As in the case of any mental illness, the exact causes of OCD have not yet been discovered. Medical studies try to outline some connection between different types of factors. It is believed that the disease is a combination of multiple factors like genetics, neurological, cognitive and even some environmental factors. Each one contributes, in a smaller or larger percentage, to the development of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Every patient with OCD may have a different story related to how the illness began. So, each case has to be thoroughly studied before knowing how to approach the case. The background of the patient, his health status and the events throughout his life have a share in such medical diagnosis. The most frequent causes of OCD: Perhaps one of the most important causes of OCD is related to the biological part. The brain of an OCD patient is different from a normal brain, comparing the elements consisting of the brain. The differences can be recognized, but it is not sure exactly how they can develop OCD. It is believed that it has a close connection to the part of the brain that govern our primitive behavior. Actions like sexuality, aggression, or the excretions of the body. It seems like somewhere on the way, on the circuit of the brain telling us what action to take according to the present situation, something goes wrong. So, a typical behavior you will have after visiting a bathroom, is to wash your hands to get protection against germs. After you complete washing your hands, your brain records the action and will tell you that you can move on to the next matter. Well, in the case of an OCD sufferer, the brain will malfunction on the moment when he needs to move on. He will wash the hands, but the brain will fail to record this action so he will be receiving continuous commands to keep washing his hands. Serotonin and the hSERT gene are also important factors in OCD. They have a crucial role in transmitting messages throughout the brain. Serotonin is a chemical substance found naturally in the brain, carrying messages around and taking care of feelings of anxiety, memory processes or sleep. The hSERT gene is responsible for serotonin transportation. Another job of this gene is to gather all the extra serotonin, left after a nerve splits it towards the next cell that comes up. In the case of OCD, these genes usually work too fast, and they collect almost the entire quantity of serotonin, leaving none to carry the message to the next brain cell. Other potential causes of OCD: Life experiences can also be a trigger for this illness. If a person learns a negative pattern of their thoughts, the phenomenon can expand into a vortex called OCD. Everybody has intrusive and negative thoughts from time to time. Even you experienced some. But you understood the nature of the thought and moved forward. People with OCD tend to misinterpret this type of ideas. They believe they are imperative and have the tendency to offer them a great deal of attention, which usually leads to deviant behavior. Environmental factors like parenting or stress have little evidence that they may trigger OCD. Although the way a person interacts during childhood, or any experience that one may encounter during young ages, can cause some states of anxiety. Stress is often a cause for intense anxiety and, if left untreated or neglected for an extended period, the anxiety can transform into OCD symptoms. So if you even feel you’re being pulled down by an amount of stress and anxiety you find difficult to manage on your own, it is advisable to seek the support of a specialist.

The connection between OCD and anxiety is very close. The very obsession, because of the way OCD ( obsessive compulsive disorder ) manifests, is the one creating a deep feeling of anxiety. The truth is that OCD sufferers live in tension almost their entire time. You should make the following exercise to understand the way an OCD patient feels like every day. You leave your home, let’s say for a nice weekend in a resort. Suddenly, a thought crosses your mind. Did you turn off the coffee machine? You’re not sure, because you left in such a big hurry. But what if the appliance is still running? It may cause a fault, and the whole house will burn to the ground by the time you return. The thought gets so intense that you eventually turn back your car to find some relief, checking to see if the coffee machine is on or not. It is the way OCD patients live every day, and in some cases, the scenarios become of catastrophic proportions. Anxiety , a part of everyday life Under these circumstances, it is no wonder anxiety is so present, compared to ordinary situations. In order to diminish the presence of anxiety, people who suffer from OCD, transform their obsession following into a real ritual. Each time they experience an obsessive though, they will do the necessary steps to find some relief. Let’s take other examples of rituals, for a better understanding of the matter. Just think about the case of an alcoholic, or intensive smoker. Each one will find the urge to drink or smoke, they will follow the need in order to find relief, but they will also enjoy the entire process of drinking or smoking. In the case of an OCD patient, the anxiety and panic can become so pressuring that they will do whatever necessary to put an end to the situation. They will eventually find some relief, but they will never enjoy the process. All because they want to escape anxiety, at least temporarily. The fuel for creating unhealthy rituals Anxiety is what creates the urge to create a repetitive behavior, in order to escape from the obsessions or intrusive thoughts produced by OCD. To find a little piece of mind, an OCD patient will start having a ritual-like behavior, because it reduces the intensity of anxiety. But this in only a downward spiral, because it enhances the disorder and makes the obsessions even greater. Thus, the risks of aggravating the OCD are significant. If you find yourself in a situation where you develop checking behavior or turn your daily activities into a ritual, otherwise you experience intense states of anxiety, it is highly advisable to seek a specialist. Responding through repetitive behavior to your anxiety moods will only worsen things, because the relief you will find is only temporary. A specialist in OCD and anxiety disorders will be able to help you out, as this is a matter that you won’t be able to deal with your own. If neglected, your anxiety, rituals and obsessions will soon affect your life, your work and the relationships with your loved ones.

OCD – Page 2 – MedRition

What Causes OCD

MedRition2015-12-17T01:55:38+02:00

As in the case of any mental illness, the exact causes of OCD have not yet been discovered. Medical studies try to outline some connection between different types of factors.It is believed that the disease is a combination of multiple factors like genetics, neurological, cognitive and even some environmental factors.Each one contributes, in a smaller [...]

What Causes OCDMedRition2015-12-17T01:55:38+02:00

OCD and anxiety

MedRition2015-12-17T01:55:38+02:00

The connection between OCD and anxiety is very close. The very obsession, because of the way OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) manifests, is the one creating a deep feeling of anxiety. The truth is that OCD sufferers live in tension almost their entire time.You should make the following exercise to understand the way an OCD patient [...]

OCD and anxietyMedRition2015-12-17T01:55:38+02:00

OCD Symptoms and Signs

MedRition2015-12-17T01:55:38+02:00

The symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) cover a broad range of characteristics and features. In this rather extensive list, it is hard not to find something that maybe you do quite often. It is a fact that will probably make anyone, even you, to think about that fact if you are at any risk [...]

OCD Symptoms and SignsMedRition2015-12-17T01:55:38+02:00

The Relation Between OCD and Depression

MedRition2015-12-17T01:55:39+02:00

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression are both mental illnesses. Just by looking at the symptoms of OCD we can say that suffering from a disease of this kind is not easy and poses a significant risk of developing adjacent mental illnesses, like depression.Constantly having to face feelings of fear, stress and anxiety, an OCD patient can [...]

The Relation Between OCD and DepressionMedRition2015-12-17T01:55:39+02:00