The rate at which mental illness is reported now in clinics is very alarming, depression is getting high among people and one of the popular mental illnesses is Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
OCD is a result of excessive thoughts that become an obsession and leads to compulsions.
This shouldn’t be much surprise, knowing that human interaction has diminished in this modern time when people interact more with electronic devices and mobile gadgets.
Also, internet usage and social sites have all limited the way we interact as humans.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is most common mental illnesses in adult.
When adults repeatedly ponder upon an issue without getting a way out of overcoming the problem, the thoughts are likely going to suppress other thoughts and the freedom to think at will becomes affected.
This obsession is not perceived as pleasant, nor do they serve to perform useful tasks in themselves.
People suffering from OCD often experience it as a prevention of events that could harm them or which they could harm others.
In most cases, this behavior is pointless and patients find it difficult getting over it.
Fear, anxiety, bad emotions, tension are common elements that can be linked to OCD, and unfortunately, it gets worse as patients attempt to suppress it on their own.
The person suffering from OCD needs to visit therapists to help to manage the symptoms.
What are the Risk Factors of OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be transmitted from parents to children.
It can also occur as a result of a poor lifestyle.
Let’s look at some common causes of this mild mental illness.
- OCD in the lineage
Different scientific studies have revealed that people who suffer from OCD have family members who have suffered from coercive and anxiety-related problems.
If one of the parents suffers from mental illness or any mild mental problem, the risk of any of the children developing the obsessive-compulsive disorder is increased.
However, the risk of the child suffering from OCD in the future is not high if any of the parents or family members suffer the same because people whom their family members are mentally unstable often live healthy and sound.
- The upbringing of a child
If a child is self-reliant and has to be responsible for his or her care such as feeding, shelter, education in early life or he has to be responsible for the care of others, he can be very unsettled and lack coordination.
He will often react anxiously to demands he could not meet and in interpersonal contact. The result may be an increased pursuit of security.
About perfectionism, they try to avoid mistakes and criticism.
Even though parents keep warnings to their wards about things that can hurt them and unduly protect them, it can lead to continued uncertainty.
However, parenting styles are never solely responsible for OCD but can be a factor of influence.
- Sad experiences
If someone experiences some bad events or situations in life, most especially at an early life, the frequency of its remembrance is likely going to be high and this may lead to compulsion.
Let’s take, for example, a female adolescent child that was raped, children who lost their parents in a ghastly accident or cold blood murder, emotional neglect, etc.
Because of any of these, the victim would develop a strong sense of overwork as he or she grows and becomes unsettled.
He then makes a representative attempt to regain control of a seemingly unmanageable situation.
- Personality traits
People too are extremely optimistic or pessimistic often get disappointed repeatedly and they are likely going to nurse fear in trusting people, making decisions and always to avoid mistakes.
Similar to this is the case of people with low self-esteem, shyness and they tend to need demand more love and security and can thus lead to challenges. low assertiveness is also among these risk factors.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often linked to many other mental challenges such as
- Depression
- Attention Deficit Syndrome (ADHD)
- Fear disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social phobia
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Personality disorders