Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a crippling mental illness that affects 3 in 100 adults and 5 in 100 children and adolescents throughout the western the world. According to the World Health Organization, it is one of the top ten most debilitating illnesses a person can suffer from. But there is hope. Treatments can be very successful and can change people’s lives, enabling them to live a fulfilling and happy life.
What is OCD?
OCD is an anxiety disorder, and people who suffer from it suffer from repeated, obsessive thoughts that cause them a great deal of anxiety. This leads individuals to carry out certain ritualistic behaviours that they believe will quell the feelings of anxiety. There are 4 recognized stages in the cycle of OCD.
- The Obsessive Thought: The most common obsessive thoughts include: a fear of inadvertently hurting other people, a fear of disease or contamination and a fear of committing a crime against the individual’s religion which all leads to “anxiety.”
- Anxiety: The obsessive thought triggers feelings of unbearable anxiety and terror. This leads the sufferer to the next stage which is “compulsion.”
- Compulsion: This is the behaviour the sufferer engages to attempt to rid them of the anxiety. The sufferer usually has a set amount of time they feel is needed to carry out the behaviour in order to neutralize the anxiety. Common compulsions are: cleaning, hand washing, hoarding, checking and counting. Once these rituals are completed, the person moves to the next stage—“temporary relief.”
- Temporary Relief: At this final stage, the sufferer experiences temporary relief from the feelings of anxiety; and all is calm and relaxed. This relief may last a few hours or a full day, after which the obsessive thoughts re-surface and begins the cycle once again. Most sufferers realize that their behaviour is irrational but are unable to end the cycle.
The Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Although the exact cause of OCD is unknown, research has shown a number of possible reasons. Geneticists have shown that if a family member suffers from OCD, then another family member is four times more likely to suffer from the illness themselves. Brain studies of people who suffer from OCD have shown abnormalities in the blood flow to certain areas of the brain. After treatment, this blood flow returns to normal. The levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, have also been found to be abnormal in a person suffering from OCD. It is also thought that a stressful event such as a death can trigger OCD.
On the other side, some who have endured severe head trauma, or high levels of physical and mental abuse have shown symptoms of OCD. Many experts believe that certain infections such as strep throat or scarlet fever can trigger OCD.
Treatment for Sufferers of OCD
OCD is a treatable disorder and many have been successfully treated. Studies have shown that 80% of sufferers will respond to initial treatment. If sufferers do not seek help then the prognosis is not good, and the individual will most likely suffer from the illness for some time, perhaps for life. So seeking help is essential.
The severity of the illness will dictate which treatment an individual will receive. For those suffering a mild form of the illness, a course of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) will probably be sufficient to alter a person’s behaviour and break the cycle. For those experiencing a more severe form, SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), a type of antidepressant, and intensive CBT are usually used. In rare cases anti-psychotics are sometimes prescribed.
The basis of all of the treatments is called ‘graded exposure’ and is a technique designed to reduce the compulsions in a gradual manner until the individual becomes accustom to the newly reduced behaviours until they are totally diminished. Surgery is an option for particularly severe cases, but the results vary and some people find that it makes them worse.
Help and Support for Sufferers
Living with OCD can be a nightmare experience. There are numerous organizations on the internet that offer support and help for sufferers. There are also forums for sufferers and family members such as www.ocdforums.org. These can be invaluable as sufferers may often feel alone with no hope of ever ending the cycle. It is important to remember that as a sufferer you can get better and can learn to live a fulfilling life.