Therapy Doesn’t Help
Although 75% of people who are diagnosed with OCD say that seeking out therapeutic help alleviates some of their symptoms, professional counseling also triggers OCD incidents in 25% of those who seek out help. Another 25% of people will simply drop out of therapy, which is usually cognitive behavioral therapy, because it is considered to difficult to do.
3. Medication Is an Option
About 60% of people with OCD who take medication will see their symptoms reduce enough to make life liveable again. Even the best case scenario, however, generally means that someone will experience a 50% reduction in symptoms at best. As long as medication is taken, OCD can be held at bay. For those who stop taking meds, there’s a 1 in 2 chance of having a relapse happen.
4. It’s Family Based
Although no link has actually been proven, research has shown that OCD can run in families. Because it may be inherited, treatment options may be the best course of action to take in a proactive manner. Outside of family inheritance, stress is one of the most common triggers for OCD. It starts 1 out of 3 incidents in the world today.
5. It’s Not Balanced
The brain needs to have a certain balance in order to function properly. Most short-term OCD incidents will end up resolving themselves over time, with or without treatment or medication. For chronic cases of OCD, however, it is believed that a chemical imbalance in the brain is responsible. When serotonin levels are not where they should be, OCD can fire up.
6. Nice and Neat
There’s nothing wrong with keeping a clean house and a neat appearance. It’s when you spend a majority of your time every day trying to make sure that you have a clean home and a neat appearance that something is wrong. If you don’t get enough sleep because you stay up to clean or take care of compulsive tasks, then you may have OCD.
7. Stay Away
Many people with OCD try to treat it on their own before seeking professional help. One of the most common self-treatment methods is alcohol, but this doesn’t control a person’s anxiety. It is just a temporary depressant that can cause insomnia. Combine that with the racing thoughts and compulsions of OCD and a person will be setup for failure.