Have you ever felt the need to wash your hands again, even though you just did so seconds earlier? Or maybe felt intense anxiety over everyday tasks, such as sending a letter and believing you may have misspelled a word. You may feel that this is just a personal issue, but in reality, many people all over the world share the same thoughts and feelings. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or more commonly called OCD, is a type of mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts. This common disorder can be found in nearly every region and culture around the world, so even though one dealing with it may feel alone, the person sitting right beside them could easily be suffering from something similar. One within every one hundred adults, or nearly two to three million adults just within the United States suffer from some type of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Also, they found that at least one within every two hundred children and teenagers, or five hundred thousand in the United States only, also deal with this disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Indications of OCD can occur in children and teenagers, with the disease usually beginning gradually and worsening with age. Symptoms of OCD can be mild or severe. Some people experience obsessive thoughts only, without engaging in compulsive behaviour. Some people who experience symptoms of OCD hide it to avoid embarrassment or stigma. Friends and family may however, notice some of the physical signs. Considering the secrecy surrounding OCD symptoms, it is important for family members to pay attention to early signs of ritualistic behaviours becoming troublesome. When OCD is suspected, a comprehensive clinical evaluation – including detailed interviews with parents and, if possible teachers – is required in order to check the obsessions, sensory phenomenon and compulsions in the case. In younger children, OCD features might appear subtly during play activities or drawing. It is vital to differentiate between obsessive compulsive symptoms and normal childhood behaviour, such as the normal practice or actions during playtime, food time or bedtime. In this context, the information about degree of distress, impairment and time consumed performing rituals should provide enough data to decide whether or not treatment is warranted. Moreover, it is also important to assess insight and the family’s perception of the symptoms, as well as how family members deal with the patient.

Obsessions-

 Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include:

 · Fear of germs or contamination.

· Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, and harm.

 · Aggressive thoughts towards others or self.

 · Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order.

Compulsions

 Compulsions are repetitive behaviours that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought.

 Common compulsions include:

 · Excessive cleaning and/or hand-washing.

 · Ordering and arranging things in a particular precise way.

 · Repeatedly checking on things. Such as, checking to see if the doors are locked or that the oven is switched off.

 · Compulsive counting

Not all rituals and habits are compulsions. Everyone double checks things at times. But, A person with OCD generally:

· Cannot control his/her thoughts or behaviours, even when those thoughts and behaviours are easily recognized.

· Spends at least 1 hour a day on these thoughts or behaviours.

 · Doesn’t get pleasure when performing the behaviours or rituals, but may feel brief relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause.  · Experiences significant problems in their daily life due to these.

Aishwarya Says:

I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.

If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.

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