WHAT IS OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder )?

OCD is a common, chronic mental disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behavior (compulsion) as a result affected person feels an urge to do the same activity again and again 

Mild thinking regarding the future and loved ones are normal but normally it goes after some time, if these thoughts are stuck in the mind and lead to excessive activity or harm to the other person, this condition is called obsessive-compulsive disorder.

WHAT ARE THE Risk factors FOR OCD?

• Sex-  OCD  is more common in female 
• Age - it is more common at a young age.
• Stress - stress and traumatic life are one of the leading triggering factors which cause OCD. OCD occurs in reaction to stress.
• Mental disorder - Sometimes OCD is related to or triggered by other mental conditions such as anxiety, and depression.
• Mental trauma - such as a history of sexual abuse, the stress in a relationship, history of cheating by someone other.
• Medical history - if someone had a history of major illness it leads to a major impact on the mind or any history of brain injury, and as a result, people become more cautious about the future but sometimes people become excess cautious about the future.

   

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF OCD?

Untreated OCD can lead to

• social Isolation - sometimes people avoid the company of friends, and family and want to be alone 
• Academica failure - due to mind restlessness it leads to a lack of concentration on work as a result affected person becomes slow in performance 
• Loss of concentration at work or other actives 
• Loss of sleep due to anxiety
• Exhaustion on the physical and emotional plane due to repeated dosing of activities leads to weakness on the physical or mental plane 
• Depression 
• Panic attacks 
• And sometimes suicidal thoughts

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF OCD?

• Checking - In this type the affected person always feels something is not right, that’s why feels the need to do or check the same things in a repeated manner like

Checking includes- repeated checking of doors at night whether it is close or not, checking of taps, alarms, car doors, house lights, or other appliances.

The affected person also checks repeatedly emails, SMS, letters, etc. There may be a fear of having made mistakes.

• Fear of Contamination  -In this type, the person always has fear of contamination or getting a disease from another person, in this type affected person always do excessive tooth brushing, overcleaning certain rooms, bathrooms, and kitchen, and avoids large crowds for fear of getting infected.

There is a persistent feeling of being dirty, and the affected person gets satisfaction by doing excessive showering and washing 

• Hoarders - The person has a fear that something bad will happen if they throw things anything away. They accumulate junk like old waste newspaper, old curtains, old books wood, etc.
• Symmetry and fastidious - a person with OCD wants to make or arrange everything in the right manner, and always wants a clean home that’s why always do or keep busy arranging things.
• Intrusive thoughts -this type include violent, hurting, obsessional thoughts and sometimes may harm the loved one violently or sexually.

Thoughts of these people include obsessions about relationships, killing others, or suicide.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OCD?

Common obsessive thoughts in OCD

• Fear of contamination by germs or dirt or getting a disease from the others 
• Fear of losing self-control during anger or harming yourself or others 
• Having repeated violent thoughts and images 
• Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas 
• Fear of losing anything 
• Fastidious, some affected people want everything in a very good manner 
• Superstitions, excessive belief in luck behind any good or bad mishappening 
• Sexual and violent thoughts in mind 
• Worries of getting hurt.
•  Fear of death leads to always being conscious about taking breath, blinking of eyes, or other body sensation

Common compulsive behavior in OCD

• Excessive checking of anything, such as locks, appliances and switches, and gates.
• Repeatedly checking on a loved one to check out whether he or she is safe or not.
• Waste more time washing hands, clothes, and rooms in fear of contamination 
• Maintain everything in order ‘just so’
• Excessively stuck in religion or engaged themselves in doing rituals 
• Collection of waste material junk such as newspaper, and old curtains.
• Count the things repeatedly.

 Causes of OCD

The exact cause is unknown but they are some theories that are related to the OCD 

• Genetic or hereditary factors - it is believed that persons who have a family history of OCD are more prone to developing OCD 
• Some biological changes such as Chemical, structural and functional abnormalities in the brain lead to OCD.
• Environmental - it is also believed that some infections also triggered the OCD 
• Recovery from medical conditions - if any person recovers from any major in past it can lead to taking precautions in the future but sometimes excessive thought of precautions can lead to OCD
• Stress and depression - mental stress or depression in life can cause OCD
• Past history - if any childhood trauma such as a history of sexual abuse 

DIAGNOSIS OF OCD

The diagnosis of OCD is made by physical examination, any past medical or injury history, lab tests such as CBC to rule out the thyroid function or to rule out any presence of drugs, or the doctor may ask some questions about your feelings, thoughts, and habits.

TREATMENT OF OCD

The convention treatment are medications such as antidepressants  and psychotherapy(CBT cognitive behavioral therapy ) or a combination of both 

But medications are not so useful and they also lead to harmful effects on the body such as weight gain, mood swings, etc 

But homeopathy and counseling will help you and give permanent relief from the symptoms

MANAGEMENT OF OCD

The main of the treatment or management of OCD is to minimize the anxiety, and negative thoughts, reduce fear and prevent from affecting daily routine activities 

• Divert your focus from one thing to another such as engaging yourself in doing some exercise, or playing computer games, the main aim of refocusing is to avoid or delay the urge to perform a compulsive behavior 
• Maintain Dairy - maintain a diary and write your daily activity it can help u to detect your repeated activity of the same work.
• Join a supportive company, with people who encourage you from getting out of this OCD.
• Focused on your aim, set small targets and goals, and try your best to fulfill the goals.
• Make healthy hobbies
• Exercise and yoga give you positive thinking 
• Reduce stress
• Take adequate sleep because incomplete sleep leads to irritation of the mind 
• Eat healthy diet 
• Spend time with family and good supportive friends.

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF OCD

Homeopathy is a unique way of treatment, it can help in reducing the thoughts of doing something in the repeated manner there are various medicine which is very effective and useful .but only constitutional medicine will help you and never take ho homeopathy medicine without any consultation from the registered medical practitioner 

Some homeopathic medicine is 

Arsenic album 

Calcarea carb

Medorrhinum

Syphilinum

Iodum

Natrum Mur 

Carcinosin

Psorinum

Do’s and don’ts

Do’s

• Take healthy diet 
• Do exercise and yoga
• Stay in supportive society friends
• Spend time with friends and family
• Keep positive thinking
• Take proper sleep

Don’ts 

• Never feel depressed
• Avoid stress and anxiety 
• Avoid alcohol and smoking or any drugs
• Avoid bad company 
• Avoid coffee, tea, or any form of nicotine 
• Avoid taking any major decision when you feel depressed