Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, commonly known as OCD, is categorized as a mental disorder. This condition disrupts a person’s regular thought process and leads to him performing repetitive actions. It showcases two kinds of behaviors; obsessions and compulsion.
In this article, we shall talk about the elements of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Simply put, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental condition in which the sufferers have unwanted thoughts that keep coming back, also known as obsessions. To avoid them, they perform repetitive actions, known as compulsions. This is a cycle that keeps on repeating its phases till the person feels worn out.
The repetitive behaviors could be anything! For some people, it is repeatedly cleaning and washing hands and feet; for others, it could be counting something repeatedly. The afflicted person checks on random things multiple times to shrug off thoughts.
The obsessions and compulsions that an OCD patient has to deal with can affect his daily activities severely. So much so that, most of the time, they interfere with his ability to maintain social relationships and interact normally.
Intrusive and persistent thoughts tend to affect the behavior of OCD patients. Therapies designed to help such people mainly focus on managing and bringing order to the thought process. Stopping the repetitive behavior and returning to normalcy seems challenging for them, leading to dire personal and social consequences.
Levels of OCD
If you are still wondering what obsessive-compulsive disorder is in psychology, it is the response of a person towards his mental flow who can’t control his chain of thoughts. OCD has four significant levels, including;
- Mild OCD
- Moderate OCD
- Severe OCD
- Extreme OCD
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale gauges the severity of the OCD disorder. The psychiatrists devise a treatment plan after measuring the level of the disorder.
Symptoms of OCD
The behavior showcased by an OCD patient is the result of the intrusive thoughts he keeps getting. Some significant symptoms that the sufferers of this mental disorder show are as follows:
-
Intrusive Thoughts
Where an ordinary person can manage his thought process and direct it, those with OCD can’t do so. They get persistent thoughts that are disturbing for them, such as violence and harm. For instance, one of the significant obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms includes washing hands and feet repeatedly. It comes from the intrusive thought of contamination of the environment and an unwanted germ or bacteria entering the body.
People with OCD keep thinking about something that may not appear symmetrical. They can’t engage in any other activity till they don’t bring things to order. The intrusive thoughts coming from the fear of leaving something crucial at home while heading out may also be a concern for those with OCD, leading to never-ending anxiousness.
- Repetitive Behaviour
Repetition of the behavior is one primary symptom of OCD. It may include repetitive counting of objects to eliminate unwanted and intrusive thoughts. Constantly seeking reassurance about something, arranging things in order, checking locks repeatedly, reiterating some phrases, or even avoiding certain situations to avoid getting harmed are some behaviors regularly showcased by OCD sufferers.
Want to connect with the best psychiatrist in Karachi or the best online psychiatrist in Lahore? Consult Sehatyab, and you’ll be able to do that easily!
Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is treatable. However, there is no cure for it. Consistent therapies, along with mild medication, can help a patient suffering from OCD.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Also known as CBT, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is the most beneficial treatment of OCD. This therapy aids the patients in managing their thought processes and bringing order to thoughts and emotions. The CBT therapy has a distinct action plan, considering the severity of OCD. It commonly includes exposure to obsessive thoughts, leading to the intentional prevention of compulsive responses to them.
CBT for OCD patients includes three steps: identification, recognition, and management. Initially, the patient identifies that he behaves as a reaction to the unruly thoughts in his head. Further, he recognizes that his exposure to stimuli leads to obsessive behavior. Lastly, the psychologists purposely place him in a situation of stimulus without being able to react instantly. Gradually, he is able to hold his reactions and manage his emotions accordingly.
Initially, this may spike anxiety, but it helps manage behaviors with time. By choosing the best online psychiatrist in Pakistan, any patient dealing with OCD can manage his situation through CBT.
- Medication
Mild and moderate levels of OCD can be treated using medicines that come under the category of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Alongside this, some mental health practitioners prescribe Anti-anxiety medications to patients to manage their intrusive thoughts and obsessive behavior. You can connect with the best psychiatrist in Lahore through Sehatyab for proper prescriptions.
- Lifestyle Changes
It’s possible to deal with the mild kind of OCD through lifestyle changes. Meditation works well when it comes to reducing anxiety that may arise from unruly thoughts in the head and improving focus on activities. Dietary changes also show significant changes in uplifting the mood and reducing irritable behavior. Along with a psychiatrist’s online consultation, a patient can book a consultation with a nutritionist who will guide them correctly regarding the required dietary changes.
Final Thoughts
Obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD is a mental disease that can aggravate if not treated on time. With Sehatyab, finding a good psychologist or psychiatrist is no longer a problem. You can connect with a reliable psychologist or psychiatrist online from your home. Therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can help the patient efficiently manage this disorder! Not sure how to consult online, contact us at +92-300-1003140 or visit www.SehatYab.com