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,
OCD symptoms have been known to intensify over time, begging the question: What causes OCD to get worse? The short answer is comorbidities. These are mental health conditions that trigger and aggravate OCD symptoms. Research¹ shows that most people with OCD struggle with some other type of mental health condition.
For some people, external factors can trigger their obsessions — whether those are intrusive thoughts, doubts, images, or urges — and for others, the obsessions can come out of nowhere with no external trigger at all.
Feeling intense stress and anxiety when things are not in a specific order. Worries about losing control over yourself and engaging in violent behaviors toward others or yourself. Unwanted thoughts and mental images, usually around taboo subjects, like aggression, sexuality, or religion.
Speaking from experience, I would say that the average uncomplicated case of OCD takes from about six to twelve months to be successfully completed. If symptoms are severe, if the person works at a slow pace, or if other problems are also present, it can take longer.
OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. You might try to ignore them or get rid of them by performing a compulsive behavior or ritual. These obsessions typically intrude when you're trying to think of or do other things.
Harm OCD. Harm OCD causes people to be deeply disturbed by the violent thoughts that just about everyone has experienced. While most people are able to shrug off these thoughts, those with harm OCD can become completely overwhelmed by them.
Signs and symptoms of OCD can worsen or fade over time or come in waves. For this reason, many do not seek OCD treatment until they have been living with the disorder for years. There are objective diagnostic tools available that not only help doctors identify OCD but rate its severity so treatment can be personalized.
Encourage Treatment
OCD treatment mainly involves exposure and response prevention (ERP), a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy where the patient is gradually exposed to their OCD triggers in a safe and controlled environment and taught healthy coping skills to prevent compulsive behaviors.
Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is generally believed to follow a chronic waxing and waning course. The onset of illness has a bimodal peak – in early adolescence and in early adulthood. Consultation and initiation of treatment are often delayed for several years.
The OCD cycle consists of 4 basic parts: obsessions, anxiety, compulsions, and temporary relief. It's considered a “vicious” cycle because once you get pulled into it, it gains momentum and strength, making it even more difficult for you to get out.
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.
Once a mental health problem becomes severe enough that it has a significant impact on your life, it is then considered to be a psychosocial disability. Mental health diagnoses that can potentially fall into the category of psychosocial disability may include: Bipolar disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPDs) become overwhelmed and incapacitated by the intensity of their emotions, whether it is joy and elation or depression, anxiety, and rage. They are unable to manage these intense emotions.
OCD onset often occurs in childhood and adolescents, but early adulthood is another peak time for OCD to emerge. Symptoms in adults are similar to those in childhood and adolescence, though with maturity and older age, adults may have a better understanding and insight regarding their condition.
Put simply, the study suggests that the brains of OCD patients get stuck in a loop of “wrongness” that prevents sufferers from stopping behaviors even if they know they should.
Obsessions consist of intrusive, unwelcome, upsetting thoughts and images that do not easily go away. In a sense, the brain of a person with OCD gets stuck in gear, making it incredibly difficult to shift from these thoughts that keep playing in your mind.
Repeating compulsions can take up a lot of time, and you might avoid certain situations that trigger your OCD. This can mean that you're not able to go to work, see family and friends, eat out or even go outside. Obsessive thoughts can make it hard to concentrate and leave you feeling exhausted.
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.