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Considerably, it is healthy and likable to have your life sorted and organized. At the same time, it is concerning when practices like cleaning and assembling stuff start to get in your way of leading a normal life. In this case, it might be a symptom of you or some related to you experiencing a rather complex phenomenon. Read more about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder below.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder that involves persistent negative thought patterns, ideas, or fears (obsession), leading towards repetitive, unwanted practices (compulsions). At this point, you must visit a psychologist near you for proper evaluation. On reading this article, you’ll come across the necessary information to detect and further look for treatment to help you regarding your OCD.
What Is Ocd?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) features a pattern of unwanted thoughts, resulting in a distressed and anxious life if they’re left uncatered. The only way to get rid of these thoughts is to perform the intrusive action because of their advance resurfacing nature.
These obsessions serve to pin the sufferer to the point that they are compelled to act on them to find relief. There is a misinterpretation of people suffering from OCD being tidy, which is not so true. It is one of the most perplexing illnesses and is better treated through early diagnosis. This is where you will need help from psychologist in Calgary or whatever your city is.
Symptoms of ocd
The onset age of OCD differs in people. Usually, it surfaces in young or teen-adult ages. However, it can occur in childhood as well. With an earlier age of onset in boys than girls, it is likely to get deterred at 19. The problem can even show at 35 or above. Reportedly, it is possible to have obsessions and compulsions both, and occasionally, only one of these is present.
The core symptoms include obsessions leading to anxiety, pushing the individual to act on them (compulsions), resulting in temporary relief. Obsessions can take many forms. From invasive thoughts to impulsive urges to forceful imagery, causing a tremendous amount of pressure and constrain.
On the other hand, compulsions are the results of causal factors. These include repetitive washing, arranging things, orderliness, hoarding, and demanding reassurance. Your therapist in Edmonton or elsewhere can check for these symptoms to establish the diagnosis.
Types of ocd
To further break it down and simplify, obsessive-compulsive disorder and its symptoms are categorized into four divisions:
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Checking
This is not as common as others but is regarded as disruptive when a sufferer practices it repeatedly. Checking involves the constant affirmation of making sure if things are in order to avoid damage. Some of these include; checking water taps to ensure the leakage won’t pull the house down.
Stove or gas outlets, to keep in check that somehow a fire would erupt and burn the house. It can be checking of locks of cars or homes from the fear of theft. Re-reading and overdoing things in fear of missing something out or writing something that can be hitting someone. The monotonous effort at some point or other becomes pervasive and causes difficulties in jobs and personal relationships.
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Hoarding
Hoarding refers to a habit or compulsive act of storing things. The act becomes so routine that the sufferer feels the need to accumulate unwanted and unnecessary items. As a result, it becomes a source of discomfort and unease, for example, filling the bedroom with items and leaving no space to sleep.
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Contamination
The act of contaminating is the most common symptom of OCD. It refers to the obsession with constantly cleaning and washing something to avoid the fear of contamination or dirt. The practice can become so common that the sufferer might feel the need to do it for every little thing, for example, their clothes, fearing an encounter with a bug, or shaking hands, in fear of catching germs.
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Ruminations
Ruminations are considered to be an extreme symptom of OCD. It involves the sufferer dwelling over stuff that a normal individual wouldn’t, given the free time to think. It is often referred to as an act of long-phase contemplation of something religious or philosophical. Mostly like, what is an afterlife? Where do we go? How does heaven, or perhaps hell look like?
Treatment of ocd
Professional help and medications are one way to treat patients with OCD. You can find a psychologist near you who can help you with your OCD. Usually, the disorder is most likely to get cured if the onset wasn’t too long ago. It is considered, the later the onset is, the more developed the disorder is. However, certain ways can help you with your OCD:
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Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
This therapy aims to identify negative thoughts, discuss them, then form positive ideas to remove the negative ones. Considerably, it gives the sufferer a view of these thoughts and practices as a product of their minds.
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Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
A form of CBT involves highlighting that the longer you remain exposed to your fears, the more advanced your negative insinuations become. It helps in easing anxiety and stress. Your psychologist in calgary may use a combination of different treatment options for your OCD.
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Medication
An available medium to calm someone and help them with anxiety is through antidepressants, which help the patient feel relief and subsiding the fear.
Conclusion
OCD is a serious issue and should be dealt with professional approach. Seeking help from a psychologist near you at the right time can serve as a benefitting point.
