What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

What is Obsessive-compulsive disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the

anxiety disorders and is potentially disabling condition according to national institute

of mental health, NIMH (2000). Individuals with OCD become trapped in a pattern of

repetitive thoughts and behaviors that can be senseless and distressing but are extremely

hard to over come. Such as checking things repeatedly (e.g. doors, locks and stoves),

constant counting either "in ones head" or outwardly, etc. Most of theses obsessions are

persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, or an unreasonable concern

with becoming contaminated, also excessive need for perfection. According to NIMH (2000),

sometimes the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness.

"Although once thought to be rare, OCD afflicts as many as five million Americans or one

in fifty. The disorder is found uniformly in men, women, children and people of all races

and socio-economic backgrounds." (Maidment 1999) According to NIMH (2000), OCD usually

begins in adolescence or early adult hood, it may begin in the early childhood years.

Onset age is earlier in males between ages 6 and 15 years and between ages 20 and 29 in

females. In most cases onset is gradual but some acute onset cases have been noted.

Most people with OCD struggle to hide their illness for fear of thought of being

"outcast", fear of medication and fear of facing ones fears in behavior therapy. "Usually

people hide their illness because of feeling shame for doing/thinking such bizarre

things" (Susan F, OC foundation, 1999) They are often successful in concealing their

disorder. More often than not they are successful in concealing their

obsessive-compulsive symptoms from friends and co-workers. An unfortunate consequence of

this secrecy is that people usually do not receive