Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes repetitive, unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) or behaviors (compulsions) that compel a person to perform certain actions repeatedly. In this medical disorder, obsessions and compulsions may consume significant amounts of time (more than an hour per day), may interfere with a person’s daily schedule, and may cause significant distress. It is difficult to control the thoughts and behaviors of the person who suffer from OCD.

Every people feel anxiety, fear, uncertainty, or worry at some time. Anxiety, fear, uncertainty, worry are the normal emotions and reactions which help people to protect themselves, stay safe, and solve problems. These feelings generally don’t last long and don’t come too often. However people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), these feelings are taken to extremes. People who have OCD feel strong urges to do certain things frequently called rituals or compulsions in order to expel the scary thoughts, or to try to deflect the bad thing they fear, or to make extra sure that things are safe or clean or right.

In the brain of a person, obsessions take place as a result of abnormal levels of serotonin in the brain. As a result person who suffering from OCD dwells on the same thought and performs certain tasks repeatedly. The anxiety enthralling the mind creates such a person feel that the repetitive execution of certain tasks is necessary.

Primary features of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD):

• Obsessions
• Compulsions

Obsessions:

Obsessions are involuntary, seemingly uncontrollable thoughts, images, or impulses that take place over and over again in mind of person. People don’t want to have these ideas and really they don’t know that they don’t make any sense. Typical obsessions take the form of:

• The need to have things in a particular order
• Constant doubt (which may lead to the compulsion of repetitively checking to determine if something was or was not done, such as turning off the stove, locking the door, etc.).
• Fear of contamination
• Repetitive sexual fantasies
• Impulses to do something that might be considered overly aggressive or socially inappropriate (to hurt someone, or shout an obscenity, for example)

Compulsion:

It is another primary feature of OCD. Compulsions are repetitive acts (rituals), such as hand washing, checking, ordering, and repetition of mental acts that are carried out by people to reduce anxiety caused by the unwanted thoughts (obsessions). Generally, they are executed in an effort to make obsessions go away.

Causes of OCD:

Chemical and brain dysfunction:

Seretonin is a chemical called a neurotransmitter which is involved with biological processes such as mood, aggression, sleep, appetite and pain.  Seretonin has ability to connect nerve cells in the brain in many different ways and so can cause many different responses.

Genetics:

Up to 30% of teenagers with OCD had a member of the immediate family with the problem or with obsessive symptoms, according to one American study. Other studies also showed that if a sufferer’s OCD began in adulthood there is less chance of this person’s children constricting it than if the problem was contracted in childhood, specifically if the latter is the type of OCD that tends to start in childhood (if there are different types).

Infection:

A streptococcal infection of the throat is known to infrequently result in the body confusing healthy cells with the infection and it is responsible for cellular damage. OCD symptoms take place when cellular damage has happened with the brain, the body’s infection fighting system can attack the outside of nerve cells in the Basal Ganglia part of the brain.

Depression:

Depression is also sometimes responsible for developing OC symptoms. Also, people with OCD very often develop depression.

Symptoms of OCD in teenagers:

Obsessive Thoughts:

The development of thoughts that worry the child unduly may be one of the earliest signs of OCD in teens. Commonly, these thoughts will hub on an actual cause and effect, for example exposure to germs and the development of the flu. However, a teen with OCD may become obsessed with avoiding all germs to such an extent that he changes his lifestyle and activities so he won’t be exposed.

Compulsive Behaviors:

Teen may develop patterns of compulsive behavior in response when situations create abnormal anxiety in the teen. For example, if he trembles hands with another person, he may go home and rinse his hands five times with antibacterial soap. He may feel as though he couldn’t complete the necessary cleansing if he is capable to rinse his hands only four times and suffer anxiety over contracting a disease.

Ritualism:

A teen who suffer from OCD may develop a series of rituals in addition to obsessive fears of everyday occurrences. Ritualism may come out in the order in which he eats his food or the path he take home from school. In addition, he may lay out his clothes in a special order before going to bed and be firm upon completing a strange ritual, such as brushing his teeth and walking backwards out of the bathroom without touching the walls. Flouting a ritual can result in distress and anxiety.

Symmetry and Balance:

Uncomfortable feeling may be observed by teens who suffer from OCD when something appears out of balance in their bedrooms, their cars or other places where they spend a lot of time. They may sling similar pictures on either side of a mirror. Also, they do something with their left hand if they did something with their right hand.

Perfectionism:

In a teen, best completion of task according to their ability is a virtue most of the time. However, in a teen with OCD, it is difficult for him to turn in assignments because OCD may engulf his life. Ultimately, this results in a refusal to attend class due to fear.

Additional:

Additional symptoms may be exhibited by some teens with OCD. These additional symptoms include aggressive behavior, and they may develop possessiveness in intimate relationships, fearing a girlfriend will leave them and threatening or abusing her. All these symptoms are not developed by all teens with OCD. An examination by a doctor is necessary to exclude other mental or physical disorders.

Common obsessive thoughts in OCD include:

• Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others
• Superstitions; excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky
• Fear of causing harm to yourself or others
• Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas
• Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images
• Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right”
• Fear of losing or not having things you might need

Common compulsive behaviors in OCD include:

• Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning
• Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches
• Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety
• Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe
• Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear
• Accumulating “junk” such as old newspapers, magazines, and empty food containers, or other things you don’t have a use for
• Ordering, evening out, or arranging things “just so”

Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder:

Both pharmacologic and behavioral treatments can benefit the person with obsessive compulsive disorder. One patient may benefit considerably from pharmacotherapy, while another will benefit from behavior therapy. Both medication and behavior therapy may be also used in some other people for treatment. Some people start their treatment with medication to gain control over their symptoms and then continue with behavior therapy. In consultation with therapist, patient can decide therapy for treatment of the OCD disease.

Child or Teen Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) from youtube: