Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition whose hallmark signs include compulsions, obsessions, and repetitive, intrusive thoughts. According to a WHO report, it is among the top 20 causes of illness-related disability in the world for people between 15 and 44 years.
OCD is closely linked with numerous functional impairments and can significantly affect the quality of your life. Nevertheless, an Austin Bray Counselling specialist can help you manage the disruptive and distressing symptoms.
Types of OCD
OCD presents in different ways, which gives rise to five main types. Note that there are many other types of OCD, but that most times, symptoms tend to fall into these classifications.
They are:
Contamination or Mental Contamination
This type of OCD presents as an obsessional fear of being dirty or contaminated. You may be compelled to wash or clean objects multiple times. You may also avoid particular objects, people, places, or activities.
Contamination type OCD can have severe impacts on your physical health and social life. Compulsions, for example, may cause you to scrub and regularly clean until your hands are bruised or bleeding.
Mental contamination is a rarer form of contamination OCD and includes feelings of internal uncleanliness, even in the absence of physical contact.
Rumination
Rumination is defined as having obsessive, extended, intrusive, and unfocused thoughts about numerous broad topics. The topics are often philosophical, such as the origin of the universe or what happens after death.
Although ruminating never produces satisfactory conclusions, you may appear deep in thought, preoccupied, and detached.
Checking
Checking compulsion presents as an obsessive need to check for fires, leaks, harm, or damage. These uncontrollable urges may last for hours and disrupt your regular schedule. You may feel the need to keep checking house alarms, stove knobs, door locks, windows, and house lights.
You may also reread texts, call people, or validate emails and letters more times than is necessary.
Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are usually stressful, horrific, or violent. They may include obsessional and unwanted thoughts of harming a loved one sexually or violently, killing someone, or committing suicide. Patients may also be obsessed with superstitions or fear something is wrong with their relationships.
Hoarding
Hoarding, although a mental condition on its own, can be a classification of OCD. It involves the inability to discard used, worn out, or useless possessions.
Most people with OCD may hoard items because of specific fears or worries.
Orderliness and Symmetry
A person with this type of OCD obsesses about how objects are lined or arrange and may keep adjusting them to avert discomfort or harm.
Symptoms
OCD-related compulsions and obsessions result in distress and may interfere with your normal function. These time-consuming symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Common OCD compulsions include constant cleaning or handwashing, repeated routine activities, and mental compulsions to keep praying or reviewing events.
Obsessions may manifest as excessive and unjustified worries and thoughts. You could experience repetitive and uncontrollable thoughts, images, feelings, or fears.
Causes
The exact causes of OCD are unknown. Experts believe that it is closely linked with an imbalance or abnormality in neurotransmitters. It might equally be triggered by a combination of behavioral, genetic, environmental, and cognitive factors.
Studies also indicate that most OCD patients likely suffered stressful and traumatic life events prior to developing the condition.
Treatment
Without treatment, OCD could develop into a chronic condition. But, every 4 in 10 people who developed the disease in childhood experience remission by adulthood. If you have OCD, your treatment will rely on the severity of your symptoms.
Your doctor may employ methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or a combination of both.
Conclusion
People with OCD often get treatment, which helps them resume their normal lives. If you are experiencing obsessive or compulsive symptoms that affect your daily routine, book a consultation at Bray Counseling in Austin with Samantha Bray and her team.
