Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition where the person has obsessive thoughts and has to perform some action to satisfy their obsession.
Everyone in this world is a little Obsessive Compulsive. For example, when you are in love, you are obsessed and you have to do some compulsive action, like calling your partner. Some people are obsessed about checking their phones and have to check their pockets for their phones every once in a while to satisfy their obsession.
So, how is obsessive compulsive disorder different?
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a result of an anxiety disorder where the person is so obsessed with the anxious thoughts that they have to check small things which might seem trivial for a normal person.
For example, a person might be obsessed with checking the light switch and they have to turn it on and off exactly 7 times. If they forget the count in between, they will start this ritual all over again.
Someone might have to wash their hands 5 times to make sure they are free of germs.
These compulsions are a result of the “What If” anxious thoughts that are found in all anxiety sufferers. As a result of the fight or flight response, the sufferer has these anxious thoughts in their mind which sound something like this.
What If I don’t wash my hands?
What If I don’t turn the lights of X number of times?
What if I hurt someone?
What if I didn’t lock the door?
These thoughts are a result of your brain analyzing the environment to make sure that the person is safe. Since the sufferer is constantly in a fight or flight mode, their brain perceives danger in the environment and starts analyzing. Since there is no real danger present, it starts analyzing these small things. And if the person doesn’t perform these rituals, it causes more anxious thoughts and may lead to a panic attack. So, it becomes compulsory for them to do these rituals over and over again until the mind is satisfied.
It isn’t the fear of not washing the hand, or not locking the door, that is the main reason behind the rituals, it is the fear of higher anxiety levels and panic attacks that make them perform these rituals every day. Doing these simple actions put the sufferers mind at ease and it slowly becomes a habit which needs to be done every day.
OCD sufferers often suffer in their careers because of their condition since the symptoms of this condition are visual and it may look very odd for a normal person. It should be noted that OCD does not happen without an underlying anxiety. So to fully cure OCD, one must target the anxiety of the sufferer.
