Most of us have some small compulsions we have to live with. One of mine is that all the draws and cabinets have to be closed all the way. I can sit down to watch TV and see one open and it drives me crazy. For someone with OCD these types of issues lead to anxiety that affects their relationships and their ability to maintain employment.

A very good movie about the issues of OCD and how it affects a person’s life is As Good as it Gets with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. Nicholson’s character struggles to overcome OCD so he can have a relationship with Hunt’s character. While the movie is a comedy it does have some very good points to make about the disorder.

Most people don’t take the issue of OCD seriously because those who have it obsess about things that are trivial such as how their utensils are laid out on the table for a meal. Yet to that person it is a big deal. This can make the person seem very bossy and over barring as they demand for the situation to be resolved.

Living with someone who suffers from OCD can be very trying. Their whole day can end up being very confused and agitated if things are not in order for them. Children with OCD can find life to be very difficult as their parents, teachers, siblings, and classmates aren’t willing to make such sacrifices on their behalf.

There are various types of treatment to assist with OCD including medication and therapy. The treatment that is used for the individual depends on how severe their OCD is and if there are other mental health issues attached to it as well such as depression. Not everyone responds well to the medications used for OCD. Do to the complicated nature of OCD many people don’t understand it and those who have it find themselves living a lonely existence.

The debate of what causes OCD is still debated by many researchers today. Many believe it is a psychological disorder or mental health disorder that requires medication and therapy. Others believe that each person has complete control of their bodies and minds so they cause their own distress and anxiety related to the issues. Still yet, many in the medical profession believe that OCD is the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Since we don’t know the exact causes of OCD, it makes it even harder to identify the right treatment. Various options do work well for some individuals including therapy and daily medication. There is a great deal of research that that still has to be done and ongoing clinical trials that involve observing people with OCD.

Some of the different research that has been done has resulted in different information. This has led some researchers to believe there may be more than one cause of OCD. Some of the things that have been discovered are different brain structures and lower levels of serotonin in individuals with OCD.

Some of the more recent research shows that a genetic variation may be a cause of OCD. Studies are being conducted on twins where one shows OCD and comparing their genetic codes. Until a definite cause for OCD can be found, it makes it very difficult to determine the best way to treat it. There is a great deal of conflict in this area that won’t be resolved any time soon.

Not everyone responds to OCD treatments the same way and that can be frustrating. It depends on the patient’s willingness to take their medication daily as well as their dedication to other forms of therapy along with it. Not everyone responds well to medication because each of us have a different chemical make up. It also depends on the severity of the OCD.

There are two types of therapy that are used for OCD. Behavioral Therapy is used to help the individual alter their current behaviors. This will take time depending on the abilities of the individual and how severe the OCD is. For Behavioral Therapy to be effective the individual has to willingly address areas that need to be worked on, set goals, and identify steps to reach those goals.

Cognitive Therapy involves changing the way an individual perceives any given situation. This process involves the individual identifying areas that need to be changed and starting to understand them with a different point of view. For example someone with OCD who washed his hands 40 times a day can teach himself that he only needs to wash his hands 5 times a day to kill the same amount of germs.

Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Therapy may be used at the same time if necessary in more severe cases of OCD. It is very common to combine at least one of the therapies with different medications. There are various types of medications that can be tried until the patient uses one that is very effective for them. They are categorized as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. The most popular are Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.

Treating OCD is not an easy concept. There is no set of directions to follow when it comes to administering the therapy or the medications. Therefore it is important that the doctors and psychiatrists involved in the treatment plan monitor the patient as well as see them often while experimenting with what is going to benefit the patient the most.

Approximately 2% of children in the world are estimated to suffer from some form of OCD. It is believed that the actual numbers are much higher but that another 2% aren’t being diagnosed properly or their parents haven’t taken them for an assessment. Suffering from OCD can affect their relationships with their family, their education, and hinder their ability to have friends.

One of the main reasons why parents and educators don’t realize that a child may be suffering from OCD is because it often starts to develop around the time the child is becoming a teenager and going through puberty. Their anxiety and strange behaviors are often dismissed as nothing more than typical teenager issues.

While the main symptoms of OCD are that the child is focused on particular issues and can’t seem to let them go, it is very common for the child to be embarrassed by their concerns so they don’t share them. Yet their OCD carries over to not getting enough sleep, being irritable, and not being able to focus on their school work.

The actual fears that lead to anxiety can be very different for each child and the degree that they affect their life will be different as well. Some of the common OCD issues for children include a fear of germs, an extreme need for everything to be in order, fear of getting sick, and a fear of failure.

Some common signs that parents can watch out for that may mean their child is suffering from OCD is raw looking hands due to washing them too often, changing their clothes several times each day, a continuous fear that a family member is going to get hurt, or keeping everything in perfect order throughout their day until they are exhausted with the process.

If you suspect your child may have a form of OCD, take the time to ask your doctor to complete an assessment. Don’t let them continue to struggle on their own. It will have a negative impact on their education and their social interactions. With the right combination of therapy and medication any child can learn to cope with their OCD.

The statistics when it comes to OCD treatment aren’t very good, and the Obsessive Compulsion Foundation is trying to make them better. The average person with OCD will see at least four different doctors over a nine year period before they get a proper diagnosis. That is simply too much time spend suffering without benefiting from therapy and medications.

To get those statistics to improve, information has to be provided to the public about what OCD is and how it affects individuals. The medial field has taken a very high interest in OCD over the past decade and more doctors are determined to make a proper diagnosis by referring patients to a specialist or scheduling them for an assessment.

The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation also stresses that the cause of OCD is not yet know. There are many theories including that it is a genetic concern, a chemical imbalance in the brain, learned behavior, or a combination. However, the important thing to stress is that no one with OCD has caused in themselves. It is not a lack of good parenting or not eating a balanced diet. Therefore, no one with OCD should be embarrassed about their need for assistance for OCD.

Their website at www.ocfoundation.org offers some wonderful articles for anyone with OCD or with a family member who has it. The information is very accurate and it will help you understand the mental disorder as well as understand that you are not alone in your battle.

There are various types of therapy and medications used to control OCD. The website also offers all the information you need about each of the treatment options. It is important to realize that OCD affects each person differently so each person will respond to the treatments differently. It does take some trial and error to find the right balance of therapy and medication to successfully control a person’s OCD, but it can be done.