When it comes to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a common mental health disorder in which a person has reoccurring thoughts and behaviors they continually repeat, avoidance is often used as a coping mechanism. People with OCD may try to avoid unwanted thoughts or situations that may trigger their obsessions.
Always try hard to agree with all obsessive thoughts — never analyze, question, or argue with them. The questions they raise are not real questions, and there are no real answers to them. Try not to get too detailed when agreeing — simply say the thoughts are true and real.
Trauma, stress, and abuse all can be a cause of OCD getting worse. OCD causes intense urges to complete a task or perform a ritual. For those who have the condition, obsessions and compulsions can begin to rule their life.
The 2 main treatments are: talking therapy – usually a type of therapy that helps you face your fears and obsessive thoughts without "putting them right" with compulsions. medicine – usually a type of antidepressant medicine that can help by altering the balance of chemicals in your brain.
Constantly seeking approval or reassurance. Rituals related to numbers, such as counting, repeating, excessively preferencing or avoiding certain numbers. People with OCD may also avoid certain people, places, or situations that cause them distress and trigger obsessions and/or compulsions.
You can be supportive of the person you love who is suffering, but stop supporting the disorder. When the family stops accommodating OCD behavior, the person who suffers from OCD can become more motivated to seek treatment.
Relationship OCD can be challenging because obsessions and compulsions are focused on the relationship itself. In this case, patience is key. It can be challenging to understand why your partner feels the need to perform certain rituals or behaviors, but communicating openly can help.
OCD can also target your relationships head on, causing you to have persistent intrusive thoughts about specific people, making even being around them a triggering situation. This is utterly horrid and can be tricky to explain. But therapy can really help.
Common Examples of OCD Mental Compulsions
Trying to suppress or stop unwanted thoughts. Thinking special words, sayings, images, or phrases. Trying to change a “bad” thought into a “good” thought. Saying prayers over and over or in accordance with specific rules.
OCD is a common, long-lasting disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that can lead people to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Although everyone worries or feels the need to double-check things on occasion, the symptoms associated with OCD are severe and persistent.
Presentation. Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD."
If you have OCD, you can undoubtedly live a normal and productive life. Like any chronic illness, managing your OCD requires a focus on day-to-day coping rather than on an ultimate cure.
Background: People who have an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tend to manifest a need for excessive control over their partners and other relatives, which then constitutes a principal problem in their relationships. This behaviour probably relates to an unmet need for safety in their childhood.
What causes OCD? Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood.
Signs and Symptoms. People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships.
Vitamin B12 and folate are thought to be effective in OCD treatment due to their associations with neurotransmitters. Depending on their antioxidant effect, zinc and selenium can be used in augmentation therapy for OCD. However, both trace elements and vitamin B12/folate can be affected by diet.
People with severe OCD have obsessions with cleanliness and germs — washing their hands, taking showers, or cleaning their homes for hours a day. Sometimes they're afraid to leave home for fear of contamination.