Free Essays, Term Papers, Research Papers at Anti Essays

I do not have an Obsession:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
About one out of every four people will have obsessive-compulsive disorder some time in their lives. It occurs among men and women, all ages, and all ethnic groups. Many people with the disorder try to hide their condition from other people. Yet they are unable to avoid their compulsions.
Most people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions. Some people may have either obsessions or compulsions. The extent to which OCD affects a person's daily life varies. Some people are barely bothered. Others are troubled by their obsessions. They may spend most of the day carrying out their compulsive behaviors.
An obsession is an irrational thought that occurs again and again. A compulsion is a behavior that is performed repeatedly to protect against an obsession. Some common compulsions are excessive washing of things, housecleaning, and touching, counting, or arranging objects.
Patients with OCD recognize that their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational but even so, they feel unable to resist them and break free
Because the brain gets stuck on a particular thought or urge.
The causes of OCD are not really understood as of this point but researchers are learning more and more about the disorder. Most of the research has shown that neurotransmitters serotonin appears to play an very important role in OCD.
The Effects OCD has on a person’s body varies depending on which type of obsession they have such as if the person washes their hands too often they have the possibility of having dry, red or raw skin. The effects may cause harm to ones self if not treated.
Treatments are available through three ways Cognitive-behavior treatment, Medication treatment, & Electroconvulsive treatment, which have all been proven to work.