Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD is a behavioral affliction where a person becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts, ideas or impulses and compelling behavior patterns that are purposeless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome.

What is OCD?

Its an anxiety disorder which causes its sufferers to have unwanted, persistent, preoccupations of the mind(obsessions) and feelings that they must perform an action repeatedly in a ritualistic manner(compulsions) .These thoughts and behaviors often interfere with normal life. Some common symptoms include hand washing, counting and checking. Such people can lose precious hours of the day occupied in their obsessions and compulsions.

Causes:

In 3 out of 4 cases of OCD, the onset of the affliction is sudden, generally following a stressful life event.

It is believed that people who develop OCD have a biological predisposition to react strongly to stress, and this reaction takes the form of intrusive, distressing thoughts, and these thoughts lead to more anxiety and stress, eventually creating a vicious circle the person cannot escape without help.

Signs and symptoms

These are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of the person with OCD. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought , such as of  contamination, ;my hands may be dirty, I must wash them' or of doubt; ' I may have left the gas on' or ' I m going to injure my child' . These thoughts produce anxiety.

Compulsions

To deal with their anxiety, most people with OCD resort to rituals. These repetitive behaviors are called as compulsions. The most common of these are washing and checking, other compulsive behaviors include counting, or endlessly rearranging objects in an effort to keep them in symmetry with each other. Performing these rituals may give the person with OCD some relief from anxiety, but it is only temporary.

Insight

People with OCD generally have considerable insight into their own problems, most of the time; they know that their obsessive thoughts are senseless or exaggerated, and that their compulsive behaviors are not really necessary. However this knowledge is not sufficient to enable them to break free from their illness.

Resistance

Most people with OCD struggle to banish their unwanted obsessive thoughts and to prevent themselves from engaging in compulsive behaviors. Many are able to do so when they are at work. But over the months or years resistance may weaken, and when this happens, OCD may become so severe that time consuming rituals may take over a person's life and make it impossible for him or her to continue activities outside the home.

Shame and secrecy

People with OCD generally attempt to hide their problems rather than seek help. Often they are remarkably successful in concealing their symptoms from friends and coworkers. And unfortunate consequence of this secrecy is that people with OCD do not receive professional help until years after the onset of the disease, by that time, the habits may be deeply ingrained and very difficult to change.

Treatment

It's usually a combination of drug and behavior therapy.

Psychotherapy sessions are done for the patients. In the therapy the patient is made to relabel his obsessive urges rather than give in to them. We tell them instead of saying to yourself, I have to wash my hands again, tell yourself, I m having an obsessive urge or a compulsion again. They are advised to get involved in any pleasurable activity which will serve as a distraction from the compulsive urge. Thus the urge is diminished by treating it as a mere symptom.

Where OCD is accompanied by depression antidepressant therapy may relieve the disorder.

Role of homeopathy:

1. Homeopathy works miraculously to relieve anxiety.Homeopathic medicine works on the psyche.The medicines are selected according to the way the person expresses his symptoms.
2. The external factors such as stress are analysed by the homeopath, and are  thus tackled with.
3. Homeopathy makes behavorial therapy easier.
4. Homeopathy treats depression.

Hence,we see that all aspects of treatment of the disorder are tackled with homeopathy, and hence, without the fear of side effects, the patient can safely and surely look forward to making his life purposeful.