Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted irrational persistent thoughts, mental pictures or ideas and urges which cause great anxiety. Sometimes there are persistent unanswerable questions. Why is the world here? Why does a chair have four and not three legs? These questions can plague a child for many hours. Most often the obsessive thoughts have to do with germ contamination, dirt, doubts, fear of doing violent, aggressive or sexual acts, or worries about illness. These intrusive and troubling thoughts, although they might not seem that way, are, in fact, usually perceived as irrational by the youngster. Although, great attempts are made to suppress them, the obsessions come back to plague the victim with high anxiety after a period.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors associated with obsessions. Things like hand washing, ordering things just so, checking to make sure that ovens and lights are off again and again to ward off perceived disorder, praying, locking things over and over, repeating words or phrases and counting are also common. Those with compulsions also may have the need to do things an even number of times with each hand, to take a certain number of steps, or to have things “just perfect” before taking actions. The whole picture comes to resemble great superstition, but is simply the attempt to ward off the dangers lurking in the obsessive mind. The OCD syndrome is a source of great distress and sometimes leads to paralysis and despair.
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Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.
