Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a sub type of anxiety disorders. Affected persons tend to have uncontrollable and undesired thoughts that frequently culminate in compulsive ritualized behaviors. Although the patients may understand that their thoughts and behaviors are irrational, they often feel that they cannot resist. There are several things concerning obsessive compulsive disorder Northwest Indiana patients will find helpful if they have been diagnosed with the condition.
Patients fall into several categories depending on the most predominant behavior. Washers are those that are constantly afraid of contaminating themselves. They struggle with hand washing and cleaning compulsions. Checkers have the habit of checking things all the time especially those that are associated with danger if not done. This may include repeatedly checking that the door is locked or the tap water has been turned off.
Doubters and sinners are persons who have a constant feeling of having not met expectations. They are always afraid that they are going to be punished for mistakes. Counters and arrangers worry a lot about the order of things. They count things over and over and arrange them to achieve symmetry. Hoarders form the last category. These are persons who are in the habit of keeping almost everything away as they fear that those things are going to be scarce.
There are a number of self-help activities that can be undertaken to alleviate the symptoms. Relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation help to keep fears at bay. This is because many of the behaviors that are seen in OCD patients are triggered by stressful events. Engage in these physical activities for at least 30 minutes daily. Regular exercise has similar benefits as it helps refocus your mind when the unwanted thoughts arise.
Diet modification is another lifestyle change that can be undertaken easily. Persons with OCD are advised to have heavy meals for breakfast and smaller, frequent meals as the day progresses. This ensures that their sugar levels remain within the normal ranges. Hypoglycemia is a common cause of stress and is something you would want to avoid at all costs.
A number of pharmacological agents are effective in managing the symptoms of OCD. Tricyclic antidepressants in particular are among those that are commonly used. Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include imipramine and clomipramine. These drugs achieve their effect by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain. Serotonin is generally a relaxation hormone. Their side effects include tremors, nausea, impotence and constipation.
The most commonly administered therapy is cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. One of the strategies used here is termed exposure and response prevention. It involves putting the patient in the presence of triggers of obsessive thoughts. They are, however, asked to refrain from the compulsive actions. The second strategy is known as cognitive therapy. The patient is meant to understand that they have to take responsibility for each of their actions.
Family and group therapy should also be offered to these patients. Family therapy helps the other family members to understand the condition better and to develop new ways of accommodating the patient. They learn how best to communicate them and not to judge even if they appear unnecessarily anxious. Group therapy provides an opportunity for affected persons to interact and learn coping skills from each other.
Patients fall into several categories depending on the most predominant behavior. Washers are those that are constantly afraid of contaminating themselves. They struggle with hand washing and cleaning compulsions. Checkers have the habit of checking things all the time especially those that are associated with danger if not done. This may include repeatedly checking that the door is locked or the tap water has been turned off.
Doubters and sinners are persons who have a constant feeling of having not met expectations. They are always afraid that they are going to be punished for mistakes. Counters and arrangers worry a lot about the order of things. They count things over and over and arrange them to achieve symmetry. Hoarders form the last category. These are persons who are in the habit of keeping almost everything away as they fear that those things are going to be scarce.
There are a number of self-help activities that can be undertaken to alleviate the symptoms. Relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation help to keep fears at bay. This is because many of the behaviors that are seen in OCD patients are triggered by stressful events. Engage in these physical activities for at least 30 minutes daily. Regular exercise has similar benefits as it helps refocus your mind when the unwanted thoughts arise.
Diet modification is another lifestyle change that can be undertaken easily. Persons with OCD are advised to have heavy meals for breakfast and smaller, frequent meals as the day progresses. This ensures that their sugar levels remain within the normal ranges. Hypoglycemia is a common cause of stress and is something you would want to avoid at all costs.
A number of pharmacological agents are effective in managing the symptoms of OCD. Tricyclic antidepressants in particular are among those that are commonly used. Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include imipramine and clomipramine. These drugs achieve their effect by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain. Serotonin is generally a relaxation hormone. Their side effects include tremors, nausea, impotence and constipation.
The most commonly administered therapy is cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. One of the strategies used here is termed exposure and response prevention. It involves putting the patient in the presence of triggers of obsessive thoughts. They are, however, asked to refrain from the compulsive actions. The second strategy is known as cognitive therapy. The patient is meant to understand that they have to take responsibility for each of their actions.
Family and group therapy should also be offered to these patients. Family therapy helps the other family members to understand the condition better and to develop new ways of accommodating the patient. They learn how best to communicate them and not to judge even if they appear unnecessarily anxious. Group therapy provides an opportunity for affected persons to interact and learn coping skills from each other.
About the Author:
You can get a complete review of the things to keep in mind when choosing an obsessive compulsive disorder Northwest Indiana treatment professional at http://ift.tt/1Q7Cn3W right now.
#end
0 comments:
Post a Comment