What is OCD

Obsesive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is a type of anxiety disorder, the disease is potentially disruptive and trapping people in a cycle of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD is disturbed by stress, shadow of fear or recurrent (obsessions) that they have no control. Anxiety / anxiety generated by these thoughts lead them to the urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsion). The compulsive rituals conducted in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make the mind is lost.

Although this ritual can reduce anxiety temporarily, but the person must perform the ritual again when the obsessive thoughts come back. OCD cycle can be very much time consuming and significantly interferes with normal activities. People with OCD may realize that thoughts are obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable or unrealistic, but they were not able to stop it.
What are the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

The symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can vary. Symptoms commonly found obsession is:

     Fear of dirty or contaminated by germs.
     Fear of harming others.
     Fear of making a mistake.
     Fear of embarrassment or social behavior can not be accepted by society.
     Fear of thinking evil or sinful.
     Need neatness, balance or accuracy.
     Excessive doubt and the need to always be believed.

While the symptoms of compulsions include:

     Repeatedly shower , flush or wash hands.
     Refusing to shake hands or touch the door handle.
     Repeatedly checking the same things, such as locks or stoves.
     Continue counting, either in the mind or spoken aloud while performing routine tasks.
     Organize items in a certain way on an ongoing basis.
     Consuming foods in a particular order.
     Stuck on words, images or thoughts, which normally interfere, that can disrupt sleep.
     Repeating the words, sentence or a particular prayer.
     Perform the same task many - times.
     Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value / meaning.

What Causes Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

The exact cause of OCD is not fully understood, but studies have shown that a combination of biological and environmental factors are involved.

Biological factors: The brain is a very complex structure. The brain contains billions of nerve cells called neurons and have to communicate and work together for the body to function normally. Neurons communicate via electrical signals. Special mediator, called neurotransmitters, help move the electrical messages from neuron to neuron. Studies have found an association between low levels of neurotransmitters, called serotonin, with the occurrence of OCD. Additionally, there is evidence that serotonin imbalance can be passed down from parents to children. This means that OCD can be inherited.

Certain areas in the brain may also be affected by an imbalance of serotonin, that trigger the onset of OCD. This problem seems to involve the brain pathways that connect brain regions that serve as assessment and planning, with areas of the brain that receives messages for the movement of the body.

Studies have also found an association between infection by the bacterium Streptococcus with OCD. These infections, if repeated and untreated, can lead to the onset of OCD and other disorders in children.

Environmental Factors: There are environmental factors that can trigger OCD in people who have OCD tendencies. Environmental factors can also aggravate the symptoms and include:

     torment
     Changes in living conditions
     diseases
     The death of a loved one
     Problems or changes related to work and school
     Problems in relationships.

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