What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder And How Do You Know If You Have It?

The term OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

, is casually bandied about nowadays - "Oh, he's so OCD," we often say, in reference to a buddy who insists on doing things in a specific method. But what is it truly? OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by unstoppable, repetitive thoughts, actions, or both. It's OCD when:

Rituals take over your daily life instead of serving it

Repetitive actions trigger extreme discomfort and stress

You aren't able or willing to stop damaging thoughts or actions

OCD can affect people from all walks of life. It's estimated that one in 100 adults in the U.S. (that's 2.3 million!) suffer from it, as well as about one in 200 kids. It most often begins either in the 8-12 year old age group or in the late teens/early adult years of development.

All of us have routines that help us through our day - putting our keys in a particular place so we don't rush around trying to find them on the way out the door; going back occasionally to see if the burner is switched off. However, when habits become our masters instead of our slaves, it's time to get professional guidance.

Often that support takes the form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This treatment is targeted on what's happening right now, rather than in the past, and shows new ways of thinking and reacting. Because obsessions are thoughts or images that cause intense stress and anxiety and stimulate the compulsive behaviors that serve to minimize that anxiety, CBT is a learned process of interrupting those hurtful thoughts and modifying those rigid behaviors.

If medicines are used in the treatment of OCD, they are usually anti-depressants like Prozac or Zoloft. These medicines can help relieve overwhelming feelings of anxiety and depression so that people are better able to engage in their treatment.

With medication alone, symptom reduction is typically experienced in 10-12 weeks; whereas 12 to 20 individual or group therapy counseling sessions are needed to bring about a decrease in difficult behaviors. Usually treatment is some combination of the two. Counseling can help deal with the root issues; medication helps gentle the journey. As well, lifestyle changes like reducing stress, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting daily exercise, and striving toward a well-balanced life are all excellent self-help techniques.

Either way, you'll know your treatment has been productive if you are able to stop bullying thoughts and out-of-control behaviors and take back control of your life.

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by: Stephen Daniels

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