Surveys revealed that one in forty people currently suffer from OCD, and the number is increasing every year. Today, it’s even estimated that one in a hundred kids have OCD. OCD is spreading very rapidly than ever before.
If someone is suffering from an anxiety disorder like OCD. In that case, these feelings don’t go away and often develop into symptoms that, if untreated, can interfere with job performance, relationships, schoolwork, and even basic functioning.
Fortunately, an OCD diagnosis does not have to limit someone’s potential. Many people start to live everyday lives after successfully managing their OCD. So, you don’t need to worry if you or your loved one has been diagnosed with OCD. There is hope.
In this article, we will explore what exactly OCD is? It’s symptoms and causes and different treatment options.
What is OCD?
OCD is short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental disorder that involves unwanted intrusive thoughts followed by feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and even occasional panic. The condition causes the individual to get stuck in a cycle of compulsion and obsession that impacts how they think and behave.
It is not just an occasional obsessive thought or behavior. People suffering from OCD usually struggle with compulsion and obsession, or both daily. If unaddressed on time, these can affect many aspects of someone’s personal and professional life.
Explore the Four Types of OCD
OCD is broken up into four categories, with patients having one or more of these common conditions. The four types of OCD accepted by mental health professionals are:
- Washing
Washing and the general fear of contamination and germs are common OCD traits. A person dealing with this type of OCD will constantly feel that they have touched something covered in germs and feel the need to wash it over and over. Most often, it led to skin problems from too much washing.
2. Checking
The OCD trait of checking causes a patient to feel the need to make sure that doors are closed, things are turned off, unplugged, etc. Someone suffering from this may have to re-check something that they just checked only minutes ago. The patient may have to check the same thing repeatedly without finding any relief from the feeling that is causing the checking behaviour.
3. Symmetry
Symmetry is another common trait of OCD that causes a person to feel the need for objects to be kept and placed in a specific (very organized) manner. Things must be kept in a way that faces specific compass directions, straight lines, and many other rules. If things are not in proper order, the sufferer will feel the compulsive need to put them back in order or the “right” way.
4. Thoughts of accidental harm
It is another common symptom of OCD when a patient suffers from repetitive thoughts of accidental harm to others or even themselves. Most often, people who suffer from this will have to stop the car after every few minutes and get out to check and make sure that they didn’t run anyone over.
Causes of OCD
While some professionals think that causes of OCD isn’t fully understood, others disagree and claim that certain events in early childhood or adulthood could be responsible for a person’s OCD.
There a lot of theories on what may cause OCD. Some of the common ones are a combination of some or all of the following:
- Neurological Factors
- Genetic Factors
- Cognitive-behavioral Factors
- Environmental Factors
It is believed that compulsions are generally learned behaviors. And they can become repetitive if they become associated with relief from the anxiety and the negative feelings
Most likely, the combination of the factors mentioned above is the root causes of OCD. However, some people have a firm belief that parents can’t cause OCD in their Kids due to some flaw in their upbringing. You can’t cause OCD in your kid by only talking to them in the wrong way or incorrectly disciplining them. But stress could make OCD symptoms more worsen in a child who is already predisposed to the condition.
Common treatment options for OCD
Anyone with OCD who is considered above a mild level should seriously think of some treatment for their OCD. People with above mild OCD may even see temporary improvements in their symptoms, but they often worsen over time.
Today, there are more options for OCD help online, making treatment available to more people than ever before
The most common treatments for OCD are antidepressants, medications, and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). It is worth remembering that medications alone are very rarely known to stop your OCD symptoms.
Professionals consider CBT and talk therapy as the best line of treatment for clearing up a patient’s OCD symptoms altogether.
Today, a wide range of modern therapy platforms offer OCD treatment online, conducted by experienced therapists.
Why is Online therapy better than Face to Face therapy?
Online OCD therapy is becoming known for being very effective, much more affordable, and more convenient for many people.
Here are few main advantages of online therapy for OCD:
- Availability – online therapy offers far more flexibility. You won’t need to schedule a meeting with your therapist well ahead of time. It allows you to talk to your therapist at any time.
- Access to licensed professionals – your therapist is always an authentic, licensed professional. You can get the same level of professional therapy from the comfort of your home.
- Less expensive – online therapy is less costly than other traditional counseling. Online therapy platforms tend only to charge a fraction of what traditional therapists charge.
- Confidentiality – not only is online counseling confidential; it’s nearly anonymous. Therapists never need to see you face to face. And if you don’t like your therapist, you can quickly and anonymously switch to another therapist with no awkwardness.
Final Thoughts
Today, you have so many options for professional online therapy platforms. But whether you choose Online Therapy, Talkspace, Betterhelp, or some other online counseling platform, remember that it takes time for any therapy program to be effective with OCD. You will have to stick with your online therapy. It’s not an overnight cure.
Currently residing in Arizona, John shares his home with two beloved pets - a very cute dog and a cat. Although they don't always see eye-to-eye, John's furry companions bring him joy and inspiration, serving as a constant reminder of the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships.
With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to quality, John is a true asset to the counselingreviews.com team. Whether he's writing about the latest research on mental health or offering practical advice for managing stress, John's expertise and insight are always in high demand.
If you're looking for well-researched and informative content that can help you improve your mental and emotional well-being, be sure to check out John's articles on counselingreviews.com. His writing is sure to provide you with the guidance and inspiration you need to overcome life's challenges and achieve your goals.
- Betterhelp Australia: Benefits, Costs, Payment options - April 5, 2023
- How to Get a BetterHelp Refund? - March 8, 2023
- BetterHelp Couples Therapy, Cost & Its Benefits - March 3, 2023
