Behavioral therapy for Anxiety Disorders.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are types of behavioral therapy, meaning they focus on behavior rather than on underlying psychological conflicts or issues from the past. Behavioral therapy for anxiety usually takes between 6 and 20 weekly sessions.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy focuses on thoughts in addition to behaviors. In anxiety disorder treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy helps you identify and challenge the negative thinking patterns and irrational beliefs that fuel your anxiety.

Exposure therapy focuses you to confront your fears in a safe, controlled environment. Through repeated exposures to the feared object or situation, either in your imagination or in reality, you gain a greater sense of control. As you face your fear without being harmed, your anxiety gradually diminishes.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

The CBT helps people change the thinking patterns that support their fears, and the behavioral part helps people change the way they react to anxiety provoking situations. CBT can help people with panic disorder realizing that their panic attacks are not really heart attacks and help suffered people to overcome the belief that others are always watching and judging them. When people are able to confront their fears, they are shown how to use exposure techniques to adjust themselves to situations that trigger their anxieties. CBT is undertaken when people decide they are prepare for it and with their permission and cooperation. To be effective, the therapy must be directed at the person’s specific anxieties and must be tailored to his or her needs. There are no side effects other than the discomfort of temporarily increased anxiety.



The duration of CBT: CBT often lasts about 11 to 12 weeks. It may be conducted individually or with a group of people who have same problems. Group therapy is particularly effective for social phobia. Often “homework” is assigned for sufferers to complete between sessions. There is some evidence that the benefits of CBT last longer than those of medication for people with panic disorder, and the same may be true for OCD, PTSD, and social phobia. If a disorder recurs at a later date, the same therapy can be used to treat it successfully for a second time.

CBT (Cognitive Behaviour therapy) for the OCD and PTSD affected people.

People with OCD who fear dirt and germs are encouraged to get their hands dirty and wait certain increasing amounts of time before washing them. The therapist helps the person face with the anxiety that waiting produces; after the exercise has been repeated several times, the anxiety reduces. People with social phobia may be encouraged to spend time in feared social situations without giving in to the temptation to flee and to make small social blunders and observe how people respond to them. Since the response is usually far less harsh than the person fears, these anxieties are lessened. People with PTSD may be supported through recalling their traumatic event in a safe situation, which helps reduce the fear it produces. CBT therapists also teach deep breathing and other types of exercises to relieve anxiety and enhance relaxation.

How to make the treatment more effective.

The family plays an important role in the recovery of a person with an anxiety disorder. Ideally, the family should be supportive but not help perpetuate their loved one’s symptoms. Family members should not trivialize the disorder or demand improvement without treatment.They must be considerate to solve that problem.
 People with anxiety disorders are benefited from joining a support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Internet chat rooms can also be useful in this regard, but any advice received over the Internet should be used with caution, as Internet acquaintances have usually never seen each other and false identities are common. Talking with a trusted friend can also provide support, but it is not a substitute for care from a mental health professional.
Since caffeine, certain illicit drugs, and even some counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders, they must be avoided.

Only sufferers can understand.

How / What Sufferers Think... Is This You?

1. The sufferers study themselves constantly and are always aware of what is taking place within themselves,i.e how they feel.
2. They look at others around them mixing on with their lives and it's this contrast that can make them feel very alone.
3. They look at others and think: "Why can't I be like them?"
4. They have two voices in their minds:

a.The voice of doubt suggesting the worst might happen. For example, they will faint, collapse, have a heart attack, not be able to continue breathing, die, lose control or go crazy.

b.The voice of panic that is desperately trying to tell them that they are going to be all right, but it never convinces them.

 

The sufferers live in three time zones.

The sufferers live in three time zones:

1.      The present, thinking how terrible they feel.

2.      The past, remembering how long they have been in this state.

3.      The future, thinking: " if I can't recover, how will I going to cope with the rest of my life in this terrible state?"

            4.In their worst moments they may think: "I feel so surprised by all of this, that the struggle has become too much; I am losing the desire to carry on struggling."

This is how sufferers think. However, they do not know that what they are facing is may be the serious bluff they will ever come across in their lives. They have been deceived by their thoughts of the moment into reacting the wrong way to them.The truth is, it is fear of the state they are in that is keeping them in this state.

Symptoms of anxiety disorder in a pregnant woman.

The truth is there are several symptoms pregnant and new mothers may face when it comes to having antenatal anxiety. One size does not fit all, I always say, and one woman with anxiety disorder or SAD may look and sound completely different from the next one. Six Things series we are focusing on the six symptoms of anxiety disorder  that will likely surprise you.

There are some common symptoms in  moms who suffer in anxiety disorder.

                    Brain Fog

                    Numbness

                    Angryness

                    Scary Thoughts.

Brain Fog.

Brain Fog:A serious symptom of Anxiety Disorder.

Brain Fog : Our brains just don’t work as well, when we have serious anxiety disorder. We have a hard time remembering things. Thinking of the right words for that matter. We can’t multitask as well as we used to.During my contest with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder),I used to drive through stop signs, finding myself out in the middle of an intersection before I realized I hadn’t stopped. If your mind is cloudy and clumsy and you feel like you’ve lost at least 15 IQ points since you had your baby, you’re not alone.

Brain Fog:A serious Anxiety Disorder.

Numbness:another symptoms of Anxiety Disorder in new moms.

Anxiety Symptoms in new moms.

Numbness:If you think pregnant women with anxiety disorder are full of strong emotions, sad and crying all the time,and instead you feel nothing whatsoever, you may be surprised. Some of you tell me that you feel only emptiness. You are just going through the motions, doing the things you know you are supposed to do but not really feeling it inside. If you are disconnected from things you used to care about and it feels as if you are hovering over your life looking down on it but no longer part of it, it’s worth talking to your doctor.

Angryness and numbness:another symptoms of Anxiety Disorder in new moms.

Numbness;a symptom of anxiety disorder in Moms.

Angryness:In all the years moms who suffer from anxiety disorder are always most surprised by rage and irritability as symptoms of anxiety disorder,yet so many of you experience this.It may be that everything makes you angry.Your baby,partner or older children are irritating you at a level that you have never felt before.You might want to throw things.You know that you should not be so mad all the time but in vain.You are worried about how crazy and rough you are being with the people you love.

Scary Thoughts:Most significant symptoms of Anxiety Disorder.

Scary thoughts in victim.

Scary thoughts:Most of the people think they are in full control of their thoughts.I know I had no idea whatsoever that your mind could think a thought you did not supposed to do it.Then I got introduced to intrusive thoughts,which are scary thoughts that enter your mind that you don't want and that are very upsetting but that continue to harass you.Often they start with the phrase "what if" as in what if that awful thing happened?It's like walking around nightmares all the time.Intrusive thoughts are a sign of OCD i.e Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

The elaborate idea of Anxiety Attack.

Anxiety attack disorder is very often misunderstood.many sources claim that anxiety attack disorder is genetically or biologically caused,or both because it naturally occurs in families.But research has yet to find any medical or scientific evidence to support these claims.

An Anxiety attack can be explained as a sudden attack of fear,terror or feeling of doom that strike without warning and without any apparent reason.This strong sensation or feeling can also be associated by a number of other symptoms,including rapid hear rate,sweating,light headedness,nausea,chest pain,hands and feet may feel numb,burning skin sensations,irrational thoughts,fear of losing control etc.

The age,gender and duration of Anxiety Disorder.

The highest incidence of the inception of Anxiety attack Disorder occurs in the 15 to 25 years of age range.But people from all age groups can experience anxiety attacks.Many people remember having them as children (Anxiety attacks that occur in childhood are often misunderstood as feeling "sick" or the inception of the flu).

Anxiety attack disorder is more likely to develop in women than in men.However,the statistics may be misleading because men are more reluctant to seek professional help.

The duration of Anxiety Disorder: 
An anxiety attack can last anywhere between a few moments to 25 or more minutes.It's also common for subsequent attacks to follow,causing the overall Anxiety attack experience to last much longer as one episode is followed by another episode.Even though the attack episode eventually ends,it's common for the symptoms and after effects of an attack to linger for hours or even days,depending upon the severity of the attack.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD).

Social Anxiety Disorder is the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by others,leading to feelings of inadequacy,inferiority,embarrassment,humiliation and depression.
If a person usually becomes anxious in social situations,but seems friendly when they are alone,then "social anxiety" may be the problem.
There are some common questions evolved in SAD:

What is SAD?

What cause SAD? 

What are the common situations that provoke SAD?

What are the symptoms of SAD?

How common is SAD?

How is SAD diagnosed?

How is SAD be treated? 

What is the common idea of people regarding SAD?

Is SAD being prevented? 

What is the common idea of people regarding SAD?
The outlook of people for Social Anxiety Disorder is generally well with treatment.Many people enjoy and improve more productive lives by proper treatment.Counseling to improve self esteem and social skills in addition to relaxation techniques,such as deep breathing may also free a person with SAD.

Problems in Social anxiety Disorder.

Elaboration of SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder).

Social Anxiety Disorder,also called Social Phobia,is an anxiety disorder,in which a person has an excessive fear of present social situations.Self consciousness arise from a fear of being closely watched,judged and criticized by others.

Situation in Social Phobia or SAD.

A person with Social Anxiety Disorder is afraid that he or she will look bad and be embarrassed or humiliated in front of others.The fear may be made inferior by a lack of social skills and experience in social situations.The anxiety can turn into a panic attack.As a result of the nervousness,the person endures certain social situations in extreme distress.In addition people with SAD often suffer "anticipatory" anxiety the fear of a situation before it even happens for days or weeks before the event.In many cases,the person is aware that the fear is unreasonable.

What is the common idea of people regarding SAD?

What are the common situations that provoke SAD?

People with SAD may be afraid of a specific situation,such as speaking in public.Moreover, most people with SAD fear in several delicate situations.Other situations that commonly provoke Social Anxiety Disorder include:

Interacting with people in dating,meeting,going to parties or any important convocation.

Eating or drinking in front of others.

Talking on the telephone.

Writing or working in front of others.

Being the center of attention.

Asking questions or giving reports in groups.

Using public toilets.

Situation in Social Anxiety Disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder may be linked to other mental illnesses such as,panic disorder,Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD) and depression.Eventually many people with Social Anxiety initially go to the doctor with complaints related to these disorders,not because of Social Anxiety Symptoms.

What are the symptoms of SAD?

People with Social Anxiety Disorder feel that there is "something wrong" but don't recognize their feeling as a sign of sickness.Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder can be summarized as:

Avoidance of social situations such as in a meeting or in a party.

Intense nervousness in social situations.

physical symptoms of anxiety including confusion,pounding heart,sweating,blushing,muscle tension,shaking,stomach illness and diarrhoea.

Children with this disorder may express their anxiety by crying,clinging to a parent.

Is SAD being prevented?

Sorry to say,Social Anxiety Disorder can not be prevented,but counseling help as soon as symptoms surface
can help make treatment more efficient.

SAD situation.

  

What cause SAD(Social Anxiety Disorder).

There is no particular cause of Social Anxiety Disorder,but research suggests that biological,phychological and environmental factors may play a role in its development.

Psychological:The advancement of Social anxiety Disorder (SAD) may stem from embarrassing or humiliating social experiences in the past,such as being neglected by peers.

Biological:Social anxiety disorder is currently thought to be related to abnormal functioning of brain circuits that regulate emotion.Genetic factors may also contribute,because social anxiety may be somewhat more likely to occur when it is also present in a first degree relative,i.e parent,sibling or child.

Environmental:People with Social Anxiety Disorder may increase their fear from observing the behavior of others or seeing what happened to someone else as the result of their behavior.Further children who are overprotected by their parents may not learn good social skills with their normal class routine.

SAD victim

How is SAD(Social Anxiety DIsorder) be treated?

The most effective treatment recently available is Cognitive behavioral Therapy (CBT).Meditation may also be used to lessen the symptoms of social anxiety disorder so that CBT is more effective.Drugs may also be used.

Cognitive behavior Therapy:The goal of CBT is to guide the person's thoughts in a more rational way and try to stop avoiding situations that once caused anxiety.Therapy may include systematic real life exposure to the feared situation.With systematic desensitization,the person imagines the frightening situation and works through his or her fears in a safe and relaxed environment,such as the therapist's office.Real life exposure gradually exposes the person to the challenging situation with the support of the therapist.

Medication:Different types of drugs are used to combat Social Anxiety Disorder,including antidepressants like Paxil,sedatives such as Klonopin and Ativan,Beta blockers often used to control heart attacks,may also be used to lessen certain physical symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heart beat.

PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) and Events that can provoke PTSD.

 Many people consider PTSD with battle scarred soldiers and military combat is the most common situation in men but any over exciting life experience can indicate PTSD,especially if the event feels unpredictable and unbearable.
PTSD reacts differently from person to person.While the symptoms of PTSD most commonly develop in the hours or days following the traumatic event,it can sometimes take weeks,months or even certain years before they appear.

Events that can provoke PTSD.

Events that can provoke PTSD:

Rape.

Kidnapping.

Sexual assault.

Sexual or physical abuse.

Childhood negligence.

War.

Natural disasters.

Car or plane crashes or road accident.

Violent terrorist attacks.

Sudden death of loved once.

Natural difference between PTSD and normal trauma victims.

The traumatic events that forward to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are usually so frightening that they would nervous anyone.Almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD.When your sense of safety and trust are shattered,it's natural to feel crazy,numb.It's very common to have bad dreams,feel fearful and find it difficult to stop thinking right thing.These are normal reactions to abnormal events.

In danger,it's quite natural to get afraid.This fear indicates many split second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it.This "fight or fight" response is a healthy reaction.But in PTSD,this reaction is nearly damaged.People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they're no longer in danger.

Traumatic situation in PTSD.

Duration of PTSD;Who can be a victim of PTSD?

For many people these symptoms are short lived.They may last for certain days or even weeks,but they gradually lift.But if you have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),the symptoms don't diminish.You don't feel better each day.In fact,you may start to feel worse day by day.

Who can be a victim of PTSD? 
Anyone can be a victim of PTSD at any age including war,veterans and survivors of physical and sexual assault,accidents,abuse,disasters and other serious events.

Not everyone PTSD victims has been through a dangerous moment.Some people suffer from PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is murdered.The sudden death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD:

The symptoms of PTSD can be grouped into three main categories:

Avoidance tendency:
1.Losing interest in activities,i.e convocation,party that were enjoyable in the past.

2.Staying away from places,events that are reminders of the tragic experience.

3.Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.

4.Feeling emotionally helpless.

5.Feeling strong guilt,depression.

For example,after a bad car accident,a person who usually drives car may avoid driving or riding in a car.

Hyper arousal tendency: 
1.Having difficulty in sleeping or having angry outbursts.

2.Feeling tense.

3.Being easily startled.
 

Basic difference between avoidence tendency and hyper arousal tendency.

Particular things that remind a person of the tragic event can trigger avoidance symptoms.These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine and life.For example,after a bad car accident,a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car.This symptoms is not constant.

Hyper arousal symptoms are usually constant,instead of being triggered by things that remember one of the traumatic event.They can make the person feel stressed and angry.These symptoms may make it hard to do daily tasks,such as sleeping,eating or concentrating.

           

Re experiencing symptoms:second symptoms of PTSD.

Flashbacks the trauma over and over,I.e physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating,nervous breakdown.

Bad dreams.

Frightening thoughts.

Upsetting memories of the event.

Flashbacks,feeling like the event is happening again.

Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event i.e pounding heart,rapid breathing,nausea,muscle tension,sweating etc.

Feelings of intense distress.

Re-experiencing symptoms can start from the person's own thoughts and feelings.Words,objects or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing.

Emotional arousal:Third symptoms of PTSD.
Hypervigilence or constant "red alert".

Outbursts of anger.

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Other common symptoms of PTSD.

Other common symptoms of PTSD include:
Feelings of betrayal.

Physical pains.

Depressions and frustrations.

Suicidal thoughts.

Feeling alienated alone.

Anger and irritability.

Guilt or self blame.

Substance abuse.

Symptoms of PTSD.

What is ASD or Acute Stress Disorder?   
 It is quite natural to have some of these symptoms after a dangerous or unexpected event or accident.Sometimes people have very serious symptoms that go away after a few weeks.This is called acute stress disorder or ASD.When the smyptoms last more than a few weeks and becoming an ongoing problem day by day,they might be PTSD.Some people with PTSD don't show any symptoms for weeks or months.                        

Do children behave differently than others at the time of PTSD?

Children's behavior at PTSD.

Children and teens can behave differently and their symptoms may not be the same as adults.In very young children,these symptoms can include:

Forgetting how or being unable to talk.

Acting out the scary event during playtime.

Being unusally clingy with a parent or other adult.

Bed wetting,when they'd be learned how to use the toilet before.

Acting out the trauma through play,stories or drainage.

Aches and pains with no apparent cause.

Irritability and aggression.

Sleeping problems and nightmares without recognizable content.

Somber,compulsive play in which themes of the trauma are repeated.

New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as a fear of monsters).

Fear of being separated from parent.

Losing previously acquired skills,creativity.

How do teens behave differently than adults in PTSD?

Behavior of children in PTSD.

Older children and teens usually behave more like those seen in adults.They may also develop distructive,disruptive,disrespectful behaviors.Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or accidents.They may also have thoughts of revenge.In addition..

1.Symptoms that make it hard to go about daily life such as go to school or work with friends and take care of important tasks.

2.Minimum one re-experiencing symptom.

3.Minimum three avoidance symptoms.

4.Minimum two hyperarousal symptoms.

Is every people affected by PTSD or GAD who goes through the traumatic event?

It is noted that not everyone who lives through a dangerous event gets PTSD.Infact,most will not get that disorder.
Many factors play a part in whether a person will get PTSD.Some of these are risk factors that make a person more likely to get PTSD.Other factors,called resilience factors,can help reduce the risk of the disorder.Some of these risk and resilience factors are present before the trauma and others become important during and after a traumatic event.Dealing with extra stress after the event,such as loss of a loved one,pain and injury or loss of a job or home can increase the risk factor.

Risk factors of PTSD:

Traumatic events are more likely to cause PTSD when they involve a severe threat to your life.the more extreme and prolonged the treat,the greater the risk of developing PTSD in response.Rape,sexual assault and mental torture also tends to be more traumatic than "acts of God" or more impersonal accidents.The extent to which the traumatic event was unexpected,uncontrollable also plays a role.

The general risk factors are:
1.History of depression,anxiety or other mental illness.

2.High level of stress in everyday life.

3.Lack of support after the trauma.

4.Lack of coping skills.

5.History of physical or sexual abuse.

6.History of substance abuse.

7.Family history of PTSD.

Lack of coping skills.

Resilience factors that may reduce the risk of PTSD include:

1.Having a coping strategy or creating a way of getting through the bad event and learning from it.

2. Being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear.

3.Feeling good about one's own actions in the face of danger.

4.Seeking out support from other people,such as friends and family.

Positive ways of coping with PTSD:
Discuss with a person you trust.
Spend time with positive people.
Avoid alchohol and drugs.
Enjoy the peace of nature.Join a PTSD support group.
Practice relaxation techniques.
Pursue outdoor activities.

Confirm your PTSD and seeking help from your loved ones:
If you are sure that you have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),It's important to seek help as soon as possible in a right way.The sooner PTSD is confronted,the easier is it to overcome.Be careful that PTSD is not a sign of weakness and the only way to overcome it is to confront what happened to you and learn to accept it as a part of your past. 

Initial treatment of PTSD:

In treatment for PTSD,one will have to:
1.Address problems,PTSD has caused in your life and relationships.
2.Practice how to cope with and control intrusive memories.
3.Work and fight through feelings of guilt,self blame.
Explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma.

Don't take the symptoms of PTSD personally:Common symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include emotional numbness,anger and withdrawal.

Don't pressure your loved one into talking:It is quite difficult for victims with PTSD to talk about their traumatic experiences.For someone,it can even make things worse.Never try to force your loved one to open up.Let the victim feels that you're there when he or she wants to talk willingly.

The Basic treatments of PTSD:Phychotherapy.

The main treatment for victims with PTSD are Psychotherapy called "talk" therapy,medications or both if it requires.A treatment that works for one victim may not work for another.It is important for anyone with PTSD to be treated by a mental health care.Some victims try different treatments to find what works for their symptoms.

Psychotherapy is "talk" therapy.It involves taking with a mental health professional to treat a mental illness.Psychotherapy can occur one on one or in a group.Talk therapy treatment for PTSD usually lasts 6 to 13 weeks or more.Research shows that support from family and friends can be an important part of therapy.

How talk therapy helps victims overcome PTSD:

1.Focusing on changing how victims react to their PTSD symptoms,such as therapy helps people visit places and people that are reminders of the trauma.

2.Associate victims identify and deal with guilt,shame and other trauma about the event.

3.Provide tricks for better sleep,diet and exercise.

4.Use relaxation and anger control skills.

Talk therapies teach victims helpful ways to react to frightening that trigger their PTSD symptoms.Recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a gradual process.Healing neither does happen overnight,nor do the memories of the trauma ever disappear completely.This can make life seem difficult at times.But there are many things you can do to cope with residual symptoms and reduce your anxiety and fear.
 

Behavior of PTSD victim.

Talk therapy helps victim to improve.

                        

The second treatment of PTSD,CBT(Cognitive Behavioral therapy)

There are several parts of CBT.
Stress inoculation training:This therapy helps to reduce PTSD symptoms by teaching a sufferer how to reduce anxiety.Like cognitive restructuring,this treatment helps people look at their memories in a healthy way.

Exposure therapy:This therapy helps people face and control their fear.It exposes them to the trauma they experienced in a safe way.It uses mental imaginary,writing or visits to the place where the event happened.The therapist uses these tools and ways to help people with PTSD.




                         

Suffered from PTSD.

Cognitive restructuring:This therapy helps victims make sense of the bad memories.Sometimes people remember the event differently than how it happened.The therapist helps people with PTSD look at what happened in a realistic way.

Other treatments and therapies for PTSD:

Family therapy:As PTSD affects both you and those close to you,family therapy can be more useful.Family therapy can be more useful.Family therapy can help your loved ones understand what you're going through.It can also help everyone in the family communicate better.

EMDR(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):EMDR elements of cognitive behavioral therapy with eye movements or other forms of rhythmic,left right stimulation,such as hand taps or sounds.Eye movements and other bilateral forms of stimulation are thought to work by "unfreezing" the brain's information processing system,which is interrupted in times of peak stress.

PTSD self help:tips 1:Avoid alcohol and drugs.

Avoid alcohol and drugs.

When you are suffering from PTSD,you may be addicted to alcohol or drugs.But while alcohol or drugs may temporarily make you feel better,they make PTSD worse in the long run.The use of these things worsens many symptoms of PTSD,including emotional numbing,social isolation,depression and anger.It also interferes with treatment and can add to problems at home and in your relationships.

                                                 

Avoid alcohol and drugs.

PTSD self help:tips 3:Spend time in nature.

Pain of PTSD victim.

Post Traumatic Strss Disorder van make you feel isolated from others.You may be tempted to withdraw from social activities and your loved ones.But it is important to stay connected to life and the people who care about you.

Anyone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be benefited from the relaxation,seclusion and peace that come with being in the natural world.Focusing on strenuous outdoor activities such as hiking,camping,mountain biking,rock climbing,skiing can also help challenge your sense of helplessness andove on from the traumatic event.Seek out local organizations that offer outdoor recreation or team building opportunities.

What is OCD(Obsessive Compulsive disorder).

It is quite natural,on occasin or party,to go back and double check that the iron is unplugged or your car is locked,stove is put off.But if you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors become so excessive that they interfere with your daily life.Like a needle getting stuck on an old record,obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought.For example,you may check the stove twenty times to make sure it is really turned off,wash your hands until thet are scrubbed raw.If you have OCD ,you can recognize that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational but even so,you feel unable to resist them and break free.

OCD Victim.

Just because you have obsessive thoughts does not mean that you have obsessive compulsive disorder.With OCD,these thoughts and behaviors cause tremendous distress,take up a lot of time,and interfere with your daily life and relationships.
                                               

Washing hands of OCD victim

Categories of OCD victim people:

Most people with Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD) fall into one of the following categories:

Hoarders fear that  something bad will happen if they throw anything away.They compulsively hoard things that they don't need or use.

Checkers repeatedly check things (oven turned off,door locked,etc) that they associate with harm or danger.                      

OCD victim

Washers are afraid of contamination.They usually have cleaning or hand washing compulsion.
                                     

OCD victim

Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isn't perfect or done just right something terrible will happen or they will be punished.
Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry.They may have superstitions about certain numbers,colors or arrangements.                       

Symptoms of OCD:

Most victims with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have both obsessions and compulsions,but some people experience one or the other.

Obsessive thoughts: 
1.Superstition,over attention to something considered lucky or unlucky.
2.Fear of losing something or someone you might need.
3.Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
4.Visualizing violent thoughts and images.
5.Fear of happening harm to yourself or others.
6.Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.

Compulsive thoughts:
1.Accumulating "junk or garbage"such as old newspapers or empty food containers.
2.Ordering things "just as it was."
3.Spending a lot of time in washing,cleaning etc.
4.Praying excessively in rituals triggered by religious fear.
5.Counting,repeating certain words,tapping or doing other meaningless things to reduce anxiety.
6.Excessive double checking of things,such as locks,appliances,stoves and switches.

Habit of OCD victim.

Hoarding and other disorders:

The peculiar behavior of accumulating,collecting and keeping things with little or of no use is a common symptom of people with OCD,even if the problem may not be severe.However,people with hoarding symptoms are also be suffering from other disorders,such as depression,PTSD a specific phobia,skin picking,compulsive buying.If your loved one has OCD,tell your doctor about any symptoms of gathering,accumulating junk,garbage or obsessing about losing things.

How common is OCD? 
The disorder usually first appears in childhood,adolescence,or early adulthood.It occurs about equally in men and women and effects people of all classes and socioeconomic backgrounds.

How is OCD diagnosed? 
There is no lab test to diagnose OCD.The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on an assessment of the patient's symptoms,including how much time the person spends performing his or her ritual behaviors.
                                     

Basic Causes of OCD:

Studies have shown that a combination of biological and environmental factors may be involved.In addition,there is evidence that OCD symptoms can sometimes get passed on from parents to children.It passes through generation to generation.

Biological factor:Studies also have found a link between a certain type of infection caused by the certain type of bacteria and OCD.This infection may lead to the development of OCD and other disorders in children.

Envonmirental factors:There are certain environmental factors that can trigger OCD victims.There factors include:
1.Sexual Abuse.
2.Illegal relationship concerns.
3.Illness.
4.Drastic changes in living status.
5.Unnatural death of a loved one.
6. Job or institution related problems.

How can you help your loved one who suffers from OCD...?

You may feel shocked when a loved one is experiencing panic symptoms of OCD,but you may not understand why a normal task could be a problem.If a loved one suffers from OCD affects others,it's a good idea to seek counselling for everyone.Family counselling is a good option for the entire family.Here are more tips to help you someone you love.
 1.Signs of OCD can be more difficult to manage during times of stress and even happy occasions can be stressful.Understanding that a loved one may need extra supports and try to plan ahead.

2.Avoid 'helping" behaviors around OCD,such as helping a loved one avoid things that cause anxiety.Instead it may be more helpful to focus on the feelings behind the behaviors.

3.A loved one who experiences OCD usually knows that their experiences don't make sense.Trying to argue with obsessions or compulsions doesn't help anyone.

4.Every tiny step towards managing OCD behavior can take a lot of courage and hard work,so celebrate every victory.

5.Set your own ares and seek extra support when you need it.Support groups for loved ones can be very essential.