Mental Health Project
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental disorder in which affects a persons everyday activity. It causes unwanted and repetitive, thoughts, feelings, ideas, etc. (Obsessions) that drives repetitive and unusual behavior (Compulsions). People often carry out actions to relieve the anxiety caused by the thoughts, feelings, etc. OCD causes repeated anxiety ridden thoughts, feelings, etc. These are classified as obsessions. Common obsessions include:
These obsessions cause repeated actions. These are classified as compulsions. Common compulsions include:
Rituals are not exclusive to people suffering from OCD, but people with OCD:
Some people with OCD can develop a tic. Some tics include repetitive eye flickering, repetitive tapping, and repetitive throat clearing. Symptoms can come and go, worsen or ease over time. Sometimes age can affect OCD. As one gets older they realize their actions are strange, though they still cannot control them. Children usually do not understand that they’re actions are out of the ordinary. It is a chronic disease. Although age brings understanding of the illness, it cannot be, “cured.”
- Fear of germs
- Need for order
- Forbidden thoughts related to religion, harm to others, self harm
These obsessions cause repeated actions. These are classified as compulsions. Common compulsions include:
- Repetitive checking and rechecking (Such as turning off lights and locking doors)
- Repetitive counting
- Partaking in rituals (Performing small actions before a bigger action. For example, tapping the doorknob before you turn it)
- Repeating words over and over
Rituals are not exclusive to people suffering from OCD, but people with OCD:
- Cannot control their thoughts and behaviors, even when they understand that they are excessive
- Spends hours a day on these obsessive thoughts and behaviors
- Doesn’t find pleasure through the rituals
- Allows rituals to affect daily activity
Some people with OCD can develop a tic. Some tics include repetitive eye flickering, repetitive tapping, and repetitive throat clearing. Symptoms can come and go, worsen or ease over time. Sometimes age can affect OCD. As one gets older they realize their actions are strange, though they still cannot control them. Children usually do not understand that they’re actions are out of the ordinary. It is a chronic disease. Although age brings understanding of the illness, it cannot be, “cured.”
What I learned
I learned very little about OCD because I grew up with it. The part of research that had the most impact was personal connection. I've experienced almost everything I researched, it helped me realize my hardships.
Reflection
Overall this was not my favorite project. It was personally uninteresting as it has been done many times before. Mental illness is a hard thing to do a project on because its a very sensitive topic. Everyone has experienced mental illness in some sense, so I suppose its relatively easy to relate to. Overall its hard to not offend anyone when studying mental illness, therefore making the project difficult and not very satisfying.