People Who Suffer the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Essay Example

First and The diagnosis given to the Obsessive- compulsive disorder Background information People usually perceive obsession as something enjoyable, but in obsessive- compulsive disorder obsession is an unpleasant and frightening thing, because people suffering this disease are obsessed with the frequent upsetting thoughts. When people try to control these thoughts they feel huge need in repeating certain ceremonies and behaviors that become coercion. People who suffer the obsessive-compulsive disorder have no control over such coercions, because rituals never end. It’s sometimes normal for usual people to double check iron or gas stove to be turned off when they leave their homes. But people suffering the obsessive-compulsive disorder check things repeatedly and have a need in performing routine actions again and again. Such actions and thoughts are associated with the obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes distress in their everyday life. For instance, people with the obsession of clean things develop a coercion to excessive wash of everything they touch, like car door handle or fruits. They are more inclined to check whether the doors are locked before going to bed. People suffering the disorder afraid of social embarrassment more than normal people, and if caught in the mirror, they may stay in front of it for a long time in order to check of how they look over and over. Obsessive thoughts are created from the performing of such rituals and make temporary relief from the anxiety but are not pleasurable for its “owner”. Sometimes people suffering the obsessive-compulsive disorder have repeated thoughts of violence and harming of their loved ones, they think about performing sexual acts against the others or having thoughts that may break laws or against certain religious beliefs. Most adults with the disorder recognize their actions as senseless, but some don’t find it as abnormal behavior; such includes children who suffer from the disorder. Clients’ background The client, white women Marna (no last name), age- 33. According to the case history, suffering the obsessive-compulsive disorder. She expresses her symptoms of the disorder of fear regarding crowds of people. Marna is also obsessed about keeping things in order and spends hours arranging her dishes in the cabinet. She believes her obsessions is the irrational thing, but the power overcomes it. The obsessive- compulsive disorder has impacted greatly on her life, destroying career of model, thus interfering her personal and professional sides. Marna has the obsessive thinking and thoughts that affect her life. These are the scary things. During the interview, it turned out that Marna’s family was also acquainted with mental illnesses, not the OCD, but others. A referral information As it was found out from the interview, Marna have founded that she had an OCD since she was five and a half. Her whole life she was suffering the feeling of fear, being abducted or kidnapped. Moreover, Marna’s fear over flying and driving a car affected her entire life. The obsessive thoughts in the childhood at the age of 8, the patient was afraid of getting the book from the dark room. Marna’s young years were complicated, because at school she thought she was different with different brain. According to the researchers, the early experience the client had in her life often predisposes a person to have the OCD. When she was thirty one, Marna was diagnosed the obsessive- compulsive disorder. Since that time, she was able to make sense of the disorder she had. The information she got helped to rethink her life, join the groups, learn more about the disorder, how to deal with this and live with it. Treatment Researchers and doctors believe that the earlier people find out for the need in treatment for the obsessive-compulsive disorder, the more successful it will be and the faster person will return to the normal life. Early treatment of the disorder reduces symptoms and destruction the disease.  The twenty five years of research proved that there is a treatment of people with the obsessive- compulsive disorder. Among the preferred treatment there are the education, medication and psychotherapy. The critical role in the protocol there is an education. It is being proved that the well- informed client will be able to cope with the symptoms of the obsessive- compulsive disorder. Proper education will help clients to understand causes and triggers to cope with the OCD. Family members are also get often involved into the educational programs to help their relative with the disorder. It is also vital to know that family problems do not cause the disorder. However, the familiar symptoms can be spread all over the family. In this course, educational programs help families to find the coping mechanisms. As for the medication that were developed during the ninety eighties, antidepressants and anti- anxiety medications help to reduce the symptoms of the obsessive- compulsive disorder. There is a statistics that says that over twenty percent of people, who use the anti- disorder medication have obtained no relief at all and some sixty of patients received some relief. In psychotherapy the cognitive behavior therapy is used to treat the obsessive- compulsive disorder. Doctors find cognitive- behavioral therapy that is called exposure and response prevention to be the most effective type of counseling for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Moreover, such therapy challenges the patient’s thoughts and thus help to overcome the anxiety that is usually connected with them. One of the most complicated things is the ongoing treatment that includes monitoring of the patient, the dosage of medications and effectiveness of medicines use. People with the obsessive- compulsive disorder should want themselves to be treated well and to turn to the normal way of life. As to the client, she is completely aware of how OCD affected her life, but she also knows how to cope woth it. There is no evidence that Marna takes certain medications, which would help to reduce their symptoms. But the knowledge she has about the disorder give her understanding why she should attend the support groups and what relief this participation it will give to her. Nothing is being also said by the client about use of the exposure therapy, which makes the individual to habituate to the stimulus. Researchers state, that this kind of treatment is often provided with the response prevention. Such actions are not very pleasant for the person who suffers the disorder, however, in time it guarantees the diminishing of the symptoms of the disorder. As an alternative to treatment using medications, Marna found cross stitching for her and it can be a sort of psychotherapy for the client. As she stated during the interview, her perfectionism does not overcome into obsession while she engage herself with stitching. If that sort of therapy is good for the client and gives her more relief as she stated, along with the knowledge about the OCD she has, that will be the best treatment for Marna and it will give her more freedom in actions. Current symptoms and behaviors The client has learnt compensatory behaviors. Marna is so obsessed with the safety, that she puts her car on the neutral before the pedestrian crossing. Deferring compulsive actions allows impel to reduce. Thus, Marna also finds her positive relief in cross stitching, because this activity requires careful or almost obsessive actions. She also explains her obsessive behavior as an urge to something negative that makes her to do things, like choosing certain food at grocery and if people are notices around, she wals away, but then comes back to choose again. Speaking about the major OCD things that Marna has, she has pointed on the her uncomfortable feeling about being in the state of fear and anxiety most of the time. Such behavior calls for her embarrassment, however, she cannot do anything about that. It is worth mentions, that the disorder affects the client everyday of her life, for example in the grocery. The same thing is with choosing of other things at the shops, because it takes much time to decide what to take. This also makes her uncomfortable if someone prevents her from doing things, which she usually does because of the disorder. Background information During the interview no information was provided on medical history and the medications the client was taking. There is no data records about the substance abuse history and legal history. It is also unknown the level of education and the current job of the client. However, during the interview, one could notice that the client was talking about her disorder with humor. In their situation, a humor is a sort of coping mechanism for her. Like many people who suffer from mental illness, the client tried to continue to live happy, fulfilling productive lives. Mental status examination The client demonstrated friendly attitude toward the person who asked questions. There were no special features that would point to the OCD symptoms the client has. This can prove that the client is on that stage, when she is completely and much aware about her state and knows how to deal with it. Recommendations It is obvious that people with the disorders are not capable to perceive the world and its beauty as others, they waste time on doing odd things, like with the clients’ situation and spend much time checking things or being in the state of constant stress. However, there is a certain therapy for such people. Not just attending groups of likeminded people or learning the problem is the way out. The best way they can be advised is to find like Marna the occupation, the cross stitching, that will play the role of not only the one that reduces the obsessive- compulsive disorder symptoms, but will be also the work or business for the person. Simply, the client should find the hobby, which will take much time, affords and attention. Besides, it is proved that taking care of others, like pets or other people, in the institutions for elders, for example, will enable her to think more about other things, pay more attention on caring about others. It does not mean that the woman should have a pet at home or leave her current work to take care of elders. Simple engrossment will help to overcome the disorder. This approach can be similar to that used with the kid, who is crying, and to avert his or her attention from the object that makes him or her cry, a caring parent usually pays attention on something else. People with the obsessive- compulsive disorder can be treated like that, when their relatives or close friends will help them to divert the attention on one things redirecting it to other. Diagnostic impression As it was found from the interview, the client lived with the problem for almost all her life. However, the progress in knowing about her disorder and the need in treatment as well as the treatment itself have occurred when Marna was thirty one. Since that time, she learnt much more about the disorder. It will be true to say that she does not feel better, but now she knows what to expect and how to deal with it. There are no evidence, however, it seem as there are certain records about the disorder history, as Marna has already took part in the group gatherings of the likeminded people with the OCD. Summary There are many institutions, organizations and centers today, which are ready to support people with obsessive- compulsive disorder. As it is found out from the interview, the client takes an active part in work of groups made for people with similar problems. She knows about her problems and tries to cope as much as it is possible. What is more important is how she treats herself, that is in a friendly and happy manner she realizes what she has and how to live with that, her close people aware of the problems and also perceive her in a proper way. References Faces of Abnormal Psychology Interactive, 2007. Available from http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/psychology/faces/# Read More