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In this article, we will be discussing about obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD for short. While the term may be used casually in conversations, clinically, OCD is a detailed and complex mental health disorder with specific patterns related to an individual’s mental processes, emotions and behaviours.
When students understand the nature of OCD, it can help to debunk the myths associated with it, allow for early diagnosis and treatment, and assist with the building of a more comprehensive view of mental health issues.
What is OCD?
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health condition characterised by two main components:
- Compulsions
- Obsessions
Although compulsions and obsessions may appear similar to habits or preferences, they are actually very different.
Obsessions are thoughts, images and urges that persistently intrude into a person’s mind and cannot be controlled. They are experienced as unwanted thoughts that cause significant anxiety and/or discomfort.
Compulsions are the repetitive actions and mental processes performed by a person under pressure from an obsessive thought. The purpose of performing the action is to either reduce anxiety or prevent an event from occurring (theoretical), even if there is not a logical link between what is being acted upon and what is feared to occur.
As an example, a person who fears contamination may respond to their fear with excessive hand washing that is way beyond normal standards of hygiene.
The OCD Cycle
OCD often follows a repeating cycle:
- Intrusive thought
An unwanted idea appears, such as “My hands are contaminated.” - Anxiety or distress
The thought creates discomfort or fear. - Compulsive behaviour
The person washes their hands repeatedly to reduce the anxiety. - Temporary relief
The anxiety decreases, but only for a short time.
The relief serves as reinforcement to the behaviour, causing your cycle to repeat itself even more often and creating a stronger cycle which eventually makes it harder to break free altogether.
Common Types of Obsessions
Each individual has their own personal obsessions; however, there are some common types of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some of these include:
1) Contamination through germs/dirt;
2) Hurting either oneself or someone else, even if not intentionally;
3) Perfectionism/symmetrical objects;
4) Violent/sexual/inappropriate thoughts.
Having intrusive thoughts does not reflect the individual’s true personality. People who have OCD typically recognize these compulsive thought patterns as irrational/exaggerated but often still find them to be very disturbing.
Common Types of Compulsions
Compulsions are the actions taken in response to the anxiety associated with obsessions. These may include:
- Excessive cleaning or washing of hands.
- Excessive checking, such as ensuring that doors are secured.
- Repeatedly counting, tapping, or muttering words out loud.
- Arranging things in an exact/perfect manner.
Some compulsions are visible, while others happen internally (for example, by saying the same phrase over again in your head).
What are the Causes of OCD?
Diagnosis of OCD can be associated with a few specific factors, including:
- Brain Function Abnormalities, in certain brain circuits, particularly those involved in decision making and response control can contribute to developing OCD. These brain circuits may struggle to control intrusive thought patterns.
- Neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in the brain, can affect symptoms of OCD. A typical neurotransmitter that influences OCD is called serotonin, which plays a role in mood and behaviour.
- Genetics: OCD may run in families, suggesting that it has a genetic base. While this does not mean that the disorder will be determined genetically, the likelihood of developing it increases if there is a family history.
- Environmental Triggers: Certain stress-inducing events, traumatic events, and other significant life changes can trigger or worsen symptoms.
How OCD Affects Daily Life
OCD is much more than just a group of behaviours, it impacts multiple aspects of one’s life.
In the school context, affected individuals will have difficulty focusing on and completing school work because they will spend hours each day doing compulsions or managing anxiety.
In terms of being social, an affected person may become withdrawn from friends and activities due to a fear of being judged or misunderstood.
As far as emotional well-being, constant anxiety and frustration can cause an affected person to feel exhausted and/or isolated.
Many individuals will spend several hours each day dealing with the symptoms of OCD, therefore, leaving them untreated can lead to serious and disabling conditions.
Diagnosis of OCD
OCD is diagnosed by a qualified healthcare provider (such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed therapist). To diagnose OCD, a healthcare provider will usually:
- Talk with the person about their symptoms and how the symptoms impact their daily life.
- Determine how much time obsessions and compulsions take up in an individual’s life.
- Evaluate whether the behaviours associated with OCD are excessive or unreasonable.
The main take away from this is that the symptoms of OCD can be both time-consuming (in terms of the time spent doing compulsions) and distressing (as a result of the anxiety and frustration that a person has about having OCD). It is also important to note that an occasional worry or habit does not equal an individual having OCD.
If an individual’s thoughts or behaviours are interfering with school, relationships or emotional well-being, it is wise to seek assistance from their healthcare provider.
Treatment Options
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a manageable condition with many people showing a great deal of improvement with appropriate help. Some examples of common approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
CBT is a form of therapy, that teaches a person to recognise and make positive changes in their thought, feeling, and behavioural patterns. Specifically, a variation of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is frequently used for the treatment of OCD. In ERP, “exposure” indicates facing the anxiety provoking situation gradually, while “response prevention” means resisting the compulsion to perform the compulsive behaviour. In doing so, the person will gradually decrease their level of anxiety while also weakening the cycle. - Medication – Certain medications, specifically selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may help in modifying the brain’s chemistry to reduce OCD symptoms.
- Combination of Therapy and Medication – There are many people who gain some benefits through combining therapy with drug related treatment.
Treatment plans are tailored to the individual, therefore, what is effective for one person may not be effective for another.
Misconceptions About OCD
Many people misunderstand the condition of OCD. Some common misconceptions include:
“OCD is about being organised or clean.” The reality is that people with OCD have many different kinds of compulsions and obsessions, many of which are not observable to others.
“If someone with OCD tries hard enough, they’ll be able to stop.” Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition characterised by both biological and psychological elements, it has nothing to do with willpower.
“Everybody has a little bit of OCD.” The phrase implies that the experience of these individuals is “normal.” Having preferences for organization or cleanliness does not mean that someone has clinical OCD.
Support for an Individual with OCD
When dealing with someone who has OCD, being supportive can positively affect their well-being.
- Listen to them without judgement.
- Don’t reinforce their compulsions, even if doing so seems helpful at the time.
- Encourage them to seek professional assistance.
- Be patient until the individual has fully recovered from their disorder.
Educating yourself about the disorder is one of the most effective ways to provide support and create a more supportive environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, OCD refers to the constant presence of unwanted thoughts and/or action (compulsions) that can create challenges in daily living and often feel unmanageable at times. However, it is very treatable if someone receives appropriate levels of therapy and assistance.
Understanding the nature of OCD goes beyond gaining an understanding of a diagnosis, it also involves developing awareness, compassion, and a solid knowledge base about mental health.
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References
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
- American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What is obsessive compulsive disorder? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
- Stanford Medicine. (n.d.). Understanding OCD. https://med.stanford.edu/ocd/about/understanding.html
- Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). https://cmha.ca/brochure/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/
- Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
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