OCD

What is obsessive compulsive disorder – OCD?

Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a unique anxiety disorder. In many ways, it’s distinct symptoms are the solution that the subject developed to handle and manage his anxiety and pestering thoughts. 

We can divide the disorder into 2 components. The obsessive component – characterized with pestering thoughts, and the compulsive component – assembled with a variety of repetitive behaviors and fixations that the person believes will assist him with postponing the threat he fears, or at least allow him to “turn off” his obsessive thoughts. While easing the feeling of anxiety in the short term, the rituals the are developed disrupt daily life in every aspect for the long term. Avoiding such behaviors can awaken depression and amplify anxiety. 

At first glance, compulsivity can appear as a sort of superstition. A person may believe that if he will follow a certain pattern, or repeat a certain sentence, he can arrive home unharmed, or keep his family healthy. Any disruption in the behavioral pattern can cause the ritual to repeat again from the start. In most cases, a person who suffers from OCD does not actually believe that the rituals will indeed prevent the feared even from happening, but the momentary relief in the anxiety feeling provides him with an easy escape from the obsession. In this endless circle of obsession and compulsion, the persons suffering will exhaust a lot of energy. 

How common is OCD?

So how common is OCD? We cannot have a conclusive answer, duo to the face that the early stages of the disorder is almost unrecognizable for a considerable percentage of subjects. However, the general assessment is that in the western world, there are about 1-1.5% of people suffering from OCD. 

It is worth noting that the disorder does not divide equally between genders, with women most likely to suffer from it more than men. Having said that, at an early age, it is more common from men. Either way, the disorder can usually be diagnosed at around age 20, even if a large part of the subjects later claim that the obsessive compulsive patterns appear even earlier in their lives. 

How will I know if I have OCD?

There are a few known possible symptoms of OCD, when the rule of thumb is that the more the person experiences more symptoms – the more likely it is that he suffers from OCD. The main symptoms are:

– A desire for reportativity – for actions, behaviors or words, even though it is known that there is no actual need for it.

– The appearances of “strange” thoughts that are not suited to the situation or true feeling in the moment.

– Fears and anxiety, mostly those that include infections or other bodily harms that stem from a lack of sterility or a low hygiene. 

– A tendency to collect items, that leads to obsessive hoarding. 

It is important to note that the symptoms stated above can highly disrupt the day-to-day function of the persons experiencing them. Often it is a source of different conflicts with the environment, and in extreme cases, negative feelings towards the person suffering from society. In those cases, it is very important to diagnose the disorder as soon as possible, and treat it as well. 

Treating OCD

There are different ways to handle ODC, in many of the cases it is a deep soul-searching therapy that attempts to get to the causes of the disorder. This kind of treatment can be effective, but it tends to be long and difficult. Therefore, we can simultaneously think about other coping ways, that can decrease the severity of the symptoms. That’s where Neurofeedback therapy comes in. Neurofeedback can bring about change in the brain’s irregular electrical activity and decrease the symptoms significantly, until their disappearance.

Can a “regular” life be managed with OCD?

The answer to that question depends on the characterizing of the disorder, and the way it is treated. The good news is that a comprehensive and costume made treatment plan, like Neurofeedback, can significantly ease and help those who suffer from it. 

In the common and positive scenario, the treatment brings about a dramatic decrease in the disorder’s symptoms, sometimes even to the extant that it is unnoticeable. In other cases, the person can learn how to live and manage the symptoms, causing a significant improvement in his day-to-day life. 

Clinical social worker M.S.W, years of treating children and adults with ADD/ADHD, attention disorders, anxiety and personal difficulties.
Mentoring parents, groups and professionals, with a vast experience in social services and mental health.
B.A and M.A in social work from Bar Ilan university.

B.A in criminology and informal education from Bar Ilan University.