Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Symptoms, Diagnosis - Research Paper Example

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious illness. According to Hyman and Pedrick (2008), obsessive-compulsive disorder “affects 2.5 percent of the population, most often developing in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood” (pp. 14). Here it will be explored: what is currently known about obsessive-compulsive disorder; how one might learn more about it; and possible solutions in social and political arenas. Many people might be misled into thinking that obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD as it is commonly called, is a personality disorder. However, clinically, that is not true. Toates and Toates (2002) say that OCD i “…classified in psychiatric thinking as an anxiety disorder…” (pp. vii). What is currently known about obsessive-compulsive disorder is that it is basically consisting of two functions: there is an obsession (or obsessions), and a compulsion (or compulsions). The two interact with each other, playing off each other and feeding the fear that is inherent in this disease. For example, some people check the locks on doors over and over in order to ensure that everything is secure. Some people retrace their steps until things “feel right.” Some people have a compulsion with hand-washing, and must rub their skin clean until it is red and smarting. Some people must check that the lights are turned off in their room before leaving. Some people avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk for fear that they will not have good luck. As one can see, these “compulsions” go far beyond just worrying about simple bad luck. These compulsions become the centerpiece of the person’s day, and, clinically speaking, more than an hour focusing on compulsions is part of what is considered part of the patient’s diagnosis. Basically, what is another part of the diagnosis is the necessity of the patient to have to focus on an obsession. Now, an obsession can be almost anything. The obsession itself could be the light. The obsession itself could be the sidewalk’s cracks. Whatever that thing is upon which the patient is focusing so intently, that is the obsession which is problematic for the patient. The patient becomes so intently focused upon this object or thought that it consistently invades his or her mind and makes him or her almost crazy with checking, washing, or some other repetitive behavior or ritual that becomes a focus of one’s daily life. Indeed, Collie (2005) describes the OCD diagnosis as a function of “…mental or behavioral rituals…” (pp. x). These thoughts are relentless. They can take any form and disturb the patient at any point in his or her day, thus ultimately disrupting the patient’s day and causing havoc. One can learn more about this illness through education. It is well-known that these actions and other types of problems like OCD are basically regulated by the brain. If there is some malfunction there, it stands to reap the negative effects. In fact, Giddens (2008) concluded that OCD is due to a hyperactive thalamus, whereby it sends ‘worry signals’ to the frontal lobe unnecessarily (pp. 20). Basically, education is key in obsessive-compulsive disorder. The more that patients are educated, the more that they can recognize their symptoms and be ready to combat their problems. The more ready they are to combat their problems and issues, the more they can seek help when they are having difficulty—whether it be from trusted family members, friends, clergy, or other trusted people in which these patients can confide. Because, having an illness of any type, really, can have a devastating effect on the family. Especially because, what is difficult for the patient is the realization that life will probably never be quite the same again even after treatment begins. The patient will always have to check for signs that there is a problem, and recognize that he or she is performing the ritual consistent with his or her illness. Social and political arenas in which patients with OCD find themselves must be transformed in order to allow them to integrate into society more seamlessly. OCD itself has the characteristic of being a recurring illness. Goodman, Rudorfer, and Maser (2000) state that OCD is “…characterized by sudden, recurrent, upsetting thoughts or images that intrude into consciousness (obsessions) and/or rule-governed acts that the person feels driven to perform (compulsions…)…” (pp. 43). This is not something that is just going to go away, nor go away on its own. Patients with OCD are going to have to be in lifelong treatment for the illness. It is one thing to tell a patient that he or she is not going to have a normal life, but it is a far different thing to tell a patient that he is going to have to manage his or her illness the rest of his or her life. In confronting their OCD problems, “…most patients appear to be more satisfied with a gradual approach” (Swinson, 2001, pp. 262). One of the most difficult problems that the patient will face as an OCD patient is the difficulty being accepted into society. Reintroduction into normal society, especially after the patient experiences hospitalization, will be difficult. Stress management is key in overcoming difficult times, especially in the political arena. People living with OCD deal with a varying gamut of emotions from day to day, and stress is bound to be part of the package deal. Being able to handle everyday tasks and keep myself emotionally strong is very important as someone with this disability. Another strategy some people have found helpful in dealing with their OCD is to take mental action, such as changing the way they think. A few tips about changing one’s mode of thinking include worrying constructively. In other words, one shouldn’t worry about things that may never happen or things one can’t change. For a long time, people worry a lot about their parents dying, because they depend on them financially until they finish school and can get a job. Then it was realized that it is pointless to worry about such things, because one can’t control the future. It is also important for OCD patients to take things one day at a time. That way people will not get angry or upset with the process of certain things—since processes like obtaining a degree can be rather slow-going. In other words, this student’s mental attitude was one of perseverance, and that is a strategy that one must learn to adopt if one is to win this mental battle against OCD. One must admit that one is not necessarily there yet, but one is trying. The piece of advice to take things “one day at a time” can be the most useful help in battling this illness. Most of the fight is centered around living in the here and now, and trying not to focus on the months and years ahead, which is all so inevitable. Taking things one day at a time breaks one’s problems into the manageable chunk of a day in which one operates. Within this one day, this is the day one has to work through. And that is how one tells oneself that it is possible to survive. It is a coping strategy that has worked so far for some people and they should keep using it until something better comes along. Time management is also an essential part of managing OCD. As a student, one knows that one has to manage one’s time effectively or one is going to have an extra stressor to deal with. It’s important to prioritize one’s tasks when one has an illness such as OCD. It is not possible to emphasize enough how important it is to know where priorities are when one is managing one’s time. One only has so much time, so it is key to know what tasks must be completed when. One must designate which tasks take precedence over others. That is not necessarily going to be easy, but it must be decided in order to make your life more streamlined. Many people are guilty of not having had good time management, and some have paid the consequences—doing papers late at night to turn them in the next day, and so forth. But it is really worth having good time management skills so that occurrences like that are the exception and not the rule. Having OCD is a personal problem that can Challenger people to perform at higher levels, since they must strive to do what most normal people do: get up in the morning, get dressed, etc. What would be considered otherwise normal activities for most people are tasking chores for them. In the face of this, people with OCD have tried to develop coping strategies that are helpful to them in order so that they can deal with their illness. These include having a plan for stress management, changing the way they think, and having good time management. These are all ways that they have dealt with, and continue to deal with, their illness. Hopefully, they will be able to continue to lead fulfilled and productive lives in spite of their circumstances. And, hopefully, what is known about OCD, what can be learned, and how OCD can be changed in the foray of the political and social arenas, will help us in our quest to learn more about this illness in order to help others. REFERENCES Collie, R. (2005). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: a guide for family, friends, and pastors. USA: Psychology Press. Giddens, S. (2008). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. USA: The Rosen Publishing Group. Goodman, W., Rudorfer, M., & Maser, J. (2000). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: contemporary issues in treatment. USA: Taylor & Francis U.S. Hyman, B.M., & Pedrick, C. (2008). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. USA: Twenty-First Century Medical Library. Swinson, R.P. (2001). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: theory, research, and treatment. USA: Guilford Press. Toates, F., & Toates, O. (2002). Obsessive compulsive disorder: practical, tried-and-tested strategies to overcome OCD. USA: Class Publishing Ltd. Read More