Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Obsessions and Repetitions)
What are Obsessions and Compulsions?
Obsession (obsession); It is defined as repetitive thoughts, impulses, and images that are intrusive and cause marked anxiety or distress. The repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person puts forward in response to the obsessions and/or cannot stop himself from doing according to the rules that he or she believes should be strictly followed are called compulsions. We can view obsessions as thoughts conditioned to anxiety. Under normal conditions, these go off after a while. However, when the person activates the compulsions without waiting for this spontaneous extinction, the emotional intensity of the person cannot decrease, extinction cannot occur and repetitions occur. While obsessions are involuntary, compulsions are voluntary. They have the function of reducing the distress caused by obsessions. People try to avoid experiencing anxiety by avoiding situations that trigger and reveal their obsessions in various ways. In this way, they prevent confrontation with the obsession. From a larger perspective, these avoidant behaviors prevent the person from confronting the feared thoughts, while their compulsions act as a way to stop confronting these thoughts, namely obsessions. The person does not have the chance to observe that the feared possibilities are not realized, and thus OCD symptoms become chronic.
What Causes OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)?
Another explanation for OCD is that the symptoms arise as a result of suppressed unconscious impulses. The person tries to ignore or suppress some thoughts and impulses. As a result, these thoughts turn into obsessions. Obsessions can significantly interfere with a person's normal routine, occupational functions, usual social activities, and relationships with friends and family.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that the person cannot prevent himself from doing as a reaction to the obsession or in accordance with the rules that must be strictly enforced. As an example of these; excessive handwashing, ordering, controlling, or mental acts; Behaviors such as praying, counting, repeating some words silently can be given. When we look at the past lives of individuals with OCD, it is highly likely to be encountered with overly intrusive caregivers, instilled beliefs that their self is bad, dirty and shameful, and with strict toilet training. In addition, it is possible to observe that these people are perfectionists, have an exaggerated sense of responsibility and have a magical/superstitious mindset throughout most of their lives.
OCD is one of the leading psychiatric disorders that cause chronic and significant disability. Some obsessions and compulsions may take a lot of time, and some may reach dimensions that will cause material and moral harm to both the person and the environment. The person is aware of these difficulties and the distress that OCD causes. It can create more tension, especially when the compulsions are discernible to the environment.
The rate of those diagnosed with pure OCD is lower than those diagnosed with another disorder. Depression, anxiety disorders, and various personality disorders are common comorbidities with OCD. The majority of those diagnosed with OCD are individuals before the age of 25.
From time to time, there may be thoughts that involuntarily attack our minds that we all get stuck in. In OCD, on the other hand, such thoughts, which we call intrusion, occur more frequently and more intensely. It also has a self-threatening meaning; perceived as unacceptable and uncontrollable. As a result, the person's sense of guilt is triggered and they show more intense resistance to these thoughts. Insight in OCD is of great importance, especially in determining the course of the disease. A person with good insight is aware that their OCD beliefs are not or may not be true. Bad insight is when an individual thinks that these beliefs are most likely true. In the absence of insight, we see that the person believes their OCD beliefs to be absolutely true.
All of the subjects mentioned in the article can be studied with obsessive compulsive people. If you are looking for an expert to accompany you on your journey with yourself, you can apply to Lenus Psychology.