OCD
What is OCD? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress. Most people have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors at some point in their lives, but that does not mean that we all have “some OCD.” In order for a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder to be made, this cycle of obsessions and compulsions becomes so extreme that it consumes a lot of time …show more content…
When obsessed, an individual continues the obsession in order to avoid the consequent anxiety. There are different types of obsessions. It is categorized into two types: autogenous obsessions and reactive obsessions. Autogenous occur without identifiable or likely stimuli; repetitive; disturbing; Examples: "sexual, aggressive, or immoral thoughts, images, or impulses." On the other hand, reactive obsessions are evoked by identifiable external stimuli, which are perceived as relatively realistic and rational enough to do something toward the stimuli, and include thoughts about contamination, mistake, accident, asymmetry, and loss. Moreover, autogenous obsessions were more strongly associated with covert OCD symptoms, whereas reactive obsessions were more strongly associated with overt OCD …show more content…
“Treatment-resistant OCD does not seem to respond to therapies; however, all OCD cases were once considered resistant to treatment. After further study, it is now possible to treat 40 to 60 percent of OCD patients using medication alone, and new information emerges as treatments progress, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).” Therapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder typically consist of medication, psychotherapy or both. OCD responds well to cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy coupled with prescribed medication, usually antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, alleviates the symptoms for most people who suffer from OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for OCD may take place in individual, group or family sessions. OCD patients can experience some relief through cognitive behavioral therapy, particularly a form called exposure and response prevention. This entails gradually exposing the patient to the feared obsession. For instance, if the patient is obsessed with cleanliness, they are exposed to dirt for gradually increasing amounts of time. This helps the patient to learn new thought patterns and behaviors about their obsession with dirt. Although this form of therapy takes a lot of effort and practice, the reward is a much better
What is OCD? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress. Most people have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors at some point in their lives, but that does not mean that we all have “some OCD.” In order for a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder to be made, this cycle of obsessions and compulsions becomes so extreme that it consumes a lot of time …show more content…
When obsessed, an individual continues the obsession in order to avoid the consequent anxiety. There are different types of obsessions. It is categorized into two types: autogenous obsessions and reactive obsessions. Autogenous occur without identifiable or likely stimuli; repetitive; disturbing; Examples: "sexual, aggressive, or immoral thoughts, images, or impulses." On the other hand, reactive obsessions are evoked by identifiable external stimuli, which are perceived as relatively realistic and rational enough to do something toward the stimuli, and include thoughts about contamination, mistake, accident, asymmetry, and loss. Moreover, autogenous obsessions were more strongly associated with covert OCD symptoms, whereas reactive obsessions were more strongly associated with overt OCD …show more content…
“Treatment-resistant OCD does not seem to respond to therapies; however, all OCD cases were once considered resistant to treatment. After further study, it is now possible to treat 40 to 60 percent of OCD patients using medication alone, and new information emerges as treatments progress, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).” Therapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder typically consist of medication, psychotherapy or both. OCD responds well to cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy coupled with prescribed medication, usually antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, alleviates the symptoms for most people who suffer from OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for OCD may take place in individual, group or family sessions. OCD patients can experience some relief through cognitive behavioral therapy, particularly a form called exposure and response prevention. This entails gradually exposing the patient to the feared obsession. For instance, if the patient is obsessed with cleanliness, they are exposed to dirt for gradually increasing amounts of time. This helps the patient to learn new thought patterns and behaviors about their obsession with dirt. Although this form of therapy takes a lot of effort and practice, the reward is a much better