Mental Health Disorder: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

One of the most widely spread disorders across the country these days is obsessive compulsive disorder, or otherwise known as OCD. All types and ages of people can develop OCD, and it can play a large role in how you go about your daily life, and the daily stresses that you run into. Obsessive compulsive disorder falls in with the category of anxiety disorders, and is characterized by persistent routines and obsessions which often results in compulsive rituals done on a daily basis. Some common factors of having OCD is the need to arrange things, compulsive acts of hand washing, and even counting. (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014, p. 1) There are many symptoms that can fall into the category of being classified as OCD. Some people have both obsessions and compulsions, but also some may only experience one factor. (L.Robinson, 2014, p.2) Some symptoms that can be classified as signs of obsessive thoughts include: fear of germs, violent thoughts or images, fear of harm, superstitions, and symmetry. Although these are only just a few, there are plenty of symptoms most involving the action of being afraid of something. Some signs of compulsive behavior can result in excessive double checking of things, counting, repetition of words, organization of things, and even hoarding. I find it ironic that two people of a completely different mindset of what a home should look like, could both have the same disease. For instance, one person can be a hoarder living in a cluttered house, and one person could be living in the most pristinely cleaned home. Although OCD may seem harmless and in some cases even an advantage to one’s lifestyle of not becoming helpless and lazy, there are many risk factors that come with it as well. Obsessive ...

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... may have. Although it seems harmless, it can affect the way a person thinks, their stress levels, the early life of their children, and even how they perform in school or work places.

Works Cited

Lawrence, R., Melinda , S., & Jeanne, S. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)." Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario Division. CMHA, 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

Fontenelle, L.F. and Hasler, G. “The analytical epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Risk factors and correlates” Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry2008 32: 1-15.

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder." Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Royal College of Psychiatrists, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

"Key Ethical Principles." Key Ethical Principles. Ascension Health, 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.