It is well-recognised that consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks — such as soda, candy, chocolate, fruit drinks, desserts and other sweets — can cause blood sugar fluctuations. The “sugar high” triggers OCD symptoms like exhaustion, mood swings, and anxiety neurosis.
OCD And Blood Sugar Levels
Blood sugar swings can cause anxiety and irritability. To stabilize blood sugar levels, eat regular meals and snacks every few hours. At the same time, avoid sugary foods, caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods. These can all lead to blood sugar swings and make OCD symptoms worse.
If you are an OCD patient, then your symptoms will only worsen. So, say goodbye to soft drinks, candy, and pastries which are sugar-laden. People who suffer from panic attacks and compulsive behaviours should try to limit their caffeine intake. Owing to its stimulating effect, caffeine can increase anxiety.
Ongoing anxiety or stress, or being part of a stressful event like a car accident or starting a new job, could trigger OCD or make it worse. Pregnancy or giving birth can sometimes trigger perinatal OCD.
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. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety.
The two main treatments for OCD, medication and talk therapy, can be very effective for relieving OCD. 13 Medications can help relieve symptoms of OCD, and talk therapy can help people learn to manage OCD thoughts and learn to better tolerate feelings of distress.
OCD can also worsen from traumatic events, such as death, severe injury, or sexual violence. Most people are not at their best when they don't feel well. Whether it is from a serious illness or a common cold, OCD symptoms can worsen when someone is sick.
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.
Although the etiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is largely unknown, it is accepted that OCD is a complex disorder. There is a known bi-directional interaction between the gut microbiome and brain activity.
Magnesium plays a key role in balancing mood and relaxation, and its deficiencies are linked with depression. Thanks to its calming effect, magnesium is nicknamed nature's tranquilizer. This is also the reason magnesium supplements can help those with OCD manage the condition.
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B6 could be useful, as it may help convert the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin(xvi). Some natural health practitioners also recommend folic acid– another B vitamin – for patients with OCD, as it may be needed for serotonin production in the brain.
increased arousal due to caffeine intake may increase inhibition, which in turn may play a crucial role in stopping intrusive thoughts (such as disgust), urges, and compulsive cleansing in individuals with high contamination fears.”
At its most severe, OCD can lead to suicidal ideation or action. This can happen when the symptoms of OCD have fully taken a hold on a person and their entire life revolves around responding to OCD obsessions and compulsions.
Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD." People with this form of OCD have "distressing and unwanted thoughts pop into [their] head frequently," and the thoughts "typically center on a fear that you may do something totally uncharacteristic of yourself, ...
One of the most common complaints from my patients was boredom. They just didn't have enough to do. When someone with OCD has too little stimulation in their lives, OCD typically spikes. OCD also spikes when there is too much stress.
Practice Mindfulness
It often involves techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help your mind relax. Rather than stopping intrusive thoughts, mindfulness challenges you to acknowledge them for what they are – just thoughts – without acting on them.
Don't be side-tracked by perfectionism.
Perfectionism can be another feature of OCD. You may find your OCD telling you that if you don't do your homework perfectly, you won't recover. If you do find yourself obsessing about having to do your homework perfectly, you risk turning it into another compulsion.
The best way to put an end to the cycle is to practice exposure and response prevention. This means you “accept” the thoughts, live with the uncertainty, and refrain from engaging in compulsions.
OCD has peaks of onset at two different life phases: pre-adolescence and early adulthood. Around the ages of 10 to 12 years, the first peak of OCD cases occur. This time frequently coincides with increasing school and performance pressures, in addition to biologic changes of brain and body that accompany puberty.
around 3 per cent of Australians experience OCD in their lifetime.
Rates of OCD were found to be higher with women (1.8%) than men (0.5%). Childhood OCD has a stronger genetic link than adult-onset OCD, with up to 65% having a genetic link. About 25% of men with OCD develop their symptoms prior to the age of 10.