What are the two major symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by two core symptoms—obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts, images, or ideas that won’t go away, are unwanted, and cause extreme distress.

What is the most common obsession in OCD?

Common obsessive thoughts in OCD include:

• Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
• Fear of losing control and harming yourself or others.
• Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
• Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.

What is the chemical imbalance that causes OCD?

Is OCD Caused by a Chemical Imbalance? Changes in the neurochemical serotonin, as well as in the neurochemicals dopamine and glutamate, are likely present in OCD. Indeed, medications like the antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improve symptoms for many people.

What are the 2 components of an obsessive-compulsive disorder?

O bsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) consists of two parts: the ‘obsession’ and the ‘compulsion’. Obsessions are persistent, intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images or impulses (urges).

What are the warning signs of OCD?

Symptoms

• Fear of contamination or dirt.
• Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty.
• Needing things orderly and symmetrical.
• Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
• Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.

How do you calm down an OCD episode?

25 Tips for Succeeding in Your OCD Treatment

1. Always expect the unexpected.
2. Be willing to accept risk.
3. Never seek reassurance from yourself or others.
4. Always try hard to agree with all obsessive thoughts — never analyze, question, or argue with them.
5. Don’t waste time trying to prevent or not think your thoughts.

How do I get out of an OCD loop?

9 Ways to Let Go of Stuck Thoughts

1. Don’t talk back. The first thing you want to do when you get an intrusive thought is to respond with logic.
2. Know it will pass. I can do anything for a minute.
3. Focus on now.
4. Tune into the senses.
5. Do something else.
6. Change your obsession.
7. Blame the chemistry.
8. Picture it.

What does it mean to have obsessive compulsive disorder?

Obsessive thoughts in OCD are often ego dystonic, meaning they’re intrusive, unwanted thoughts that have barged into their heads and are inconsistent with who they are.

What are the genes associated with obsessive compulsive disorder?

Variations in certain genes that provide instructions for proteins that react to or transport serotonin have been associated with an increased risk of OCD. Variations in other genes involved in communication in the brain may also be associated with the condition.

Is there such thing as dysmorphia or obsessive compulsive disorder?

Some psychologists fear that the boom in beauty treatments is encouraging an obsessive-compulsive disorder sometimes called dysmorphia. — The Economist, 11 Apr. 2021 One study of the drug fluvoxamine, used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, showed promise, but was too small to determine effectiveness against the virus.

Why do people with obsessive compulsive disorder comb their hair?

A person can also have obsessive thoughts about engaging in sexual acts that actually repel him or her. Self-image preoccupations – Fear of social embarrassment may drive a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder to comb their hair for unusually long time periods or change their clothes repeatedly.