OCD can be hard to detect but knowing the signs and symptoms of OCD can help in seeking timely professional care and can help in better management of the symptoms. OCD care has to cater to different needs of both the patient and the caregiver. At Cadabams, our multispecialty team of experts focus on tailoring a treatment plan that addresses all aspects of OCD and is just right for you and your loved one. With psychotherapy, medication management, supportive and family care, we are with you every step of the way. We are here to help.
As per WHO (World Health Organization), about 2% of the world’s population suffers from OCD which is roughly 1 in 50 people. OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is a type of anxiety disorder that causes obsessive and compulsive thoughts to a person. Listed below are 10 obsessive-compulsive disorder signs that may indicate you may have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Cleaning OCD is a common type of OCD in which the individual engages in cleaning or washing rituals that can interfere with their daily life. It can be directed towards the self or the environment.
In the cleaning/washing type obsession, there is a fear of contamination. An individual with obsessive cleaning disorder fears about getting ‘dirty’ or infected from various things that might make them sick.
Obsessive cleaning disorder can be categorized into the following:
These individuals try to stay cautious and avoid contamination or ‘germs’ in general. They fear they would fall sick.
These individuals follow the cleaning behavior to get rid of the ‘dirty’ feel after a particular act or contact with a particular thing.
Individuals who engage in ritualistic behavior of cleaning themselves believe they have come in contact with some kind of ‘dirt’ or ‘germ’ and they try to get rid of it. The cleaning OCD behavior can range from simply washing hands multiple times a day to scrubbing harshly with disinfectants.
The individual may clean and scrub themselves to the extent that the skin gets rashes, bruises, red, and even bleed. The behavior of cleaning or washing themselves after coming in contact with something can be dangerous.
For example, if the individual ritualistically cleans themselves after using the toilet, they might use a lot of toilet paper, rub their sensitive area too hard, or at times, use a lot of antiseptics. All these activities may harm and injure the area, which is sensitive and takes time to heal. Thus, it could lead to other health issues and infections.
These individuals focus a lot on themselves, and then, there are other types of individuals who completely ignore these areas thinking they would get infected if they touch it. Again, ignoring these sensitive areas would lead to devastating health issues.
Here, the individual cleans their surroundings fearing that they would get infected. Even a small peck of dirt may trigger their thoughts, and they might end up cleaning the entire house. While cleaning, they may use a lot of antibacterial disinfectants and spend a significant time in contact with water; this may cause infection and damage their skin.
Sometimes, the individual may focus and clean certain areas while entirely ignoring the other regions. For example, the individual may spend too much time cleaning the bathroom but completely ignore that they have a messy bedroom. They become very anxious and they take a lot of stress about cleaning their surroundings.
The rationale behind the cleaning/washing behavior makes sense only to the individual and no one else in the family. Thus, they may fail to understand and support the individual. At times if the individual is interrupted while doing the behavior, they might start all over again. These behaviors take a lot of time and cause extreme distress to the individual.
Don’t let your OCD control your life, seek help.
With appropriate pharmacological intervention, psychotherapy such as Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) offered under the guidance of our certified professionals at Cadabams, cleaning OCD can be managed. Rehabilitation works wonders with people who have difficulty managing themselves at home. If you or your loved one is showing signs of OCD, reach out to us on our 24×7 helpline +919611194949.
How are obsessions and compulsions different from each other?
The word “Obsession” comes from a Latin word meaning “to occupy”. In obsession, the patient experiences recurrent and persistent thoughts which are different from normal thoughts. The individual starts feeling anxiety or distress, and often tries suppressing them.
Compulsions, on the contrary, are repetitive actions which an individual performs to control his/her anxiety and prevent a situation. Repetitive washing, repetitive touching or tapping, counting or reciting are common examples of compulsions.
Are there any risks associated with obsessive compulsive disorder?
Obsessive cleaning disorder is a common disorder that affects people of all age groups (children, adults, etc.) Generally, people start experiencing the symptoms around 19 years of age, typically with an early age of onset in boys than in girls. Some of the popular risk factors for OCD include:
Having right information about OCD is critical to ensure proper treatment. Family members and friends are encouraged to work closely with the therapists and play a role in treating the OCD patient. In pursuit of helping their loved one feel better, they often reinforce the problem and hence, under the guidance of our expert therapists, they learn how their behavior affects the functioning of OCD.