Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition where a person has repetitive and stressful thoughts (obsessive thoughts) and repetitive behavior (compulsive behaviours). People with the obsessive-compulsive disorder generally engage in behaviors (compulsions) that they want to repeat constantly in order to relieve of a thought (obsession) disturbing them. They feel uneasy psychologically over thoughts and fears or any images they cannot control. This situation will start to disturb them and their environment and their living comfort will also be negatively affected.
As a result of these thoughts, anxiety causes tension, self-repetitive behaviors or stabilized routines to become mandatory.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients stabilize them in order to prevent or eliminate all these difficulties and obsessive thoughts. Obsessive-compulsive disorder patients want to ignore their obsessions and wishes these obsessions to disappear. However, when they learn that this situation will be prevented, they become even more anxious. It can take compelling actions to reduce the stress load on the person. As this situation continues, more strains occur. Although trying to get rid of obsessive thoughts or impulses, it sometimes may lead worse consequences.
The cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder is not fully understood. Biological and environmental factors are thought to be reason to disease.
Effect of Biological Factors
In order for the normal functioning of the body to continue, billions of neurons in the brain must be in harmony with each other. Neurons communicate through electrical signals.
In this case, there is a high level of activity in certain parts of the brain. The brain becomes more active when the patient experiences the symptoms of this disorder.
Impact of Environmental Factors
Individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder may adversely affected by environmental stressors. Changes in environmental and living standards of the individual may cause the symptoms to become worse. Harassment, changes in life, diseases, loss of a valued person, concerns in relationships can be considered as environmental factors.
In general, it is both an obsession and compulsion are usually observed in collaboration. It is also quite possible to have only obsessive symptoms. In patients with obsessive compulsive disorder, it can be easily noticed that there is a high level of obsessions and compulsions.
Patients who have obsessive compulsive disorder may develop rules or rituals in order to relieve obsessive thoughts. However, attempts to control are generally not directly related to the problem to which the fix is aimed.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is generally observed to begin in adolescence and early adulthood. While the symptoms appear slowly, it can then be witnessed that these symptoms change throughout life.