|
OCD is a form of Anxiety. OCD is an abbreviation for: 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder', also known as "Obsessive-Compulsive Neurosis', a type of mental disorder in which an individual experiences obsessions or compulsions or both.
Let us begin by understanding what the term 'Anxiety' is. Anxiety is a psychological and physiological condition that causes feelings of fear and worry. For the most part, anxiety is a normal response to stressful or tense situations. Anxiety motivates us to plan ahead and push through tough times.
Anxiety and fear are different emotional responses. Fear produces an overwhelming need to escape while anxiety creates feelings of stress and nervousness in response to uncontrollable and unavoidable perceived threats.
Excessive and constant anxiety can transform moments of worry into full-fledged disorders. Some amount of anxiety is normal, but excessive amounts are irrational and unjustified. Many people with anxiety disorders perceive threats that are not grounded in reality.
There are mainly four different forms of anxiety, such as; OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), PHOBIA's (An Intense but Unrealistic Fear) and Panic Attacks (Sudden surges of overwhelming fear).
OCD
Mental disorder in which an individual experiences obsessions or compulsions, either singly or together. An obsession is a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an unreasonable idea or feeling (such as of being contaminated through shaking hands with someone). A compulsion is an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act (such as repeatedly washing the hands). The two phenomena are usually, but not always, linked in the obsessive-compulsive person. Onset of the illness has been linked to malregulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin as well as to the ill effects of high stress.
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), also called obsessive-compulsive neurosis, type of mental disorder in which an individual experiences obsessions or compulsions or both. Either the obsessive thought or the compulsive act may occur singly, or both may appear in sequence.
Obsessions are recurring or persistent thoughts, images, or impulses that, rather than being voluntarily produced, seem to invade a person's consciousness despite his attempts to ignore, suppress, or control them. Obsessional thoughts are frequently morbid, shameful, repugnant, or merely tedious; they are usually experienced as being meaningless and are accompanied by anxiety to a varying degree. Common obsessions include thoughts about committing violence.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). People with OCD feel they cannot control these obsessions and compulsions. Repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning, are often performed in the hopes of reducing anxiety or anxiety-provoking obsessions. Performing these so-called rituals, however, provides only temporary relief. Left untreated, the obsessions and compulsions can take over a person's life. OCD is often a chronic, relapsing illness.
The cause of OCD is not known. It is believed to develop from genetic, biologic, environmental, and psychological factors.
OCD may be associated with other disorders, including:
Tourette syndrome -characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics
Trichotillomania-the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other body hair
Body dysmorphic disorder-imaginary or exaggerated defects in appearance
Eating disorders-such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa
Hypochondriasis -morbid concern for one's own health, including delusions that one is suffering from a disease or diseases for which no physical basis is evident
Substance abuse
Additional disorders that may accompany OCD include depression , attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) , and other anxiety disorders.
According to the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, one in 50 Americans have OCD during the course of a given year. The first symptoms of OCD often begin during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Learn more, go here:
http://tinyurl.com/AnxietySuffers
This Article was written by Wallace J Robinson a 'Freelance Article Writer'
Source: National Institute of Mental health
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have persistent, upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and use rituals (compulsions) to control the anxiety these thoughts produce. Most of the time, the rituals end up controlling them.OCD affects about 2.2 million American adults, and the problem can be accompanied by eating disorders, other anxiety disorders, or depression., It strikes men and women in roughly equal numbers and usually appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.One-third of adults with OCD develop symptoms as children, and research indicates that OCD might run in families. http://tinyurl.com/AnxietySuffers
Related Articles -
obsessive compulsive disorder causes, obsessive compulsive disorder in children, obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms, obsessive compulsive personality,
|
