Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Facts

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Facts Imagine for a moment that you leave the room and turn off the light switch on your way out. Then, you are grabbed and forced to go back and turn the light switch back on and off again. Just as you are walking away, the same thing happens. Now you get an idea of what being OCD can be like. Of course, there is no real physical force making you repeat rituals. To a person that suffers from OCD, the need to repeat procedures, or to check and recheck is so great, it is as if a huge hand is guiding you and forcing you to do these certain steps.

Related: Things to Expect on a Holiday Shift A Patient's Perspective Per Jane DoeI can tell you firsthand what dealing with OCD is like, because I was diagnosed with it. I was embarrassed and ashamed, I was a teacher after all, I help children, I don’t have “conditions” myself. I especially don't have conditions that have no logic, right? Wrong! I am able to control my symptoms of OCD for the most part, people around me are unaware that this has ever been a problem for me, but it has. Here are some circumstances that led up to my finally admitting I needed some help to deal with this problem.  Germs were, and still are to some point, a concern to me. During a news segment I happened to be watching, they interviewed tailgaters at a football game. It was September, still very warm, around 85-90 degrees. The people on tv being interviewed had several varieties of meat on the tailgate of their truck, which they planned to grill later. This was none of my business, I don't know these people, they appear to be intelligent adults, in fact I don't even like football! However, that meat sitting out in the warm sun, with no refrigeration bothered me to the point I was obsessed with it all day. I simply could not let this go for quite some time, very typical for OCD sufferers, I suppose.  Organization is often a positive aspect of OCD, however, sometimes to extremes, which is how I do things. A railroad crossing on my way home has a crossing bar, with large cables that resemble old fashioned coiled phone cords. I got out of my vehicle and straightened that cord out every day, only to find it the same the following day, I could not let that go. Then one day I received a citation from the railroad, surveillance cameras captured my interactions, and it appeared in our local newspaper. That was my wake up call, something had to change.”

These instances are typical of OCD sufferers. You know in your mind it is not logical, makes no sense, and yet you are compelled to do it. As “Jane Doe” spoke, she continuously organized everything on the table in front of her, as she cried. She did say that she had the OCD tendencies controlled approximately 80%, thanks to the medication she now takes, and she is currently continuing modification therapy. This is a fairly typical case of someone suffering from OCD, they simply lack the control to let things go, or to correct things into a place they see as appropriate.

Related:

Therapy Pets and Service Dogs

Understanding OCD It may be difficult to understand and relate to a person that suffers extreme OCD, however, consider what the person is going through, no one wants to live like this, it's just not a choice, it's a condition. It's easy to get impatient with someone that suffers from OCD, their routine and rituals can often cause them to be late for important events. Most people with OCD realize their condition impacts family and friends, which often adds stress to the picture, which in turn can escalate more symptoms of OCD. OCD – Brain Connection Doctors agree that OCD in most cases is a chemical imbalance within the brain. Because of this, medication is the first choice of treatment for OCD patients. The medication works to balance the neurons in the brain, with the optimal goal being to control the OCD symptoms. Once the correct medication is determined, the success in treatment is about 85%. Most recommendations are to combine therapy with medication and it will improve the success rate of controlling the symptoms.

OCD Medications  Zoloft is the preferred medication in most cases. Patients will not see immediate results with Zoloft, it can take several weeks to reach appropriate levels. The usual starting dose of Zoloft is 50 mg, and dosage can go up to 200 mg if needed.  Lexapro is a drug that is also used to treat OCD. Lexapro has minimal side effects and is also used to treat depression.  Additional drugs to treat OCD include, Effexor, Cymbalta, and in extreme cases Abilify.

When working with a patient that has obsessive compulsive disorder, be realistic in expectations, as many times the diagnostic equipment or the concern over germs may put the patient in a state of anxiety. In most cases, once diagnosed, and treatment has begun, you will notice a marked improvement in the patient's condition.

Related: Leading Nurse Educator Joan Miller, RN, CRNP, PhD, Professor Emeritus to be Published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare as New Member of the International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter