Skip to main content

Are you bargaining, cross-checking or are you really suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)


Are you one of those few people who are overly pre-cautious about washing your hands so you carry hand sanitiser around? Maybe you just want to ‘double-check’ that the car is locked or iron is ‘un-plugged’? However, are these just harmless and innocent acts so easy to pass by or are they a sign that you are perhaps suffering from compulsive behaviours, which are irrational urges and unwanted thoughts. Its very similar to ‘bargaining’; your just crosschecking, right?



















  
   





The brain becomes biochemically associated with the thing you fear," says Stephen Phillipson -clinical director of the Centre for Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy in New York City."Performing the ritual just convinces it that the danger is real and that only perpetuates the cycle."

 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) is actually a mental disorder (anxiety disorder) that is characterised by characterised by uncontrollable and unwanted thoughts that are ritualised and repetitive behaviours. A person here feels ‘compelled’ to perform these actions. Although, the actual cause remains unknown a lot has got to do with certain genetic components.

An obsession is an idea, thought or image that comes to a person's mind repeatedly without control. It is involuntary and intrudes on the conscious mind," states Dr Jyoti Kapoor Madan, Senior Consultant, Psychiatry at Paras Hospital, while adding, "A compulsion, meanwhile, is a ritual or action that an individual does to relieve the anxiety."Maybe your obsession could be as bizarre as 'making sure you add black pepper' to every dish you eat, no matter what the cuisine is! 


OCD generally falls into one of the four categories:

      1) Checking
2) Hoarding
3) Contamination/Mental Contamination
4) Rumination's Intrusive Thoughts   

Further explaining the disorder, Dr Ashish Kumar Mittal, Chief Psychiatrist at Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon adds, "It is characterised by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualised behaviours you feel compelled to perform. 
If you have OCD, you probably recognise that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are irrational-but even so, you feel unable to resist them."




Why does it happen: The pattern of repetition develops because of a kind of cause and effect. Dr Parikh explains, "When one gets an obsession, you develop a lot of arousal and anxiety.

There are many examples of obsessive-compulsive actions. Some of these include:

  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people - Using public toilets
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people -Washing clothes in a launderette  
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people- Touching bannisters on staircases 
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people- Touching poles 
  •        The fear of contamination -Coming into contact with chemicals
  •        Shaking hands (fear of contracting germs from other people).
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people -Touching door knobs/handles 
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people -Being in a crowd  
  •        The fear of contracting HIV/AIDS from blood like stains- Avoiding red objects and stains
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people -Using public telephones 
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people - Waiting in a GP’s surgery 
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people - Visiting hospitals  
  •        The fear of contracting germs from other people - Eating in a cafe/restaurant 
  •        The fear of leaving minute remains of mouth disease -Excessive Tooth Brushing  
  •        Tear of germs being spread to family - Cleaning of Kitchen and Bathroom  








Famous People Too Have Suffered from OCD:




(YOU ARE NOT ALONE-ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT)


Donald Trump, Charles Darwin, David Beckham, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Jackson, Harrison Ford, Penelope Cruz, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Albert Einstein, Michelangelo, Charlie Sheen and Justin Timberlake. 

From Bollywood, we have Kareena Kapoor Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone, Ajay Devgn, Sunny Leone, Preity Zinta, Imran Khan, Amisha Patel, Ayushmann Khuranna and Ali Fazal.    


INSIDE THE MIND OF AN OCD PATIENT



Have you ever experienced any of these symptoms, where intrusive thoughts are constantly fighting against one another- your mind can never (or rarely be at rest). Most often than not, obsessive thoughts cover certain common key areas such as relationships, sexual feelings, magical feelings, religious (believing that…) and even violent thoughts.


Relationship Intrusive Thoughts: One of the most common ‘obsessive-dilemma’ to fall into is this one. A person can get obsessive thoughts over the type of partner that they want or he/she will constantly be analysing the depth of feelings for one’s partner; where they place their partner and the relationship under the ‘microscope’. He/she is in a constant need of validation to seek reassurance and approval from the partner and constantly feels that the partner is NOT faithful to them. They may even question their own sexuality and even start to develop thoughts, feelings and impulses towards members of the same sex.

Body-focused obsessions: Also known as sensorimotor OCD, this is a hyperawareness of particular body sensations. These sensations are known as sensorimotor obsessions and some of the symptoms for this type of OCD are excessive blinking, eye floaters (visual distractors), which are obsessive fixations on eye floaters; swallowing/salivation – i.e. focusing on the frequency of how much a person swallows, how much saliva is produced and even the sensation of salivation itself.

Sexual Intrusive Thoughts: In OCD, sexually intrusive thoughts can take many forms. Most of the sexual obsessions involve unwanted thoughts, impulses, ideas or even images that are focused on sexual content. Obsessive thoughts of unintentionally causing sexual harm (to children) and the constant questioning of one’s own sexuality are the TWO main focuses of these obsessional doubts. 

The thoughts in this type of OCD generally are:
   
  •       Any Thoughts about  touching a child inappropriately.
  •       The fear of being sexually attracted to members of one's own family.
  •       The constant fear of being a paedophile and being sexually attracted to children.
  •       The fear of being attracted to members of the same sex (homosexual OCD)

       Or
  • For those who are gay fear of being attracted to members of the opposite sex.
  • Intrusive sexual thoughts about God, saints or, religious figures. 

Such people who experience such intrusive thoughts will deliberately avoid public places.

Magical Thinking Intrusive Thoughts: Do you remember fairy tales that you were told as a child? It is all imagination and made up. However, for people who do suffer from this fear it is scary and intense. The constant belief that anything that they can even imagine that is bad can come true is the foundation of this type. It is also called ‘thought-action fusion’.

People who suffer from these intrusive thoughts often rely on performing rituals to get rid of these bizarre and imaginary beliefs. For example, having the thought 'I may strangle someone' is regarded as being as reprehensible as actually strangling a person.  

Another example is believing that simply imagining a horrific car crash will increase the likelihood of such a crash taking place, or a person may feel that if they don’t count to ten ‘just right’ harm will come to a family member.  Other examples of magical thinking, or thought-action fusion intrusive thoughts include:
  • One’s thoughts can cause disasters to occur.
  • A certain colour or number has good or bad luck associated with it.
  • One can inadvertently cause harm to others with their houghts or carelessness.
  • Certain days have good or bad luck that is associated with them.
  • Breaking chain letters will actually bring bad luck.
  • A loved one’s death can be predicted.
  • Breaking chain letters will actually bring bad luck.
  • Whatever comes to mind will come true.
  •  Breaking chain letters will actually bring bad luck.
  •  Attending a funeral will bring death.

Religious Intrusive Thoughts: Have you ever wondered that religion, too can play a very strong role on our psychological well-being? Most of the time, it is favourable but there are times when people who suffer from OCD experience obsessive religious doubts and fears, unwanted images and blasphemous thoughts and compulsive religious rituals- avoidance, religious rituals and religious reassurance.

 It was first documented in a 1691 sermon by Bishop John Moore of Norwich where he discussed men and women who were overwhelmed with unwanted thoughts and tormented by feelings of guilt and shame over what he had described as “religious melancholoy”. 

It is common to all religions and faiths. Across the world people are haunted by feelings of guilt, doubt and anxiety which torment them by attacking that which they find most dear – their FAITH!
Scrupulosity is the actual form of OCD where the suffer’s primary source of anxiety is the fear of being guilty of moral, religious or ethical failure. These people feel that their efforts to live according to their spiritual values is NOT JUST good enough but is in direct violation with GOD himself.  


Treatment: Although medications can be prescribed to increase the serotonin levels which also act as anti-depressants, "Normally obsessive people are aware that they shouldn't act on the thoughts and knowing that their thoughts are not voluntary, it leads to depression, irritability, suicidal thoughts and guilt," says Dr Madan.

It is very important to include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which also helps to tacky the anxiety and depression. Some of the main treatments include Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Here, the individual is taught healthy manners to cope with their anxiety and psycho-education is used where the whole family is  involved.

“It’s like being controlled by a puppeteer. Every time you try and just walk away he pulls you back. Are you sure the stove is off and everything is unplugged? Back up we go. Are you sure your hands are as clean as they can get? Back ya go. Are you sure the doors are securely locked? Back down we go. How many people have touched this object? Wash your hands again.” — Toni Neville


























“Picture standing in a room filled with flies and pouring a bottle of syrup over yourself. The flies constantly swarm about you, buzzing around your head and in your face. You swat and swat, but they keep coming. The flies are like obsessional thoughts — you can’t stop them, you just have to fend them off. The swatting is like compulsions — you can’t resist the urge to do it, even though you know it won’t really keep the flies at bay more than for a brief moment.” — Cheryl Little Sutton

It’s like you have two brains — a rational brain and an irrational brain. And they’re constantly fighting.” — Emilie Ford

Comments

  1. I am Maris, and i am here on this site to give thanks to Dr.Agbazara for the good work he did in getting my relationship back on track. Myself and my lover had some dispute which lead to our break up. But through the help of Dr.Agbazara i was able to get her back within 48 hours for this reason i will be dropping the contact information of Dr.Agbazara on this site for those that need his help to contact him on Whatsapp via ( +2348104102662 ) or email: ( agbazara@gmail.com )

    ReplyDelete
  2. I got here much interesting stuff. The post is great! Thanks for sharing it! OCD Specialist NY

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Karina Pandya in Conversation with Co-Founder of the Banyan, Dr. Vandana Gopikumar

An incident of coming across a homeless and mentally ill woman in distress on the road in front of her college in Chennai paved the route for Vandana Gopikumar to establish one of the leading NGOs in the field of mental health – The Banyan. While she was yet a Master’s student of Social Work, Vandana along with a close friend Vaishnavi Jayakumar encountered several other incidents of not being able to find the right shelter and mental institution for a woman in need of medical and psychiatric attention.     The Banyan, which was established in 1993 has been a one-stop destination to not only rescue, and rehabilitate but also treat mentally ill women from low-income groups. Vandana Gopikumar has pioneered a movement, helping thousands of individuals not only reintegrate into society but also secure long-term medical treatment.    Not only is she the co-founder of the NGO – The Banyan, but is also the co-founder of The Banyan Academy of Leadership (BALM). She is also a member of the advi

NGO Meet Becomes a Fulcrum of Mutual Help

  “There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark.”  --Helen Keller   There are numerous social causes which would remain otherwise ignored if it were not for the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) contributing to the cause. January 6th, Saturday saw the coming together of 25-30 NGOs to provide a single platform for mutual help and support. It was organised by the founder trustee of Karmayog – Vinay Somani to discuss strategic planning for social and civic causes.          A Buffet of Purposes: Maybe You're Lost, Maybe You Aren’t. Maybe You’re Meandering with Meaning     Whether it is raising funds, strategy planning, content writing, or volunteering; there are numerous ways by which people can contribute to the welfare of an NGO.    Dr Dhyanraj Patkar, whose Narmada Kidney Foundation works to create awareness about kidney disease said that 6100 people were on the wait list for a kidney transplant in 2023 in Maharashtra bu

A Boutique Passport to New York

New York, the city that NEVER sleeps is one of the most sought-after hotspots for fashionistas across the world.     With astonishingly tall buildings which rise up to a couple of thousand feet in the air, creating a beautiful New York Skyline, New York is home to some of the most popular brands across the world such as Macy’s, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Valentino, Kate Spade, Fendi, Coach, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Huckberry, Nordstrom NYC and many others there are plenty of innovative retailers and retail trends to choose from. However, New York has not always been the fashion capital of the world.  Paris, Milan and London have always been known worldwide for the most influential fashion trend. New only emerged as a fashion capital post World War II when New York’s garment district became a vanguard of a different type.      There were designers in New York who challenged the Parisian couture by introducing sportswear into the high fashion world in the 194 0s and 1950s. New Yor