Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness that causes intrusive thoughts, compulsive actions, or both. It can cause serious impairments to one's life. Here is what you need to know about this condition.

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

There are two distinct components to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The obsessive component causes people to repeatedly fixate on thoughts that seem to push themselves into their brain against the person's will. Sometimes, these are fears and anxieties, but often, they are simply intrusive thoughts that come out of nowhere and take up space in their head. The more a person tries to push them out, the more they obsess, and it becomes a vicious cycle. The thoughts can be disturbing, depicting sexual thoughts or images, or violence, such as seeing a knife and then thinking about stabbing someone. The person doesn't actually want to stab someone; they just worry about what would happen if they lost control and stabbed someone, and round and round these worrisome thoughts go.

The compulsive component of OCD motivates people to perform repetitive actions. They may wash their hands over and over or check to see if they left the stove on repeatedly, even though they know they didn't. The person who suffers from OCD knows beyond a doubt their thought processes and behavior are abnormal, which adds to their distress over their inability to control it. They may have one or both components of the condition, and the more severe the symptoms, the more difficult it is for them to attend school, work, or perform the activities of daily living.

What Causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Scientists aren't sure what causes OCD, but they suspect it has to do with how the brain uses serotonin. This is a chemical that is necessary for the different parts of the brain to communicate with one another. Serotonin is also a factor in other mental health conditions, such as depression.

How Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treated?

While there isn't a cure for OCD, now there are thankfully treatment options. Not so long ago, people had to suffer in silence, but a relatively new class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) have been found to be useful in stemming the obsessive thought patterns and compulsions.

OCD therapy is also available and, when paired with medication, can be extremely effective in controlling the condition. Exposure and response therapy works by repeatedly exposing a person to an obsession or compulsion so they become immune to it while cognitive behavior therapy raises self-awareness and increases coping skills.

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