{"id":381,"date":"2016-05-05T21:45:22","date_gmt":"2016-05-05T21:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pfauerbachtherapy.com\/?p=381"},"modified":"2023-06-22T05:54:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T05:54:12","slug":"understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-causes-symptoms-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pfauerbachtherapy.com\/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-causes-symptoms-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Causes, Symptoms, Treatment<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

Have you or someone you know been recently diagnosed with\u00a0obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? You may have a lot of questions about\u00a0what this condition is and how it can be treated. You may have a lot of concerns too. By understanding the causes and symptoms of OCD, you can take proactive steps towards finding help and treatment.<\/p>\n

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Obsessive compulsive disorder is considered an anxiety disorder. The Mayo Clinic defines it as an\u201cunreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions).\u201d<\/p>\n

It is a condition where you may or may not realize that the fears you are experiencing are reasonable. Trying to ignore the fear only makes you feel worse, leading you to perform the compulsion to alleviate the distressed feelings.<\/p>\n

What Causes Obsessive Compulsive Disorder<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The two main causes of OCD are biology and environmental causes. The National Institutes of Mental Health notes that if you have direct relative, such as parent, child, or sibling, who has OCD than you have greater chance of having it too. The NIMH also says that children who have had a streptococcal infection (strep throat) can develop OCD symptoms. This is also referred to as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). OCD may also be caused by abnormalities in brain structure, though this needs to be researched further.<\/p>\n

An Obsession Based on Fear<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The element of fear is a central element of obsessive compulsive disorder. Fear is actually a natural emotion that is part of the human psyche. Indeed, fear is an instinct that can help us realize that a situation is unsafe, thus helping us to stay alive. Obsessive compulsive disorder hijacks that response by associating fear or danger with something, leading us to perform an action to eliminate the danger. For instance:<\/p>\n