The obsessive compulsive and cleaning disorder, main characteristics

What happens when unwanted thoughts or repetitive behaviors take control? People who are distressed due to recurring, unwanted and uncontrollable thoughts, or who feel driven to repeat specific behaviors They can suffer an obsessive compulsive disorder.

Thoughts and behaviors that characterize this disorder can interfere with daily life, but treatment can help people control their symptoms.

Content

• What is obsessive-compulsive disorder or TOC?
  • Definition
  • Age of appearance
• What are the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
  • The obsessions
  • Compulsions
  • How do I know if it is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
• What is its duration?
• When order and cleaning are an obsession
  • Resources

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder or TOC?

Definition

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a Chronic disorder (lasting) frequent that is characterized by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions) that can lead to people to have repetitive behaviors (Compulsions).

While there are times when people care or feel the need to review things again, The symptoms associated with this disorder are serious and persistent. These symptoms They can cause anguish and give rise to behaviors that interfere with everyday activities.

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder can Feel the need to review things repeatedly or perform routines for more than an hour a day as a way to achieve temporary relief of anxiety.

If the symptoms of the disorder are not treated, these behaviors can interrupt work, school and personal relationships, and can also cause feelings of anguish.

Age of appearance

The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder They tend to appear during childhood, at approximately 10 years, or in young adulthood, around 20 to 21 years, And often appear before in boys who in girls.

In most people, this disorder is diagnosed at the beginning of adulthood.

What are the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder They may have obsessions, compulsions or both.

The obsessions

The obsessions They are thoughts, impulses or mental images that are repeated and cause anxiety. Common obsessions include:

• Be afraid of germs or contaminate;
• Anxiety to forget, lose or miss something;
• Feel fear of losing control over your own behavior;
• Have aggressive thoughts towards others or oneself;
• Have unwanted, prohibited thoughts or taboos related to sex, religion or any damage;
• Wish to have symmetrical things or in perfect order.

Compulsions

The Compulsions They are repetitive behaviors that a person feels the need to do in response to obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:

• Clean or wash your hands excessively;
• Order or organize articles in a particular and precise way;
• Repeatedly check things, such as making sure the door is closed or that the oven is off;
• Count compulsively.

How do I know if it is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Not all rituals or habits are compulsions. There are times when all people check things again.

In general, people with this disorder:

• They cannot control their obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, even when they recognize that these thoughts or behaviors are excessive.
• They dedicate at least an hour a day to these obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors.
• They do not feel pleasure when performing compulsive behaviors or rituals, But they can feel a brief relief of anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts.
• They experience significant problems in their daily life Due to these thoughts or behaviors.

What is its duration?

The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder may disappear and reappear, decrease over time or worsen. People with this disorder can try to help when avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or by consuming alcohol or drugs to calm down.

Although most adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder recognize that their compulsive behaviors make sense, it is possible that some adults and most children do not realize that they are out of the common.

In general, parents or teachers recognize the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children.

If you think you or your child can have this disorder, talk to a medical care provider about possible symptoms. If not, the obsessive-compulsive disorder can interfere with all aspects of life.

When order and cleaning are an obsession

While it is true that clean , for people who suffer, in a disorder that negatively affects their well -being.

Convert the tasks of order and cleanliness in an obsession and also cause in their environment.

They are people who are obsessed with cleaning and order.

These people end up being very uncompromising with themselves and also with their surroundings because they end up not letting other people do anything: they do not allow cleaning, but they also do not allow dirty. Thus, coexistence is tremendously complicated.

They are people who They need to clean the house every day, maintain the same disposition of things in the same place, they feel discomfort if they find a dust motor or something differently than they expected, etc.

Many of the people with obsessive compulsive disorder show anguish in the idea of ​​having dirt or germs, For example, in the hands, or those parts of the body very exposed to external pollutants.

This increases concern and can create irrational thoughts, which are related to the type of magical thinking. In this way, some people can develop superstitious thoughts that cause them anxiety if they do not perform certain acts in order to reduce their anxious symptoms.

Resources

• KNOCK KNOCK! What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
• NIMH website
• Medlineplus of the National Library of Medicine