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Definition A Cycle of Obsessions
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. OCD occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe, but if severe and left untreated, can destroy a person's capacity to function at work, at school, or even in the home. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an “illness of the brain.” Like many psychiatric disorders, there is a stigma that the behavior that manifests from the condition could be controlled by the individual if they “just go over it.” However, OCD should not be defined as a behavior problem, or a lack of control over one’s impulses. OCD is a medical condition that requires treatment to relieve its symptoms. |