Obsessions
:
Obsessions can come in the form of involuntary thoughts, images or impulses.
Common obsessions include, but are not limited to: fears about dirt, germs
and contamination. Fear of acting out violent or aggressive thoughts or
impulses. Unreasonable fears of harming others, especially loved ones.
Abhorrent blasphemous or sexual thoughts. Inordinate concern with order,
arrangement or symmetry. Inability to discard useless or worn out possessions.
Fears that things are not safe, especially household appliances. The main
features of obsessions are that they are automatic, frequent, upsetting
or distressing, and difficult to control or get rid of. |
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Compulsions:
Just as with obsessions, there are many types of compulsion.
It is common for people to carry out a compulsion in order to reduce the
anxiety they feel from an obsession. Common compulsions include excessive
washing and cleaning, checking, repetitive actions such as touching, counting,
arranging and ordering. Hoarding, ritualistic behaviours that lessen the
chances of provoking an obsession (e.g. putting all sharp objects out
of sight). Acts which reduce obsessional fears (e.g. wearing only certain
colours). Compulsions can be observable actions, for example washing,
but they can also be mental rituals such as repeating words or phrases,
counting, or saying a prayer. Again, not all types of compulsion are listed
here. The main features of compulsions are they are repetitive and stereotyped
actions that the person feels forced to perform. People can have compulsions
without having obsessional thoughts but, very often, these two occur together.
Carrying out a compulsion reduces the person's anxiety and makes the urge
to perform the compulsion again stronger each time. |
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Is
OCD a form of madness?
No. A person can have some or all of these symptoms.
Almost everybody experiences the type of thoughts that people with OCD
have (e.g. double checking the front door or the gas). However, most
people are able to dismiss these thoughts. People with OCD cannot ignore
unpleasant thoughts and pay undue attention to them. This means that
the thoughts become more frequent and distressing and, over time, they
can affect all areas of a person's life; often their job and their family
and social life. A person with OCD can, however, appear to function
perfectly normally despite being greatly distressed. This makes it possible
for sufferers to hide their OCD (because of this, OCD has often been
called the 'secretive disorder'). It is important to remember that severity
of OCD differs markedly between people but each person's distress is
very real. People with OCD are not 'mad' or dangerous and do not carry
out their unpleasant thoughts. Most people with OCD know that their
thoughts are excessive or irrational but the anxiety they feel makes
the thoughts difficult to ignore.
Is OCD common?
Today, it is realised that OCD is much more common
than was previously thought. Prevalence estimates suggest that between
2 to 3% of the UK population has OCD. One reason why the prevalence
of OCD has been underestimated in the past is that people with OCD are
often afraid to seek help. They worry that other people will think they
are mad, or often do not know that their disorder is a recognised condition
with effective treatments. Young people also suffer from OCD. In fact,
many adults with OCD had symptoms in childhood. |
What
causes OCD?
The cause of OCD is not known exactly but it is likely
to result from a combination of factors and the causes for one person
may be different from another. OCD can run in families and, in some
cases, may be associated with an underlying biochemical imbalance in
the brain. Psychological factors such as susceptibility to stress or
exposure to a emotionally traumatic experience are also likely to be
involved. The good news is that, for the majority, OCD can be effectively
controlled and treated.
Can OCD be treated?
Yes. OCD responds very well to both Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT) and Hypnotherapy both of which can be provided here at
Dolphin Hypnotherapy Practice.
Can young people get OCD too?
Yes. Children and adolescents’ problems are
very similar to those of adults, and in fact, many adults say they had
their first OCD symptoms as children. Most young children have a phase
of ordinary rituals, such as wanting special toys at bedtime, or not
treading on cracks in the pavement. This is not a cause for worry, and
is not OCD. If the parents are concerned because the rituals upset the
child, take up a lot of time and interfere with the child’s everyday
life (e.g. school, friends etc) it would be worth asking the GP for
advice, and if necessary seeing a specialist child psychologist or psychiatrist.
The treatments for childhood OCD are also similar to the treatments
used in adults. Therapists will work closely with the child’s
family to help everyone learn the techniques for fighting OCD.
What can relatives and friends do to help?
Caring relatives and friends can help a great deal. The following are
guidelines:
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Acknowledge the OCD and learn about
it. |
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Remember that OCD symptoms are part of a treatable
disorder, they are not personality traits and cannot be dealt
with as such. |
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Do not regard OCD as the sufferer’s ‘fault’,
and do not believe that you or anyone else may have caused it.
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Be supportive to the sufferer in the decision
to seek professional help and, and in the determination to recover.
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Encourage the sufferer to persist with treatment
and show appreciation of any improvement however small. |
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Temper your support with recognition that symptoms
may wax and wane and that each sufferer needs to overcome their
problems at their own pace, even though it may be a lengthy process.
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Allow the sufferer to explain their problems
to you, recognise that this will help them to feel less isolated
and ashamed of their condition. |
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While supporting the sufferer try not to support
the obsessions and/or compulsions, rather encourage the sufferer
to fight against them. |
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Sufferers are often aware of the humorous aspect
of the behaviours and this awareness can be harnessed to help
them to distance themselves from the condition. |
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At home sufferers should be encouraged to maintain
as normal a life-style as possible, families should try not to
adapt their ways of doing things to accommodate sufferers obsessions
and rituals. |
For help with OCD contact
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Source: OCD Action 2002
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