![]() ![]() Most people are diagnosed by about age 19. People usually develop symptoms of OCD as a child or young adult. “There are people who can’t work, can’t go to school, can’t function because of the illness.” “Those terms are just kind of out there in the popular culture without recognizing that true OCD can paralyze people,” notes Fitzgerald. You may have heard someone say that they’re “OCD” about cleaning or organizing. See the Wise Choices box for more signs and symptoms. Spending more than one hour a day on thoughts or behaviors can indicate a problem. This can mean problems with family, work, or school. Many of us are a little “obsessive.” So when is there cause for concern? The biggest sign is if these thoughts or habits are making it hard to function in your day-to-day life, explains Fitzgerald. This could involve behaviors like excessive handwashing or cleaning, arranging things in a certain order, or compulsive counting. People with OCD may develop rituals meant to relieve their anxiety from the thoughts. “But these intrusive thoughts tend to cause them much anxiety.” Kate Fitzgerald, an OCD expert at the University of Michigan. “An obsession is an intrusive, distressing thought that usually kids or adults with OCD are able to recognize as a fear that doesn’t make a ton of sense,” explains Dr. In some cases, these unwanted thoughts can be violent or disturbing. Worries about harm to yourself or others are also common. This can lead to obsessive thoughts about things being “dirty.” Some people may feel a need for things to be symmetrical or in a perfect order. Many people with OCD have a fear of germs or contamination. This can trigger compulsions-the urge to do things over and over to deal with the troubling thoughts. OCD is a mental health condition that causes repeated unwanted thoughts, called obsessions. But for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), these thoughts and behaviors are so severe that they interfere with daily life. It’s common to worry about things like germs or to double check that the stove is turned off. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |