Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a chronic mental illness that can affect people of all ages. However, children are most affected by this disorder. This disorder involves frequent obsessions, intrusive thoughts or mental images. However, OCD can be cured with effective treatment therapies. However, if you want to determine the OCD symptoms checklist, then read this article thoroughly. Moreover, you will also learn the main causes and treatment of this disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in Children
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious but common mental health disorder. This disorder affects the brain development and behaviour of children. As the name indicates, this disorder involves the obsessions. Children affected by this disorder are unable to manage their essential life chores. Instead of paying attention to their life, they spend more time in unproductive thoughts and emotions. Anxiety and depression became their ritual and can persist till adulthood stages. Children suffering from OCS remain nervous and anxious all the time. OCD children also experience compulsions which are repetitive behaviours. Compulsions are performed to acquire pleasure. However, the comfort and pleasure generated are usually for a short span. OCD may appear after any distressing or frightening life situation.
According to various studies, it is estimated that approximately one in every third child is affected by this disorder. Moreover, the prevalence of this disorder increases when a child is affected by other mental disorders including depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, bipolar disorders and many more.
Obsessive thoughts
Obsessive thoughts are the unwanted intrusive thoughts that appear in the minds of individuals. Their obsessions make them anxious all the time.
Compulsive behavior
Compulsions are repetitive behavior or actions that are exhibited by individuals suffering from OCD. OCD is much more than normal behavioral patterns. Compulsive symptoms may prevent you from getting ready on time and leaving home. People with OCD think that they can get relief from their anxiety by doing compulsive behavior.
OCD Types and Symptoms
The symptoms and types of OCD are varied. However, the extent of severity and the duration depends on the cause.
OCD symptoms checklist
Children suffering from OCD disorder usually experience the common symptoms which are as follows:
- Doing things in repetitive modes without knowing
- Complications in regulating different life aspects
- Consider themselves worthless
- Failed to make appropriate plans
- Always question themselves before doing productive things
OCD Symptoms usually start between late childhood and early adulthood but in most individuals, it is diagnosed in adulthood stages. Moreover, OCD in children’s symptoms is curable with an effective remedy plan.
Read More: Decrypting the Relationship: Does OCD Cause Depression?
Symptoms of OCD in teens
Most of the obsessions of teens are quite identical to obsessions and associated symptoms in adulthood. The OCD symptoms checklist in teens includes:
- Obsessions in terms of religious beliefs
- Sexual or aggressive thoughts
- Fear of getting any lethal or chronic disorder
- Fear from loved ones or relatives
- Disturbing thoughts
- Belief in superstitious things
- Unusual worries about upsetting god
Symptoms of OCD in children
Children are more likely to develop OCD and exhibit the following symptoms:
- Excessive fear of dirt and germs
- Excessive thoughts of hurting others
- Counting things multiple times
Types of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The most common types of OCD are as follows:
1. Order and Asymmetry (hoarding disorder)
People with OCD experience obsessions and compulsions. They always try to arrange things multiple times. For example, they line up their furniture as well as their items. Instead of participating in productive activities, they waste their ample time in arranging the same objects multiple times.
2. Contamination
Persons affected by OCD always have a fear of contamination. They pay extra attention to their hygiene. In fear of getting affected by infectious organisms, they excessively clean their hands. Most people consider them insane due to their compulsive behaviour. Moreover, OCF females also clean their household products excessively.
3. Uncertainty and Double-checking
Due to a lack of confidence, people with OCD often are unable to make decisions. Moreover, they can also not effectively judge anything due to their struggle with doubt. OCD people are habitual in checking the locked doors again and again after locking them.
4. Inappropriate thoughts
All normal people think about different life situations but at a limited rate. In contradiction, OCD persons get badly indulged in their taboo thoughts or concepts. Instead of thinking to avoid them, they increase their intensity with their overthinking. Moreover, different types of taboo thoughts are categorized in terms of OCD such as:
5. Relationship OCD
This OCS exert a negative influence on the relationship. A person suffering from OCD are unable to give importance to their partners due to their negative thoughts and behaviours. Affected persons always doubt the love and concern of their partners. They make a habit t comparing their relationships with others. Instead of considering the worth of their own love life, they always try to find new partners.
6. Harm OCD
This type of OCD involves the undesired fear of harming others. An affected person remains in fear of hurting themselves and becoming the reason for danger for their loved ones. So the unusual occurrence of violent thoughts can develop harmful OCD.
What causes OCD in the brain?
Different studies reported the different causes for the onset of this disease. However, the actual cause is unknown. But the most common causes of OCD include:
1. Biological Factors
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is caused by various biological factors. Various neurotransmitters are involved in the effective functioning of the brain. Serotonin is responsible for transmitting messages between the brain and different body parts. It also regulates various emotions, feelings, and thoughts—moreover, different biological cycles including sleep-wake cycles and reproductive cycles.
Deficiency of the soothing hormone can cause the onset of this OCD disorder.
2. Environmental factors
Stress is the main factor that can trigger the symptoms of OCD. Various traumatic incidents can also cause the development of this disorder. Anxiety or depression can result from various traumas that occurred in previous life history. Most of the females also suffered from OCD during their pregnancy stages. Moreover, different theories support the different OCS causes.
3. Learning Theory
According to this theory, OCD can also develop due to the continuous incorporation of negative thoughts in the brain. If the person is exhibiting the same behavioural pattern towards the environmental stimuli, the generation of negative perceptions can develop this disorder.
4. Genetics
Various studies also reported that OCD tends to run in families. Genes are the main units of inheritance that are transmitted from parents to children. So various genes are also involved in causing this disorder.
Various life factors are also involved in activating the genes that can cause this disorder. However, genes causing this disorder are more prone to activation in childhood as compared to adulthood.
Approximately, 65% of OCD symptoms occur in childhood, However, 35% account for the adulthood stages. The risk gets elevated if the relative develops OCD as a child.
5. Biochemical Changes
Different brain scans have also shown that people with OCD exhibit some negative changes in certain brain regions. Although OCD symptoms may begin anytime the changes caused by them become evident.
6. PANDAS syndrome
PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). This is a pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections. In this condition, children suddenly develop OCD after the streptococcal infection. So PANDAS is considered a trigger of OCD in children.
OCD Diagnosis
Those individuals who have complete knowledge regarding each aspect of OCD can also self-identify their obsessive thought and their trigger factors. Although symptoms often begin gradually and get noticed with time. Mental health professionals can better diagnose obsessive-compulsive symptoms. They also perform a physical evaluation to check if is there any physical illness that is causing your symptoms.
Does OCD damage the brain?
OCD is also involved in the reduction of grey matter in the brain. Grey matter is also involved in the processing of information. Persons suffering from this disorder also experience drastic changes in the following regions of the brain:
- Operculum
- Orbitofrontal
- Medial Frontal Gyrus
- Medial orbitofrontal cortex
Can OCD cause anxiety attacks?
There is a close association between OCD and anxiety attacks. Panic attacks are common in cases of all mental disorders. People suffering the obsessive-compulsive disorder are more likely to suffer from anxiety attacks. However, severe panic attacks can worsen other body symptoms. Your cardiac rate and breathing rate are also increased.
People affected by OCD experience the following symptoms in case of panic attacks which include:
- Chest Pain
- Eating disorders
- Palpitations
- Tingling sensation
- Sudden shaking of hands
- Body thrills
Is OCD a type of anxiety?
Approximately, 90% of US Americans are suffered from anxiety and depression. However, the most common anxiety disorder is Generalized Anxiety disorder. The persons affected by GAD disorder remain stressed for longer periods. Instead of diverting their mind, they remain persistent in their phase of sadness.
However, obsessive-compulsive disorder involves compulsive behaviours. Affected individuals are always busy with their unwanted thoughts and emotions. To deal with their anxiety, they participate in their compulsive behaviours. The purpose of their compulsions is to cope with their stress and anxiety.
Does OCD cause anxiety and depression?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is based on the anxiety. However, there is a strong association between OCD, anxiety and depression. A person suffering from OCD can majorly express anxiety symptoms. So due to anxiety and OCD, a person feels extra sad, hopeless and worthless. These symptoms are enough to initiate depression.
Furthermore, all these mental disorders are referred to as comorbid. In most of the cases, they often appear together. Recovery of comorbid symptoms is quite difficult as compared to any single disorder symptoms.
What causes OCD to get worse?
Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder can get worse in a periodic manner. However, the symptoms vary based on the prevailing medical condition. Most of the people experience new compulsions or obsessions. On the other hand, some compulsions start again under distressing situations. However, the severity of symptoms can extend if the condition is left untreated. Numerous factors contribute to the worsening of CD symptoms. However, stress is the major factor that can increase the intensity of OCD symptoms. Any sudden trauma can trigger anxiety or depression which in turn can worsen the OCD symptoms.
Similarly, different comorbid conditions can also cause the worsening of symptoms. The most common comorbidities include:
- Tic disorder
- Social Anxiety disorder
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Substance abuse disorders
- Impulse control disorders
- Hypochondriasis
- Different types of anxiety disorders
Furthermore, various illnesses can also contribute to making the OCD symptoms severe. The presence of any illness initiates anxiety which then causes an increase in the intensity of OCD symptoms. However, with an effective treatment plan, you can prevent the condition from becoming severe.
Read More: ADHD Burnout: Signs, Causes, and Treatment
Treatment options for OCD
The most widely used OCD treatment includes the use of medications and different therapies which are as follows:
1. Dealing with Child
If your child is suffering from this disorder, you should deal with them in a very supportive manner. Listen to their feeling and create a secure environment for them. Show some concern and love towards them. However, if you are unable to deal with your child’s situation, consult with the psychotherapist. He can then better identify the symptoms of OCD. Instead of just relying on the doctor’s therapy, also participate in your child’s therapy. Assist your child in practising the treatment strategies.
2. Have some patience
The treatment of OCD takes time. So parents should have some patience to cherish with positive outcomes. They might have to go for repeated sessions to treat the situation permanently. Effective treatment is provided to the patients, after assessing the OCD symptoms checklist. Moreover, the assistance of child and adolescent psychiatry is also useful in treating the symptoms.
3. Cognitive behavioural therapy
The main treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder involve different psychotherapeutic techniques. Although OCD affects the quality of life the treatment for OCD and cognitive behavioral therapy can help in this regard. People with OCD feel stressed about how they can get rid of this mental illness. But no worries if your OCD symptoms are severe as with the help of this therapy, you can restructure your thought patterns and take control over your obsessions and compulsions. This therapy is extremely effective for the treatment of all forms of OCD.
4. Exposure and response prevention
Individuals can also overcome their severe OCD symptoms with the help of exposure and response prevention therapy. As obsessive-compulsive personality disorder involves fear, therapists ask the individuals to face their fear and then avoid exhibiting their response. With time, individuals learn to adapt their thoughts and behaviour accordingly.
5. Medications
Not all physicians require medications. However, most patients require medications based on severity. Most medicines involve Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors which include:
- Paroxetine
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
Some people with OCD also have a tic disorder that can be effectively treated with the help of specialized medications.
6. Combine Therapies
Many people with OCD feel that therapy or medication is not helping them in their recovery. Most of the therapies for OCD involve the combined dosage of medications and behavioural therapies.
The first and most common therapy involves the exposure of the patient to psychological tools. By exposing to the triggering factors of OCD, physicians can better identify the OCD causes.
7. Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
This therapy works best when medications or other traditional therapies become ineffective. This therapy is highly secure and does not cause any side effects, compared to medications. The mental health professional utilizes the deep TMS device that works in a non-invasive approach. This device is considered highly effective in treating OCD. It targets those areas that are associated with OCD. It stimulates the neural activity of the brain structures by generating magnetic fields. Specifically, the anterior cingulate cortex as well as the medial prefrontal cortex undergoes the stimulation and causes the improvement in OCD.
Living with OCD
Initially, people used to think that there was no cure for OCD.
Symptoms of OCD may get worse but fortunately, there is a cure for OCD. Even the severe symptoms of OCD can also be diminished with the help of some coping strategies. Otherwise, the untreated symptoms can affect relationships, and personal and professional life due to disturbed mental health.
Self-help tips for people living with OCD
You can also manage your symptoms with the help of some self-help tips. Until you implement the most effective strategies, symptoms aren’t lethal for you and OCD can’t give you shocking outcomes. The mild to severe cases of OCD can be diminished from your life with the help of some self-help strategies.
OCD support groups and education
It’s not just about targeting brain areas associated with OCD. Support groups are also useful for treating OCD. Most of the people suffering from OCD recognize that they need support to combat OCD.
Support groups also help treat OCD. Although it is common for people with OCD to also have a diagnosed anxiety disorder the support groups are helpful in this case. With support groups, individuals can also deal with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Concluding Thoughts
OCD is a brain disorder that can affect the brain development. This mental illness can affect both men and women. However, it is more common in adolescents. People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions or both. Various environmental, genetic and biological factors are responsible for causing this disease. Moreover, affected persons can recover with medications, talk therapy and a few more. But before initiating the effective treatment plan, it is vital to determine the OCD symptoms checklist. People with OCD are usually aware that their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior are problematic and then they decide to seek professional help.
If you feel you or your child may have OCD then take a professional help. Our mental health professionals at Brainpower Wellness Institute are highly skilled in crafting the finest therapeutic plans after assessing your symptoms. Our experts have years of experience in experience treating OCD as they are well versed in the symptoms and causes of OCD. They also guide the individuals that how they can avoid those triggers that are responsible for the development of OCD. Moreover, individuals also determine that what is the difference between obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. They also learn that coping strategies can help you manage your symptoms of OCD. We not only treat the condition but also make sure that the treatment is working. So finding the best mental health support for treating OCD is a good step. So if you are suffering from OCD, communicate with our experts and get the best mental health services.
