What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also referred to as OCD, is defined as a mental disorder where people have unwanted, reoccurring thoughts that they are unable to control. An individual may feel the need to repeatedly perform a certain task over and over again, hoard items that they do not need, or constantly have the urge to check something frequently. Some examples of obsessions that a person with OCD may have are simple activities such a locking a door, washing their hands, and counting items. Though those actions seem to be frivolous and insignificant, when done a great amount of times a day, more specifically, for over an hour a day, it becomes detrimental to a person’s health and has a pestilential …show more content…
The causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are still not completely understood. But, it is known that OCD is caused by both genetic and environmental influences. OCD can stem from environmental influence through traumatic events, such as war or sexual abuse, during a crucial point in brain development. While a child is growing up, the death or absence of a parental figure can induce OCD. Contrary to popular belief, stress, childhood illness, parenting styles, and home life do not cause OCD, but they can serve as a trigger. For example, a traumatic experience can trigger someone who is genetically predisposed to OCD to have the disease develop in them. Of course, that is only one half of why people develop Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The other half is through genetic influence. OCD is known to run in families; surprisingly enough, approximately 25% of people who have been diagnosed with OCD have an immediate family member with OCD as well. Genes, namely a mutation in the human serotonin transporter gene, definitely has an impact on the progression of OCD. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is in charge of sending messages between brain cells. hSERT, a key gene in this process, carries the …show more content…
The difference of this process in people that are diagnosed with OCD is that the process works too quickly. Therefore, all the leftover serotonin is collected even before the next never cell receives its signal. A twin study conducted by Dr. John March and Christine Benton suggest that genes play a bigger part in the diagnosis of OCD during childhood, which is 45-65% than in adulthood, being about 27-47%. No one is exactly sure of how these genes that are active in OCD symptoms are induced. It is theorized that continual, prolonged stress in everyday life or an illness, such as depression may be several factors that are involved in the development of OCD.
What are the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? A common misconception that people tend to have is that an individual automatically have OCD if they like to maintain their space looking clean and tidy. That is wholly incorrect. The symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder surpass that completely. Those that are diagnosed with OCD have the tendency to display cognitive distortions: catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, emotional reasoning, either/or thinking, and ignoring the positive. Catastrophizing is identified
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also referred to as OCD, is defined as a mental disorder where people have unwanted, reoccurring thoughts that they are unable to control. An individual may feel the need to repeatedly perform a certain task over and over again, hoard items that they do not need, or constantly have the urge to check something frequently. Some examples of obsessions that a person with OCD may have are simple activities such a locking a door, washing their hands, and counting items. Though those actions seem to be frivolous and insignificant, when done a great amount of times a day, more specifically, for over an hour a day, it becomes detrimental to a person’s health and has a pestilential …show more content…
The causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are still not completely understood. But, it is known that OCD is caused by both genetic and environmental influences. OCD can stem from environmental influence through traumatic events, such as war or sexual abuse, during a crucial point in brain development. While a child is growing up, the death or absence of a parental figure can induce OCD. Contrary to popular belief, stress, childhood illness, parenting styles, and home life do not cause OCD, but they can serve as a trigger. For example, a traumatic experience can trigger someone who is genetically predisposed to OCD to have the disease develop in them. Of course, that is only one half of why people develop Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The other half is through genetic influence. OCD is known to run in families; surprisingly enough, approximately 25% of people who have been diagnosed with OCD have an immediate family member with OCD as well. Genes, namely a mutation in the human serotonin transporter gene, definitely has an impact on the progression of OCD. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is in charge of sending messages between brain cells. hSERT, a key gene in this process, carries the …show more content…
The difference of this process in people that are diagnosed with OCD is that the process works too quickly. Therefore, all the leftover serotonin is collected even before the next never cell receives its signal. A twin study conducted by Dr. John March and Christine Benton suggest that genes play a bigger part in the diagnosis of OCD during childhood, which is 45-65% than in adulthood, being about 27-47%. No one is exactly sure of how these genes that are active in OCD symptoms are induced. It is theorized that continual, prolonged stress in everyday life or an illness, such as depression may be several factors that are involved in the development of OCD.
What are the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? A common misconception that people tend to have is that an individual automatically have OCD if they like to maintain their space looking clean and tidy. That is wholly incorrect. The symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder surpass that completely. Those that are diagnosed with OCD have the tendency to display cognitive distortions: catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, emotional reasoning, either/or thinking, and ignoring the positive. Catastrophizing is identified