If so, now is the time to free yourself from OCD and regain control over your life.
Determine whether you have O.C.D. symptoms
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder of the brain and behavior. OCD causes severe anxiety in those affected. OCD involves both obsessions and compulsions that take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values.
Here is one way to think about what having OCD is like:
Imagine that your mind got stuck on a certain thought or image…
Then this thought or image got replayed in your mind over and over again no matter what you did…
You don’t want these thoughts — it feels like an avalanche…
Along with the thoughts comes intense feelings of anxiety…
Anxiety is your brain’s warning system. When you feel anxious, it feels like you are in danger. Anxiety is an emotion that tells you to respond, react, protect yourself, DO SOMETHING!
On the one hand, you might recognize that the fear doesn’t make sense, doesn’t seem reasonable, yet it still feels very real, intense, and true…
Why would your brain lie?
Why would you have these feelings if they weren’t true? Feelings don’t lie…do they?
Unfortunately, if you have OCD, feelings do lie. If you have OCD, the warning system in your brain is not working correctly. Your brain is telling you that you are in danger when you are not.
When scientists compare pictures of the brains of groups of people with OCD, they can see that some areas of the brain are different than the brains of people who don’t have OCD.
Those tortured with OCD are desperately trying to get away from paralyzing, unending anxiety…
Understand that YOU are NOT ALONE
According to the International O.C.D. Foundation, our best estimates are that about 1 in 100 adults – or between 2 to 3 million adults in the United States – currently have OCD. This is roughly the same number of people living in the city of Houston, Texas.
Learn How OCD Treatments Can Help You
The earlier you seek treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the better. Early treatment of OCD can reduce symptoms and reduce the disruption in your life. Unfortunately, research shows that most people see an average of 3 to 4 health professionals and spend more than 9 years seeking treatment for OCD before they are correctly diagnosed. Their diagnoses are complicated by their being embarrassed or secretive about their symptoms and by other conditions they may have along with OCD, such as depression.
Treatment includes a combination of professional counseling and medicines.
