Obsessive

Running Head: OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER1

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and its Effects on Family Members

Deyanira Mora

Universidad Latina de Costa Rica

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER 2

Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder and its Effects on Family Members

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is an anxiety disorder

characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to do repetitive

behaviors. People with OCD may realize that their obsessions are not

reasonable, and may try to ignore them, but that only increases the distress

and anxiety. Ultimately, they are driven to perform compulsive acts in an

effort to ease the stress. They also feel the need to check things or perform

routines and rituals repeatedly. For many people, OCD starts during

childhood or the teen years and their symptoms might come and go during

their lifetime ("Obsessive Compulsive Disorder", 2010).

This disorder often centers on themes, such as a fear of getting

contaminated by germs. To ease contamination fears, they may compulsively

wash their hands until they are sore and chapped. ("Symptoms and

Treatment of OCD", n.d.) Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder

fall into one of the following categories:

Washers are afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or

hand-washing compulsions.

Checkers repeatedly check things (oven turned off, door locked, etc.)

that they associate with harm or danger.


Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isn’t perfect or done

just right something terrible will happen or they will be punished.

Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They

may have superstitions about certain numbers, colors, or

arrangements.

Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything

away ("OCD", n.d.). They compulsively hoard things that they don’t

need or use.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder sometimes runs in families, but no one

knows for sure why some people have it. Researchers have found that

several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety; therefore, by

learning more about the brain, scientists may be able to create better

treatments ("OCD", n.d.).


References Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. (2010). Retrieved August 9, 2012, from www.nimh.nih.gov

OCD. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/DS00189

Symptoms and Treatment of OCD. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2012, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm

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