WHAT IS Obsessive-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)?

The American Psychiatry Association’s definition of Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD), a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas,sensations (obsessions). To get rid of the thoughts, they feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviours can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.

OCD is a mental illness not just a “very clean people’s” habit – Nurse Mentee

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDERS?

• CHECKING: The compulsive need to check doors, gas stovemm knobs, water taps, light switches, electrical appliances, valuable items multiple times for about an hour because of the obsessive fear of fire, harm and leaks that might lead to the destruction of lives and properties
• CONTAMINATION: The compulsive and constant washing/scrubbing of skin, some go to the extent of scrubbing their hands till it bleeds or bathing in bleach and avoiding others due to the obsessive fear of being dirty and contaminating oneself, loved ones and bringing harm to them.
• MENTAL CONTAMINATION: This has very similar symptoms with contamination OCD but is usually triggered when the person feels he or she has been treated badly who abused physically and or verbally. This creates an obsessive feeling or being unclean internally leading to compulsively trying to wash the dirt off.
• RUMINATIONS: Prolonged thoughts about a question leading to imagination of scenarios regarding the questions, contemplations of people’s past statements regarding the questions which eventually leads to unsatisfactory outcomes or unproductive conclusions while the person would appear to be in deep thoughts and preoccupied.
• INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS: Repetitive obsessive thoughts both good and bad are viewed as unpleasant and involuntary produced by their mind causing compulsive extreme acts to avoid such thoughts or acting on such thoughts.
• SYMMETRY AND ORDERLINESS: The obsessive need so have everything set PERFECTLY to avoid harm/discomfort resulting in the compulsive act of aligning pictures, clothes, books in the PERFECT ORDER, cleaning surfaces, clothes till they are without blemish or dirt sports for a prolonged time that it might cost them their energy and the time they’re supposed to spend on more important things such as work and School e t c.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF OCD

• Genetics
• Congenital brain abnormalities
• Environment and life events.
• Personality

• Genetics: Like most mental illnesses, OCD is inheritable through the genes transmitted to generations. So, if a person’s family member has OCD, such person is most likely to develop OCD too.
• Congenital brain abnormalities: low levels of serotonin in the brain and very high activity in areas of the brain have been found to be common in some people who have OCD.

TO BE CONTINUED…..