OCD is medically labelled as a long-lasting mental health disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring obsessions
Renowned philanthropist and celebrated art collector Shalini Passi says obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD, is a coping mechanism that helps people maintain safety and control over life. Medically labelled as a long-lasting mental health disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring obsessions and engages in repetitive behaviours—or both.
Those who have OCD showcase time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with their daily lives.
Once I was eating a dessert and someone took a bite from my plate, I did not speak to that person for two years,” she mentioned on the television reality show Bigg Boss, as another contestant talked about the way he approaches his daily activities.
What is OCD?
According to experts, OCD causes a condition in which you have frequent unwanted thoughts and sensations that make you perform repetitive behaviours that interfere with social interactions and performing daily tasks.
Doctors say OCD is usually a life-long and chronic condition, but symptoms can come and go over time. OCD is very extreme and can take up hours of your day, getting in the way of your normal life and activities. Obsessions with OCD are unwanted, and people with OCD do not enjoy performing compulsive behaviours.
Who does OCD affect?
Experts say even though OCD can affect anyone, the average age of onset is around 18-20 years. Around 50 per cent of those with OCD begin to have symptoms in childhood and adolescence.
It is rare for someone to develop OCD after the age of 40.
Signs and symptoms of OCD
The main symptoms of OCD include obsessions and compulsions that, even though you know they are problematic, you cannot stop them. A few of these include:
Fear of causing harm to yourself or someone else because you’re not careful enough or you’re going to act on a violent impulse.
- Unwanted thoughts or mental images related to sex
- Fear of making a mistake
- Excessive concern with morality
- Feelings of doubt or disgust
- Excessive concern with your sexual orientation or gender identity
- Need for order, neatness, symmetry, or perfection
- Need for constant reassurance
What causes OCD?
Even though experts say they do not know what causes OCD, a few important factors behind the condition could be:
Genetics
According to various studies, having a first-degree relative with OCD is at a higher risk for developing the condition.
Changes in your brain
Imaging studies show differences in the frontal cortex and subcortical structures of the brain in people who have OCD, which is also associated with a number of neurological conditions that affect similar areas of your brain, like Parkinson’s disease.
PANDAS syndrome
PANDAS, or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, are a group of conditions that can affect children who have had streptococcal infections
Childhood trauma
A few studies show an association between childhood trauma like abuse and neglect and the development of OCD.
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