Informative Paper About Ocd
Laura Jorgenson
Mrs. Susan Olsen
Research Paper
29 October 2009
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Sarah does not touch anything in a public place. On the seldom occasion that she does, she has her hand sanitizer out and in use within a matter of seconds. She washes her hands vigorously any time she gets the chance, and showers at least twice daily. She also refuses to eat with silverware that somebody has previously used. Some might think that Sarah is just overly picky about cleanliness and germs. But the truth is, Sarah suffers from a common anxiety disorder. To a certain extent, we all exhibit behaviors similar to Sarah in regards to germs. Nobody likes germs, and we all try to avoid getting exposed to lots of them. However, when it reaches an extreme, like in Sarah’s case, there is something wrong. Sarah has a disorder in which she is gravely afraid of germs and dirt. The slightest bit of dirt on her skin makes her extremely anxious and she feels as if she has to clean it off immediately or something bad will happen. Thoughts, called obsessions, creep into her mind and take over her thought process, making her do rituals, or compulsions, to ease her anxiety. Sarah, along with millions of other Americans, suffer from what is known as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This disorder now affects up to six million Americans, therefore it is imperative that people understand what OCD is, what causes the disorder, and possible ways to treat it. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, occurs when a person is constantly troubled by a pattern of intrusive, distressing thoughts and repetitive behaviors. This common disorder is very complex in its definition. The obsessions themselves are only half the definition of OCD. Obsessions are different from compulsions, and OCD patients can either show signs of one or both. According to Childhood Education, the clinical definition of “obsession” refers to the thoughts, impulses, urges, or
Mrs. Susan Olsen
Research Paper
29 October 2009
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Sarah does not touch anything in a public place. On the seldom occasion that she does, she has her hand sanitizer out and in use within a matter of seconds. She washes her hands vigorously any time she gets the chance, and showers at least twice daily. She also refuses to eat with silverware that somebody has previously used. Some might think that Sarah is just overly picky about cleanliness and germs. But the truth is, Sarah suffers from a common anxiety disorder. To a certain extent, we all exhibit behaviors similar to Sarah in regards to germs. Nobody likes germs, and we all try to avoid getting exposed to lots of them. However, when it reaches an extreme, like in Sarah’s case, there is something wrong. Sarah has a disorder in which she is gravely afraid of germs and dirt. The slightest bit of dirt on her skin makes her extremely anxious and she feels as if she has to clean it off immediately or something bad will happen. Thoughts, called obsessions, creep into her mind and take over her thought process, making her do rituals, or compulsions, to ease her anxiety. Sarah, along with millions of other Americans, suffer from what is known as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This disorder now affects up to six million Americans, therefore it is imperative that people understand what OCD is, what causes the disorder, and possible ways to treat it. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, occurs when a person is constantly troubled by a pattern of intrusive, distressing thoughts and repetitive behaviors. This common disorder is very complex in its definition. The obsessions themselves are only half the definition of OCD. Obsessions are different from compulsions, and OCD patients can either show signs of one or both. According to Childhood Education, the clinical definition of “obsession” refers to the thoughts, impulses, urges, or
Cited: Adams, Gail B. “Children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Statistical Data Included).” Childhood Education. 1999. Infotrac Student Edition. Web. 19 September 2009. Hill, Nicole R. “Treatment Outcomes for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Critical Review. (Private Practices)” Journal of Counseling and Development. 2007. Infotrac Student Edition. Web. 18 September 2009. McGrath, Kimberly A. “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.” World of Scientific Discovery. 2007. Student Resource Center Gold. Web. 18 September 2009. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” kidshealth.org. TeensHealth. 2009. Web. 24 September 2009. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.” World of Health. 2007. Student Resource Center Gold. Web. 18 September 2009.