How does obsessive compulsive disorder affect your life?

How does obsessive compulsive disorder affect your life?

The obsessions that you have with OCD can make you feel really anxious
and distressed. The compulsions that you have may help to relieve this
distress temporarily but obsessions soon return and the cycle begins
again.

The severity of OCD can range from mildly inconvenient,
to causing severe distress. You know that the obsessions and
compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. However, you find it
difficult or impossible to resist them.

OCD affects people in
different ways. For example, some people spend hours carrying out
compulsions and, as a consequence, cannot get on with normal
activities. Some people do their compulsions over and over again in
secret (like 'rituals'). Other people may seem to cope with normal
activities, but are distressed by their recurring obsessive thoughts.
OCD can affect your work (or school-work in children), relationships,
social life, and your quality of life.

Many people with OCD do
not tell their doctor or anyone else about their symptoms. They fear
that other people might think they are crazy. Some people with OCD may
feel ashamed of their symptoms, especially if they contain ideas of
harming others, or have a sexual element. As a result, many people with
OCD also become depressed. However, if you have OCD, you are not crazy
or mad. It is not your fault and treatment often works. If you are
concerned that you may be depressed (for example if you have been
feeling very down and you no longer take pleasure in the things that
you used to enjoy) you should see your doctor.

 

What causes obsessive compulsive disorder?

 The cause of OCD is not clear. Slight changes in the balance of some
brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin may play a role.
This is why medication is thought to help (see below).

Also,
the chance of developing OCD is higher than average in first-degree
relatives of affected people (mother, father, brother, sister, child).
So, there may be some genetic element to OCD. However, so far, no genes
have been found to be linked with OCD.

Other theories about the cause of OCD have been suggested, but none proved.

 

Who gets obsessive compulsive disorder?

About 1 in 100 people develop OCD. Anyone can develop OCD. However, the chance of developing OCD is higher than average in first degree relatives of affected people (mother, father, brother, sister, child). It usually first develops between the ages of 18 and 30. It is usually a chronic (persistent) condition.