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Jul 16, 2006
The Cure for OCD
by SirGan
 Obsessive-compulsive disorder is one specific psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessional thoughts and compulsive behavior. What exactly are obsessional thoughts? These are specific distressing, repetitive thoughts which a person knows are her or his own but cannot ignore. Unlike obsessive thought- compulsions are ritual actions which a person feels compelled to repeat in order to relieve anxiety and temporarily stop obsessional thoughts in that period. Big problem is that obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals can take up many hours of each day and, in its most severe form, these rituals can prevent a person from completing even simple daily tasks. Possible cause of obsessive-compulsive disorderAlthough there are many possible theories- the truth is that doctors still don't know the exact cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder. While some experts theorize that its cause is biological, others claim that the disorder stems from learned behavior. Still others believe the cause of the disorder may be both biological and environmental factors.
There is also strong evidence that some people have an inherited tendency to develop OCD and that OCD is linked to problems in brain chemistry, neurotransmission or receptor functioning. There is one theory which stands for a scenario that an insufficient level of serotonin, one of brain's chemical messengers, may contribute to obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is partially proven because some imaging studies that use positron emission tomography scans to compare the brains of people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder with the brains of those who don't, have showed differences in brain-activity patterns. The indirect proof is also a fact that, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder who take medications that enhance the action of serotonin often show great improvement after a short period of time. Signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorderOCD symptoms can occur at any stage of your life. Logically, the most common symptoms of this disorder are obsessive thought and compulsive acts!
These are recurrent, persistent, unwanted ideas, thoughts or impulses that a person suffering from OCD experience involuntarily. Common obsessions include:
These are repetitive behaviors that a person suffering from OCD is driven to perform regularly to combat his or hers obsessions, even though they may seem irrational. Typical compulsions include:
The thing is that, when someone performs these rituals, he or she may feel some relief from anxiety, but not for long. Soon the discomfort felt before returns, and then a person feels compelled to repeat behaviors. Symptoms of OCD are also seen in other brain disorders such as Tourette's syndrome.
Perfectionism and OCDAlthough most people believe that the obsessive-compulsive disorder and perfectionism are two same things- there's a difference between being a perfectionist and having obsessive-compulsive disorder. If someone is perfectionist and like to do everything perfectly-that doesn't mean he or she has obsessive-compulsive disorder. That just means a person holds itself to a very high standard of performance in all that he or she do. These are not the behaviors seen in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behaviors associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder interfere with everyday functioning.
Differential DiagnosisSome disorders have similar or even the same symptom. The clinician, therefore, in his diagnostic attempt, has to differentiate against the following disorders which he needs to rule out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorderUnfortunately, every patient should know that there is no cure for OCD. However, there are several types of treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
MedicationsThe most effective medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and fluvoxamine (Luvox); and tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine (Anafranil). What is so special about these drugs? Well, these medications help decrease the frequency and intensity of the obsessions and compulsions. Every patient should know that improvement usually takes three or more weeks and the patient will have to continue the medication indefinitely.
Cognitive behavior therapyNot too many people know too much about this form of therapy! Well, this form of psychological treatment involves retraining patient’s thought patterns and routines so that compulsive behaviors are no longer present and what's most important- no longer necessary. What is the main goal of the therapy? Well, the therapy involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession. It is also teaching a patient different ways to deal with these objects, rather than performing anxiety-reducing ritual or compulsion. Good thing is that most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder show very good improvement of signs and symptoms with cognitive behavior therapy. It may be especially helpful for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Important thing to know is also that cognitive behavior therapy isn't for everyone, though. As many as one in four people with obsessive-compulsive disorder refuses this treatment because it can be difficult.
Other TreatmentElectroconvulsive therapy is sometimes helpful in individuals with severe primary depression and secondary obsessions.
Natural alternativesEvery patient should know that there are also natural alternatives to the psychiatric drugs which will help to balance serotonin levels and therefore reduce or eliminate the symptoms of OCD.
One of the most famous natural alternatives is MindSoothe - a combination of St John's Wort and Passiflora - two highly effective herbs in therapeutic medicinal dosage. Important to know is that this MindSoothe contains two potent remedies in one treatment and offers immediate as well as long term relief to people suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, OCD and even those with eating disorders.
Hypericum Perforatum (St. John's Wort)Although not too many people know about this- the fact is that this herb has been scientifically shown to relieve the symptoms of depression if used regularly over a period of 3 - 5 weeks. Because of this- St John's Wort is often called natural Prozac and is widely used as the anti-depressant of choice. There have been many clinical studies which show the effectiveness of St. John's Wort in the treatment of depression.
PassifloraWhat is so special about this herb? Well, this is a calming herb that reduces anxiety and soothes nerves. The fact is that Passiflora is one of nature's best tranquilizers. It works quickly and effectively and is an excellent addition to any treatment for anxiety and depression.
Bottom Line for curing OCDImportant thing to know is that medication may be combined with psychotherapy, and for many people this is the best approach to treatment. Every patient should also know that recurrences can be treated effectively, just like an initial episode. In fact, the skills you learned in dealing with the initial episode can be helpful in coping with a setback.
Tips for the patients
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