This week’s edition of HH101 deals with practical ways to approach OCD
In honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this article will focus on Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. If any of you are reading this for the first time or for the first time this month, all of my Hood Health articles this month will feature a different mental disorder. According to the WebMd, individuals with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears, or images (obsessions) that they cannot control. They also assert that the anxiety (nervousness) produced by these thoughts lead to an urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsions). It is important to also note that it is possible to have only obsessive or only compulsive tendencies and still have OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder afflicts about 3.3 million adults and about 1 million children and adolescents in the United States. It transpires equally amongst men and women, and affects people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. OCD presents itself in several ways. I have listed the most common expression of each aspect of the mental disorder below.
Listed below are the most common obsessive symptoms presented within obsessive-compulsive disorder
* A fear of dirt or contamination by germs
* A fear of causing harm to another
* A fear of making a mistake
* A fear of being embarrassed or behaving in a socially unacceptable manner
* A fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts
* A need for order, symmetry, or exactness
* Excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance
Listed below are the most common compulsive symptoms presented within obsessive-compulsive disorder
* Repeatedly bathing, showering, or washing hands
* Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs
* Repeatedly checking things, such as locks or stoves
* Constantly counting, mentally or aloud, while performing routine tasks
* Constantly arranging things in a certain way
* Eating foods in a specific order
* Being stuck on words, images or thoughts, usually disturbing, that won’t go away and can interfere with sleep
* Repeating specific words, phrases, or prayers
* Needing to perform tasks a certain number of times
* Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value
The most effective approach to treating OCD combines medications with cognitive behavioral therapy. In severe cases of Obsessive-compulsive disorder people who do not respond to medical and behavioral therapy can receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or psychosurgery. Ultimately, this article is not intended to provide you with a diagnosis, nor is it meant to provide you with an in depth perspective of each illness. The articles presented this month are intended to provide you with a degree in information on a particular illness and its symptoms. If you have questions or need to be evaluated, again, please see your healthcare professional.
-Nakeasha Johnson(@NakeashaJ)
