All About OCD

The main symptoms of OCD are recurrent ideas or behaviours that are unwanted and that may appear to be pointless. People with OCD usually have a good sense of reality and readily admit that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, absurd or superstitious. They are unable to stop themselves from yielding to these impulses, however, and become so completely absorbed in the obsession or compulsion that they think of nothing else until they have finished. If they are forcibly interrupted from completing their thought or behaviour, they usually experience considerable anxiety.

People with OCD tend to be stiff and formal in demeanor, precise and orderly about tasks, and overly concerned about conforming to social norms. They also tend to be intellectual rather than emotional in expression and are notably deferential to others. When they speak, they often qualify potentially assertive statements so as to make them less offensive. At the same time, people with OCD may be prone to lengthy monologues about subjects of interest, and they will continue to discourse even if the listener tries to interrupt or change the subject.

OCD seems to worsen during pregnancy in some women. In others, pregnancy triggers symptoms of OCD that never before existed. After delivery some women seem to develop OCD as a form of postpartum psychiatric disorder. These women often have unwanted and intrusive thoughts of harming their baby. Perhaps as a result of these impulses, women with OCD tend to have trouble bonding with their infants and try to avoid situations, such as bathing the infant, in which they might try to enact their fantasies. Sometimes obsessive-compulsive symptoms accompany other psychiatric changes such as depression which may appear in the weeks or months after the birth of a baby.

Treatment of OCD
Many people with OCD respond well to antidepressants or other drug therapy, often in combination with cognitive or other forms of behavioural psychotherapy. In women with postpartum OCD or OCD that has been exacerbated by pregnancy, the antidepressants Prozac(fluoxetine), Zoloft(sertraline), or Paxil(paroxetine) seem to be particularly effective, especially if combined with psychotherapy. in women who also have symptoms of depression, tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline(Elavil) or desipramine(Norpramin) may also help. Since very little is understood about OCD in these women, however, the final word about effective treatment must await results of the various studies.

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Obssessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Facts about OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)is a chronic or long-term illness. Although unrecognized by most people, OCD affects many people. Because the symptoms are so severe, OCD can be devastating. Anxiety is the most prominent symptom of OCD. Patients often cannot maintain emotional and social relations, have difficulty coping with daily life events, and have problems studying or working. Consequently, they face emotional and economic losses.

Symptoms of OCD vary with each person and include the following:

Obsessive thoughts

• Fear of dirt or germs or overconcern about body smells/secretions or the proper functioning of the body

• Overconcern with order, neatness, and exactness

• Fear of thinking bad thoughts or doing something embarrassing

• Constantly thinking of certain sounds, words, or numbers or a preoccupation with counting or checking

• Constant need for approval or the need to apologize

• Fear that something terrible will happen or fear of harming yourself or someone else
• Disturbing thoughts of violence. Sometimes the sufferer's violent thoughts will be directed toward themselves or loved ones.

Compulsive behaviors

• Constant hand washing due to an extreme fear of contamination, showering, or brushing teeth or the overuse of items to hide body smells

• Constantly cleaning, straightening, and ordering certain objects

• Excessive repetition of a procedure or ritual -- Repeatedly checking zippers and buttons on clothing; Checking lights, appliances, or doors again and again to be sure they are turned off or closed; Repeating certain physical activities, such as sitting down and getting up from a chair; Religious rituals, such as constant silent praying

• Hoarding, which is the constant saving of useless items. The homes of OCD sufferers who hoard maybe become piled with garbage, because some people cannot even stand to throw away empty boxes and containers.

• Asking the same question or saying the same thing over and over -- A word or phrase, repeated mentally. This also applies to music. A sufferer may have a song repeated in their head for days or weeks.

• Avoiding public places or taking extreme measures to prevent harm to yourself or others

• Constant need for symmetry of objects.

Sometimes the disorder progresses because it is not diagnosed and therefore not treated. Sometimes the patient believes it will spontaneously go away, but it rarely does. Sometimes the patient, family, and friends deal with the symptoms in a way that is not helpful and in fact very often destructive. With proper treatment, however, the chances of recovery are good. Treatments found to be successful include behavioural and cognitive therapy and drug therapy. Following treatment, patients can function once again. They can recover their losses and join the mainstream. Those with OCD should never give up.

The Nervous System

Complex processes that need precise movements such as sewing, are made possible by the sophistication of the nervous system.

The human body contains at least two major communication systems. Once is the nervous system, which transmits by rapid traveling chemical-electrical signals, and processes information in exquisitely elaborate networks of nerve cells called neurons. The other is the system of endocrine glands that communicates by blood-borne chemical messengers called hormones.

The nervous system is conceptually divided into two major parts, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord enclosed in the bony protective sheaths of the skull and the spinal column. The peripheral nervous system extends throughout the body outside the brain and spinal cord.

The central nervous system analyses and initiates responses. Sensory nerves around the boy gather information and carry response signals through nerve cells back to the CNS. Motor nerves take instructions from the brain and spinal cord out to muscles to initiate movement. Autonomic nerves control functions like sweating, heart rate and sexual arousal.



The brain is the body's control centre and the largest organ of the central nervous system. It receives, sorts, interprets, and stores sensations and information from the nerves that extend from the CNS to every part of the body.

The peripheral nervous system, comprised of all parts of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord, includes the enteric, somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The enteric nervous system controls visceral functions. The somatic nervous system consists of the motor and sensory nerves and their bodily counterparts. The autonomic nervous system is important in maintaining survival and is divided into two complementary and "antagonistic" branches. The sympathetic branch involves the "fight or flight" functions that prepare the organism for activity. The parasympathetic branch relaxes the body and conserves energy.

Many problems associated with the nervous system can ease with the use of magnesium. Magnesium is known to have a powerful calming effect on the nervous system. For effective functioning of our body enzymes, they need the presence of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is a cause of many problems and diseases in man. This includes osteoporosis; muscle dysfunction; depression; apathy; cardiac arrythmia; hypertension; atherosclerosis; and even stress and aging. For optimum functioning of our nervous system, we should eat more fruits, vegetables, healthy meat and take supplements such as magnesium gluconate or magnesium vitamin. Researchers suggest that for every 2.2 pounds (one kilogram) of body weight, we should ingest six mg of magnesium. For overall health, the nervous system, and to help reduce inflammation, consider adding a magnesium supplement to your diet.

Reduce Anger

Anger that is stewed over turns inward to make you hate yourself or eventually, it explodes all over someone else. Anger that is expressed at the slightest pinprick of frustration will exhaust you and everyone around you. Making anger work for you requires learning not to care so much about things you cannot change and learning how to act on your anger and change what you can, rather than exploding or becoming hopeless and depressed.

Learn to let go of your problems. It might help to write down the problems and then tear it up and throw it way. Sometimes something is 'not my problem', but it still hurts. Your feelings are understandable, but it is very hard to help others if you descend to their level of depression. They need someone on the outside to help them through. If you know that you have taken care of your responsibilities and done everything in your power to make things better, then you have to learn to let go. This does not mean that you will not feel pain. You still need the opportunity to talk to others about your work and to cry if you need to.

Anger stimulates the production of adrenalin, which prepares your body for fight or flight, making you physically prepared for action. This response creates stress. You should not sit on all that stress. You need to talk to someone or write it down. If you are still steaming, go to the gym and punch it out on a punch bag; or go for a run! Remember that when you go to the gym, put all your personal belongings in anyone of the Gym Lockers so that you can prevent any 'anger' outbursts again. Imagine this: "Why did you step on my bag? You have broken my sunglasses!" This is just one example of what happens to your belongings if they are unattended or when they are being 'mishandled' by other Gym users. To prevent any unhappiness and further anger from you, we always protect ourselves and our belongings -- lock your precious valuables and belongings in Metal Lockers or Steel Lockers. Whichever types of Lockers you use, as long as they can protect your personal belongings, you would have enjoyed some peace of mind. You would feel calmer.

It is futile to be angry with yourself. It helps to yell or to cry. You may feel better. If things seem to have spun totally out of control, you may need advice, perhaps from a trained counsellor, to help you prioritize and get things back on track. To reduce anger, you just need to act and change the situation.