People who do the following may have OCD:
Repeatedly check things before feeling secure enough to go to sleep or leave the house. Is the stove off? Did they lock the door? Is the alarm set?
Feel dirty or contaminated. Example: A woman is fearful of touching doorknobs because she thinks they're dirty and goes to great lengths to avoid having to.
Constantly arrange and order things. Example: A man can't work at his desk because he has to keep stopping to make sure the contents are organized correctly. Or a child can't go to sleep until all his shoes are lined up in a certain way.
Are excessively concerned with body imperfections — insist on numerous plastic surgeries, or spend many, many hours a day body-building.
Fear they will harm others. Example: A man's car hits a pothole on a city street and he fears it was actually a body.
Are ruled by numbers, believing that certain numbers represent good and others represent evil.
Are excessively concerned with sin or blasphemy.
Aggressive impulses or thoughts, for example, being overcome with the urge to yell 'fire' in a crowded theater.
These people suffer obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that one in 40 adults currently suffer from OCD and twice that number suffered from OCD at some point in their lives. About 10% of the first-degree relatives of affected persons also have OCD.
The disorder is two to three times more common than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
OCD is one of the top ten most debilitating illnesses according to the World Health Organisation.
It is not uncommon for people affected by OCD to put off going to the doctor unless they perceive their OCD symptoms as severe or experience multiple problems in addition to OCD, such as depression or panic disorder.
headSTRONG will help you:
Overcome - Overcome your symptoms.
Control - Learn to control your obsessions.
Defeat - Defeat your repetitive behaviors.
What is Obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by uncontrollable obsessions and compulsions which the sufferer usually recognizes as being excessive or unreasonable.
Obsessions are recurring thoughts or impulses that are intrusive or inappropriate and cause the sufferer anxiety. Common obsessions are: contamination fears of germs, dirt, etc., imagining having harmed oneself or others, imagining losing control or having aggressive urges, intrusive sexual thoughts or urges, excessive religious or moral doubt, forbidden thoughts, a need to have things "just so," and a need to tell, ask, or confess.
Compulsions are repeated behaviors or physical or mental rituals designed to relieve the discomfort of the obsessive thoughts (unfortunately offering only temporary relief). An individual repeats these actions, perhaps feeling momentary relief, but without feeling satisfaction or a sense of completion. Some of the most common compulsions are special ways of washing oneself or cleaning objects, repeating actions, touching objects in a ritualistic order, checking locks and car doors, being excessively slow and methodical, and hoarding. Mental rituals include counting, praying obsessively, listing things in your head, and rearranging certain words or phrases in your head. Some more characteristics of compulsions are:
- Cleaning. Sufferers concerned with germs and contamination tend to clean constantly, either repeatedly washing their hands, showering, or constantly cleaning their home;
- Checking. Individuals may check several or even hundreds of times to make sure that stoves are turned off and doors are locked;
- Repeating. Some repeat a name, phrase or action over and over;
- Slowness. Some individuals may take an excessively slow and methodical approach to daily activities, they may spend hours organizing and arranging objects;
- Hoarding. Hoarders are unable to throw away useless items, such as old newspapers, junk mail, even broken appliances; sometimes the hoarding reaches the point that whole rooms are filled with saved items.
- Scrupulosity. For certain individuals, religious beliefs become compulsive, joyless behaviors. The individual may constantly worry that he or she might say or do something blasphemous. S/he may fear that he has committed sin, forgotten it and then neglected to repent for the sin. S/he may spend long hours searching his mind to try to ferret out evidence of un-confessed sins. S/he is unable to feel forgiven.
headSTRONG is ideal for you if…
…you have involuntary, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety.
…you replay distressing images in your mind over and over again.
…you feel compelled to perform certain physical tasks to diminish your anxiety.
…you struggle to suppress certain thoughts or actions.
…you try to hide your compulsive behaviors from others.
…you find yourself having irrational thoughts or performing irrational actions.
About 80% of OCD sufferers have both obsessions and compulsions, but a person may have only one symptom and still suffer from OCD. Ironically, most people with OCD recognize their obsessions are coming from within themselves and that their compulsions are excessive and unreasonable (e.g., checking whether the door is locked five times).
The Hidden Disorder
OCD tends to be underdiagnosed and undertreated for a number of reasons. People with OCD are secretive about their symptoms or lack insight about their illness. Many healthcare providers are not familiar with the symptoms or are not trained in providing the appropriate treatments. Some people don't have access to treatment resources. This is unfortunate because earlier diagnosis can help people avoid the suffering associated with OCD. This lessens the risk of developing other problems, such as depression, marital and work problems.
Secondly, OCD may not be the most obvious diagnosis. Patients often come into their doctor's office complaining of depression or anxiety (about two-thirds of OCD patients have suffered at least one bout of depression in their lives). Unless the physician or therapist is thinking about the possibility of OCD, they won't ask the right questions and the diagnosis isn't made.
Unfortunately, OCD often goes unrecognized. On average, people with OCD see three to four doctors and spend 9 years seeking treatment before they receive a correct diagnosis. Studies find that it takes an average of 17 years from the time OCD begins for people to obtain appropriate treatment.
People with OCD often report that they do not know where to seek treatment. Even when they do know where to go, they may not have the financial resources necessary to pay for psychotherapy or other treatments.
Getting Better
Getting better requires a commitment from everyone involved. Treatment succeeds when there is real motivation to change, and a willingness to push yourself. Because of the shame that can come with having OCD symptoms, one of the first steps is awareness and education. Both the patient and his or her family need to improve their understanding of:
- The nature of the disorder. OCD is a medical problem involving dysfunction of certain brain chemicals. It is not a character flaw, nor a reflection on the quality of the person.
- The role of the patient. OCD will not go away by itself. Patients have to face their fears in order to start getting better. Family support is also key to keeping sufferers motivated to stay with their treatment. Although family members may assume that their loved one's irrational thinking and behaviors should just stop, recovery is in reality a step-by-step process that takes time.
- Treatment options. During the last 20 years, two effective treatments for OCD have been developed: treatment with ingredients that affect brain chemistry and serotonin levels like headSTRONG or prescription medications, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
CBT is not traditional psychotherapy. It helps people change their thoughts and feelings by first changing their behavior. Behavior therapy for OCD involves Exposure and Response Prevention. Patients are deliberately exposed to a feared object or idea, either directly or by imagination, and are then discouraged or prevented from carrying out the usual compulsive response. For example, a compulsive hand-washer may be urged to touch an object he or she believes is contaminated and denied the opportunity to wash their hands for several hours. When the treatment works well, the patient gradually experiences less anxiety from the obsessive thoughts and becomes able to refrain from the compulsive actions for extended periods of time. As therapy progresses, the patient is asked to resist the compulsion for longer and longer periods of time. "Homework" assignments are given so that the patient can practice with real-life situations that he or she encounters at home and on the job. Knowing what to expect during treatment makes going through it easier. For example, anxiety often increases during exposure therapy, and learning that you can get through it OK takes a few trials.
Cognitive Therapy, the other component of CBT, is often added to Exposure and Response Prevention to help reduce the catastrophic thinking and exaggerated sense of responsibility typical of OCD (I stepped on a sidewalk crack and now will be responsible for my mother getting hurt for example). In cognitive therapy, the patient is asked to pay attention to his or her thoughts and beliefs and to evaluate how rational or logical conclusions like that really are. About half of the patients with this disorder improve substantially with behavior therapy. Combined with headSTRONG, CBT can go a long way to improving your life.
The headSTRONG Difference
Because it brings together the safest and most effective natural ingredients which have been clinically proven to improve OCD symptoms, headSTRONG OCDefense is the first and only natural treatment specifically for OCD.
What causes OCD?
A large body of scientific evidence suggests that OCD results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. An abnormally low level of serotonin is the most well-established link between the brain and OCD. Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter that transmits information from one nerve to another throughout the brain. It is released by one synapse (nerve ending), crosses a gap, and is picked up by another synapse. After a message is sent, enzymes in the brain clean serotonin out of the synapses. headSTRONG and prescription drugs used to treat OCD increase and sustain serotonin levels and reduce or eliminate symptoms.
headSTRONG targets the major neurotransmitters involved in OCD, including serotonin. By naturally balancing your brain’s neurotransmitters, headSTRONG provides the biochemical basis that will allow you to Overcome, Control, and Defeat your OCD.
How long does OCD last?
OCD will not go away by itself, so it is important to seek treatment.
Is age a factor in OCD?
Onset of OCD is usually gradual and most often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. In fact, about one-third to one-half of adults with OCD report that the disorder actually began in childhood.
Like depression, OCD tends to worsen as the person grows older, if left untreated. Scientists hope, however, that when the OCD is treated while the person is still young, the symptoms will not get worse with time.
Is OCD commonly recognized by professionals?
Not nearly commonly enough. OCD is often misdiagnosed, and it is often underdiagnosed. Many people have dual disorders of OCD and schizophrenia, or OCD and bipolar disorder, but the OCD component is not diagnosed or treated. In children, parents often are aware of some anxiety or depression but not of the underlying OCD. Researchers believe OCD, anxiety disorders, Tourette's, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can be triggered by some of the same chemical malfunctioning of the brain.
Is heredity a factor in OCD?
Yes. Heredity appears to be a strong factor. If you have OCD, there's a 25-percent chance that one of your immediate family members will have it. It definitely seems to run in families.
Can OCD be effectively treated?
Yes, with headSTRONG and behavior therapy. Both affect brain chemistry, which in turn affects behavior. headSTRONG can regulate serotonin, reducing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Conclusion:
OCD has serious consequences for your home life, your career, your social life, and your overall quality-of-life. Your obsessions and compulsions not only prevent you from getting things done in a timely manner, but they also hinder normal social interaction. You try to hide or disguise your OCD, but it takes energy to maintain and is a constant source of stress.
Good News for OCD Sufferers
The good news is that OCD has a high rate of improvement, and you can start your treatment today. With proper treatment, the rate of improvement may be as high as 90 percent.
The bad news, unfortunately, is that most people wait too long to seek treatment. On average, people suffer with OCD for seventeen years before seeking help!
