Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, commonly known as OCD, is symptomized by recurring thoughts, images, and impulses that generate an overwhelming sense of anxiety in a person. This entails spasmodic actions repeated to the point of becoming a habit, usually as a measure to counter the anxiety suffered. This is often time-consuming and has the likelihood of becoming a major impediment in the daily life of the person in question and those around them. One of the major issues is the person’s inability to suffer from OCD to realize that this behavior, resulting from repeated thoughts and actions, is abnormal, excessive, or meaningless. On top of that, they have very little restraint on their own behavior and the power to curb them. It is estimated that a significant demographic is a victim of this disorder, and among this population, almost half of it has severe symptoms arising from this problem.
Signs of OCD
Like any other disorder, OCD has some classic signs and symptoms that the patients suffer. The most common ones are an unrestrained repetition of fixed thoughts or images, such as an extreme aversion to an object or an obsession with doing a particular action. Invasive sexual and oftentimes violent thoughts also mark it. Apart from that, this disorder is also characterized by repeated ritualistic behaviors that are uninhibited and almost impossible to control. It needs to be taken into account that these behaviors are not necessarily done to derive any pleasure or satisfaction of accomplishment; rather, it is a method of mitigating one’s anxiety. It can easily prove to be a major hindrance to the day-to-day routine of the person affected. These people can be diagnosed with both obsessions and compulsions simultaneously. While a certain part of the affected population suffers exclusively from obsessions, the other party is privy to compulsions. If you happen to be in the presence of a friend or a family member who is faced with such symptoms, you could consider consulting with a psychologist at a clinic.
The Diagnosis for OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is generally diagnosed through a series of tests and psychological evaluations. Upon the deduction of a possible diagnosis, the patient would be required to undergo another evaluation under the wing of a specialist to cement the diagnosis as the final. As many of the symptoms of OCD correspond to that of generalized anxiety disorder, or schizophrenia, or some other mental illnesses, a concretized diagnosis of the disorder is rather rare. Habitually, the test results would be inclusive of a routine physical examination to eliminate any of the outward symptoms, a blood test to look into the patient’s general health more comprehensively, and toxicology to rule out the presence of drugs alcohol. Following that, the patients undergo a detailed psychological evaluation conducted by a trained specialist to derive the exact symptoms they face. This might also include a corresponding session with the friends and family of the patient to gain better grounds at understanding their existing condition. If you need professional help for this condition, you could solicit the services of Archways Center for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to help you navigate through this situation with expertise and care.
