Darrick Robles Did I lock the car? Is the stove really off now? We all know these thoughts in everyday life. In the case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the insecurity increases to such an extent that it eventually determines the lives of those affected. The development of normal behavior into the mental disorder is often gradual, and some live with the disorder for years before seeking therapy. On top of that, there are some persistent rumors about OCD. We clear up the common myths and show what those affected can do against the compulsions.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and/or compulsions . Obsessive compulsive sufferers have internal pressures to think certain things. Although they find these thoughts both pointless and disturbing at the same time, they can’t help but think them over and over again.
Types of obsessions
Fears that something might happen to a loved one Doubts about having understood or done something correctly Aggressive thoughts such as imagining inflicting (sexual) violence on someone Obsessive rumination without coming to a solution Compulsive counting of things that arise in everyday life (e.g the letters in words)
We speak of compulsions when those affected feel the repeated urge to do certain things. If they defend themselves against the compulsion, they experience strong fear and tension. When they carry out the action, the tension drops for a short time – this motivates them to do the action again and again. The disorder can gradually spread to many areas of life and massively restrict the everyday life of those affected .
Types of Compulsions (Compulsions)
Control compulsion : check several times whether, for example, the hotplates are off, all doors and windows are closed, all important papers are in their place are not arranged symmetrically or according to other fixed principles (e.g. adjusting books) Compulsive touch : touching certain things (e.g. any street lamp) or avoiding touching at all costs (e.g. doorknobs) Compulsive collection : piling things up for fear of accidentally throwing away something important
Myths about OCD
“You can tell when someone has OCD.”
Some compulsive rituals can hardly be hidden from the outside world: For example, when those affected wash their hands 100 times a day or come to work late because their need to be in control ties them to the apartment. There are extreme cases in which those affected can no longer leave the house and neglect work, friends and family because they are busy with the compulsions all day. Often the social environment has no idea or no understanding of it.
The fact is : __ Those who struggle with obsessions usually do so unnoticed.__ But that doesn’t mean that the level of suffering is less with obsessive thinking. The biggest problem is that those affected often hide their illness – and the fact that obsessive-compulsive disorders can hardly be overcome on their own.
“Stress is the cause of OCD.”
Obsessions and compulsions often occur when the person concerned is under stress – because that is when they are least able to control the impulses. The compulsion ritual sometimes serves as a magical act that can alleviate the stress symptoms for a short time. In those who are not affected, this often leads to the assumption that stress must be the cause of the disease.
The fact is : Stress can increase the symptoms of OCD – but the causes lie elsewhere. Various factors such as genetic predisposition and disturbances in cerebral metabolism play together in the development of the disorder. The risk of developing the disease may be higher if a parent or other family member has OCD.
“Obsessive-compulsive disorder is untreatable.”
People who suffer from OCD often feel ashamed of it. Some are convinced that there is nothing they can do about it anyway – a fallacy that unfortunately only makes the disturbing thoughts appear even more threatening.
The fact is : __ Obsessive-compulsive disorders can be treated well.__ The combination of medication and behavioral therapy has proven particularly effective. It is most effective to start therapy as soon as possible. During therapy, those affected learn to deal better with the obsessive-compulsive symptoms and to counteract the occurrence of the obsessions.
What to do with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Recognizing the obsessive thoughts or actions as symptoms of a mental disorder is a good place to start. Affected people have to realize that if disturbing thoughts come to mind, it doesn’t help to suppress them. The best strategy is to accept it and let it pass – even if it’s difficult. In the end it’s just thoughts!
Those who suffer from compulsions must learn to defend themselves against the compulsion in the long term. A good exercise when you are compulsive to wash, for example, would be to allow yourself to make mistakes in other areas of your life and to endure insecurities . Self- help groups also help to deal with the disorder: those affected learn that they are not alone with their problem and receive first-hand self-help tips.
The path to therapy
In the beginning it can take a lot of effort to confide in another person. Just the thought of talking to a therapist about compulsions can be quite frightening. But here it is particularly worthwhile to jump over one’s own shadow: Because the best remedy for obsessive-compulsive disorders remains behavioral therapy. In therapy, under guidance, those affected learn step by step how to endure threatening situations without giving in to their compulsions. Various methods such as exposure, habituation and relaxation techniques are used.
If you are affected by compulsive thoughts or actions yourself, contact a person you trust and get medical advice . The sooner the better: Your doctor is a good first point of contact if you want to start therapy. He or she will be happy to explain to you which treatment options are suitable for you.
