Two decades back Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was an uncommon name in Indian society, very few people have heard about it but that is no more the same at today time, awareness for OCD is widespread so are the OCD suffers in Indian metropolitan cities.
This shift has primarily occurred due to massive social changes that urban Indian has witnessed in past one decade like –growth of fast lifestyle, children shifting from physical sports to digital games, extreme academic pressure, shift from healthy food to fast food, lack of parents time at home and many more (these are just few of the triggers of OCD).
By definition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder in which an individual suffers from unwanted repetitive thoughts and behaviors. It is a clinical psychiatric condition where an individual experiences obsessions — repetitive, intrusive thoughts, ideas or images — which she/he is unable to stop or control. OCD generally starts at 20 years of age however it can occur at any age including as early as 2 years of age in children. It occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe. If left untreated in severe cases, it can destroy a person's capacity to function at work, school, or even home.
According to Delhi’s eminent psychologist Shivani Misri Sadhoo, OCD is often found to occur with other disorders like Depression, Social Phobia, and other psychological challenges. BUT one must remember that OCD is a treatable disorder so seek help as soon as possible if you doubt yourself or someone you know may be having the symptoms suggestive of it.
Counsellor Shivani says that most people with OCD fall into one of the following categories:
1. Washers are afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing compulsions.
2. Checkers repeatedly check things (switch or tap turned off, door locked, etc.) that they associate with harm or danger.
3. Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isn’t perfect or done just right something terrible will happen, or they will be punished.
4. Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colors or arrangements.
5. Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don't need or use.
The common compulsive behaviors in OCD are:
1. Excessive double-checking about things, such as locks, appliances, and switches.
2. Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe.
3. Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety.
4. Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning.
5. Ordering or arranging things “just so”.
6. Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
7. Accumulating “junk” such as old newspapers or empty food containers.
The common obsessive thoughts in OCD are:
8. Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
9. Fear of losing control and harming yourself or others.
10. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
11. Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
12. Fear of losing or not having things you might need.
13. Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right”.
Comments
Post a Comment