| You can start by looking into Obsessions and what | | | | guilt has been taken off the shoulders of the parents |
| they mean and how they affect people. Read more | | | | who felt they were directly to blame for their child's |
| about what Pure "O" means, how everyone has | | | | suffering. |
| Violent and/or Sexual thoughts to a certain degree | | | | This is not to say that certain events in a person's |
| and so on...Then look at how Compulsions work. | | | | upbringing/life may not have contributed to the onset |
| Read more about why rituals are repeated, which | | | | of the OCD, just that OCD is now considered to be |
| actions might be repeated and so on...Now that you | | | | triggered by a biochemical disbalance in the brain.Read |
| understand those 2 elements of OCD, you can look | | | | more about the Possible Causes of OCD or on how |
| at how they interact or counteract each other by | | | | the brain or Serotonin work.General Misunderstandings |
| looking at the OCD- Cycle.Someone with OCD will | | | | Within Society.By far one of the most painful |
| often feel as if their obsession or ritual is different | | | | misunderstandings for a person with OCD are the |
| than those of others with OCD. However this isn't | | | | ones they encounter in their direct surrounding and |
| the case at all.There are so many different types of | | | | society in general.Who should be held responsible for |
| OCD- Symptoms that although slight differences may | | | | informing the world about OCD? Partly the medical |
| occur, there most likely will be 1 you will be able to | | | | world and the media who should actively be trying to |
| relate to. Hopefully this knowledge will lead to you | | | | bring the facts to the public and partly the general |
| feeling less alone.OCD- Aspects got their own page, | | | | public itself. But the public's fear of the unknown, |
| since although they are OCD- symptoms, they are | | | | their intolerance and lack of understanding, which still |
| also amongst the less known 1's. Most people have | | | | exist when it comes to mental disorders, make OCD |
| heard of people with OCD who wash, count or | | | | yet another one surrounded by its share of |
| check, but there are a few aspects of OCD such as | | | | misunderstandings.This is why talking about the |
| Hoarding and Hit- and- Run that could benefit from | | | | disorder is so helpful since it will actively and |
| being given just that little extra attention.SOME OCD | | | | constructively add to the acceptance of a common |
| FACTS & FIGURES.What was once thought to be a | | | | yet misunderstood disorder.However as someone |
| rare mental disease is now known to be a more | | | | who might have OCD you aren't free of part of the |
| common 1. Approximately 2.3% of the population | | | | responsibility either. Stop feeling ashamed for having |
| between ages 18- 54 suffers from OCD, which out | | | | a disorder that isn't a weakness, but as true and real |
| ranks mental disorders such as: schizophrenia, bipolar | | | | as having a Heart condition.If you can't show |
| disorder, or panic disorder.In the U.S., approximately | | | | acceptance and understanding to yourself, how can |
| 3.3 million people have OCD, of which you have 0.3 to | | | | you expect others to do so? Start with yourself and |
| 1% of pediatric population and 2% of adult | | | | lead by example.Thinking That Having OCD Is a |
| population.So about 1 out of 200 adults have OCD | | | | Character Flaw or an Excuse.Some people might |
| and twice as many have had OCD at 1 point or | | | | assume OCD is simply being used as an excuse for |
| another in their life.There is no discrimination as to | | | | not having to do certain things, that character flaws |
| who has OCD, since it is found in all ethnic groups | | | | such as laziness or weakness are what are really |
| and both men and women are equally struck by the | | | | causing this behavior, but this is yet another |
| disorder, although in children OCD seems to be | | | | misunderstanding. Just look into all the things the |
| prevalent in boys.Nearly 1/3 to 1/2 of all sufferers will | | | | individual with OCD isn't able to do that would |
| find that their OCD has it's roots in childhood, some | | | | possible provide them with possible.Besides, it is |
| will even show signs in their pre-school years. Cases | | | | always easier to motivate yourself to do things you |
| of OCD have been reported in children as young as | | | | like doing. Having to deal with the counting (or the |
| 1.5, needless to say it's hard to make the diagnosis at | | | | not counting) will seem more worthwhile with things |
| such a young age (Lack of development of speech | | | | that give a greater sense of satisfaction or pleasure. |
| being 1 reason.). Around the age of 6 the linguistic | | | | Motivation is the key, accusing and personal critisicsm |
| abilities of the child make it easier to find out the | | | | aren't.OCD may look like laziness or just another |
| existence of OCD, this co- relates with the age | | | | excuse but it is a true and debilitating |
| where most children show their first real signs of | | | | disorder.Thinking That Having OCD Equals Being |
| OCD.In most cases however, symptoms will start to | | | | Crazy.Another misunderstanding occurs when people |
| show while being a teenager or in early adulthood.The | | | | assume, including those with OCD, that having OCD |
| age of onset is typically reported as 6 - 15 for males | | | | equals someone who is crazy. |
| and 20 - 29 for females and is usually by the age of | | | | So, is a person who has OCD crazy? Of course not! |
| 40. | | | | Someone with OCD has besides possibly strange |
| Although many people suffer from OCD, many are | | | | looking rituals and disturbing obsessions also the |
| also still hiding their symptoms and surveys estimate | | | | capacity to see them as such. Maybe it is this conflict |
| that less than 10 % of those suffering are currently | | | | between the constant "urge" of OCD and common |
| in treatment.The presence of any aggression or | | | | sense that makes people with OCD feel as if they |
| oppositional defiant disorder has been said to indicate | | | | are going crazy. The ability to see your own beliefs |
| a poorer prognosis.Typically OCD and it's symptoms | | | | and actions as being unreasonable is extremely |
| will worsen due to Stress, Illnesses and | | | | confusing but also a good sign to know you aren't |
| Fatigue.Treating a child with OCD is very important | | | | crazy.Unless we are talking about OCD with poor |
| and all delay will only cause the child more harm and | | | | insight, people will at some point recognize that their |
| more chance of it missing out on certain aspects of | | | | obsessions are from their own mind and not |
| her/his development and life. | | | | excessive worries about real- life problems and that |
| Same goes for adults, the earlier professional help is | | | | their rituals are also excessive and unreasonable. |
| sought the greater chances are that some real | | | | So the answer to "Is a person suffering from OCD |
| progress will be made. | | | | crazy?" is very simple: NO.Mistaking the Obsessions |
| OCD is a disorder that can be difficult to treat, but | | | | With Someone Who Is Obsessed.A man once asked |
| you can get your life back if you find the right help | | | | a woman with OCD whether she would start |
| and are open to what is being suggested to you.The | | | | focusing on him and become obsessed by him. Of |
| longer 1 waits to act upon it and look for help, the | | | | course not! Although the word Obsession is for some |
| more the system finds a place in the person's life and | | | | linked to characters portrayed by "Robert De Niro" in |
| the harder it will be to fight it.OCD will evolve | | | | the movie "Cape Fear" or "Glenn Close" in "Fatal |
| throughout a person's life. Some will experience | | | | Attraction", this has nothing to do with someone who |
| moments where their OCD almost disappears or | | | | suffers from OCD.People with OCD don't have their |
| becomes milder. For these people the anticipation of | | | | rituals and obsessions result in the harm of others. |
| knowing it will or might come back is very distressing. | | | | Actually, people with OCD are said to be "perfect |
| Others will see how the OCD takes over more and | | | | citizens". Which brings us to another misunderstanding |
| more of their lives and will eventually take over | | | | but this time 1 which works in "favor" of the person |
| completely making it impossible for them to function | | | | having OCD. Of course this is just a generalization |
| normally in life/society, this of course if left untreated | | | | since having OCD doesn't take away from the fact |
| or when no serious effort is made to fight back. | | | | people with OCD are all still humans and therefore will |
| So treatment is crucial.There have been successes | | | | have their obvious fair share of flaws.But it does |
| that involve surgery, but this treatment is however | | | | seem that most people with OCD have a greater |
| left to those who previously were not responsive to | | | | sense of righteousness.Maybe it's more the fact of |
| other types of treatment that are known to work | | | | being afraid of doing something wrong which is |
| very well for people suffering from | | | | making them act in the most "acceptable" way. I |
| OCD.MISUNDERSTANDINGS& | | | | won't start a debate on what can be considered right |
| MISCONCEPTIONS.There are 2 distinctive parts to | | | | or wrong, if only for the fact that this is a |
| OCD: the Obsessions and the Compulsions which is | | | | monologue and the debate might become really 1- |
| explained clearly by the name Obsessive Compulsive | | | | sided.)The conclusion is that it's important to see this |
| Disorder. But it seems the clarity often stops there. | | | | disorder in a larger context and more importantly only |
| While the medical world is finding out the why's and | | | | form an opinion after having at least read about it in |
| how's of OCD, there are also still many | | | | a serious way.Please know that you can share this |
| Misunderstandings. Even in this day and age of | | | | with anyone who you feel it may help, friends, famliy, |
| greater awareness concerning Mental Health | | | | associates. You may pass it on freely as long as this |
| problems, many people still aren't properly informed | | | | footer is left intact and the author is given proper |
| about the many mental disorders that exist and this | | | | credit. Thanks:)They are calling Arthur Buchanan's |
| leaves much room for assumptions and speculations. | | | | methods of recovering from mental illness |
| Both those who have OCD and those who are | | | | REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF |
| dealing with someone who has OCD may believe in | | | | MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a |
| such misunderstandings.Misunderstandings concerning | | | | revolutionary blue print for recovery in these |
| Possible Cause.One of the first misunderstandings | | | | uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high |
| research has been able to take care of is the 1 | | | | in the United States of America, yet if you follow |
| where people assume that a neglecting or unbalanced | | | | this young mans methods, we assure you of positive |
| upbringing was possibly at the basis of OCD behavior. | | | | results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed |
| With the use of PET- scans (Positron Emission | | | | precisely, their is no way you can't see positive |
| Tomography) experts were able to find clear | | | | results with whatever illness you have' Dr. Herbert |
| evidence that the brain of someone with OCD does | | | | Palos Detroit, Michigan'With Much Love,Arthur |
| function differently than that of a person without | | | | BuchananPresident/CEOOut of Darkness & Into the |
| OCD.With these finding a great deal of shame and | | | | Light43 Oakwood Ave. |