Imagine A World Where You Can't Control Almost All Of You

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Today I am going to inform all of you about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. Many people have a misconception about what OCD is due to movies and shows, which is why it’s so important to inform the world about the reality of OCD. I’m going to start off by defining OCD, continue on to the symptoms of OCD, and finish off with how OCD affects individuals.

Before I get into the symptoms and effects of OCD, I need to give you an actual definition of OCD. In 2010, the Child Youth Care Forum published an article about OCD. In the article, experts in the field of psychology defined OCD as, “A complex and heterogeneous condition, with wide variations in symptom presentation, associated clinical characteristics, and response to treatment.” Now I know what you’re thinking, that was kind of a broad definition right? Well, it’s hard to define mental conditions like OCD. It’s not just about excessive cleaning and locking doors.

To help you all understand the specific symptoms of OCD, let’s start with the cycle of OCD. It all starts with an obsession. After that comes the anxiety and thoughts about the obsession. Then, the compulsion takes over control of your brain and finally, relief comes. While researching the symptoms of OCD, I found a research article published in 2017 by BMC Psychiatry. The writers that specialize in psychiatry and nursing provided a characterization of OCD that coincides with the OCD cycle. They explained that OCD is characterized by unwanted thoughts/impulses that a patient with OCD feels compelled to do or think multiple times.

Let’s look at some examples of OCD symptoms. So, moving on to the quality of life in OCD patients. A survey analysis indicated that most people felt OCD was as impactful on an individual’s life as schizophrenia and depression. A review article published on April 12th, 2013, by CNS Drugs, researched by members at a mental health institute, discussed how OCD severely impacts daily functioning. This is significant because depression is known to cause major limitations in everyday life, yet OCD patients statistically seem to suffer from role limitations even more. Personally, I have felt the effects of OCD in my life all the time. It’s really the thoughts that cause extreme mental impairment. Overall, OCD is a disturbing and debilitating mental disorder.

To help you understand what OCD truly is, I first defined OCD for you. After that, I showed you all the OCD cycle and detailed out certain symptoms of OCD. Lastly, I told you all about how significantly OCD can impair an individual’s quality of life. Let’s raise awareness of OCD together.

Works Cited

• Pedley, Rebecca, et al. “Separating obsessive-compulsive disorder from the self. A qualitative study of family perceptions.” BMC Psychiatry, vol. 17, 7 September 2017, pp. 1-11.
• Storch, Eric A., et al. “Introduction to the Special Issue: Recent Developments in Childhood Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.” Child Youth Care Forum, vol. 39, no. 2, 5 March 2010, pp. 69-71.
• Subramaniam, Mythily, et al. “Quality of Life in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Impact of the Disorder and of Treatment.” CNS Drugs, vol. 27, no. 5, 12 April 2013, pp.