What is the full form of OCD
OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is an anxiety disorder in which a person experiences recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and feel compelled to perform uncontrollable, repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The person may recognize that the obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational but feel unable to resist them. In OCD, the brain gets stuck on a particular thought or urge. For example, a person suffering from OCD may check the stove 10 times to make sure it is really turned off.
Symptoms
The symptoms can be divided into two parts: obsessions and compulsions. Most people with OCD exhibit both obsessions and compulsions. However, some may experience either obsession or compulsion.
Obsession symptoms:
Obsessions are repeated, unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are disturbing and thus cause anxiety and distress. Some common obsession symptoms, which are mainly obsessive thoughts, are as follows:
- Fear of being contaminated by touching objects touched by others
- Doubts that you have not locked the door and turned off the stove etc.
- Images of hurting yourself or someone you love
- Fear of losing things or not having things that you might need
- Excessively focused on religious or moral ideas
- Distress due to unpleasant sexual images repeating in your mind
Compulsions symptoms
Compulsion symptoms mainly comprise compulsive behaviors which are repetitive activities that people do to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession.
- Washing hands until your skin becomes raw
- Checking door repeatedly to make sure it is locked
- Checking stove or any other appliance repeatedly to make sure it is turned off
- Repeatedly check on loved ones to make sure they are safe
- Counting or tapping objects in a particular way
- Arranging items in a particular order like bead sheets, books etc.
Causes
The cause of OCD is not fully understood. However, it is thought to develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Other factors may include biological factors and environmental or learned behaviors.