Learn about the causes of OCD & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome OCD within New Zealand.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder resulting in intense anxiety & often the need to perform endless rituals.˜Obsessions are recurrent, persistent, uncontrollable thoughts, impulses & images.
What causes obsessive-compulsive disorder remains unknown but common
theories include biological factors, brain abnormalities, serotonin
levels and adverse life events.
Biological factors
– OCD may be inherited and the genes responsible may affect brain
development. Although no specific genes have been linked to the
condition, a person is four times more likely to suffer with OCD if
another family member has the disorder.
Brain abnormalities
– Someone with OCD has an abnormality in the part of the brain known as
the basal ganglia. This part of the brain is responsible for the fight
or flight reflex and if OCD develops it is thought that the individual
believes they are constantly under threat. Compulsive behaviour
develops as a coping strategy to help shake the anxiety and fear.
Serotonin levels
– Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that transmits messages from one
brain cell to another. Why this contributes to OCD is unclear but
serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (anti-depressants) have been used to
help treat the symptoms.
Life events
– Traumatic or adverse life events such as divorce or bereavement may
trigger the onset of OCD in people who are predisposed to the condition
through biological or psychological tendencies.
Someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder will suffer a pattern of
thoughts and behaviour that has four main steps: obsession, anxiety,
compulsion and relief (temporary).
Obsession is
characterised by an overwhelming obsessive fear of something such as a
fear of a break-in to the home. This obsessive fear triggers distress
and intense anxiety leading to compulsive behaviour to reduce the anxiety e.g. checking door locks more than once before leaving the home. This behaviour brings temporary relief until the anxiety returns and the cycle begins again.
Obsessive thoughts common to OCD sufferers include:
Someone with OCD will go to great lengths to hide their symptoms and as
such will be reluctant to seek treatment because of feeling ashamed or
embarrassed. It is important for friends and family not to accommodate
or 'play along' with obsessive behaviours as this will only reinforce
the condition. Confronting the behaviour and suggesting medical
attention is the best course of action.
In the first instance
you should visit your GP who will carry out an initial screening to
assess if you do have OCD. They will question you on your everyday
behaviours and thoughts. If the GP suggests OCD then a further
assessment will be required by a mental health professional. This will
involve more detailed questioning to identify how much of your daily
life is affected by obsessive thoughts and behaviour.
At this point, the severity of your OCD will be determined. OCD severity is classified as either:
*Source: GoToSee.co.uk
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