What Does TOC Mean
OCD is the acronym for obsessive-compulsive disorders , which are part of the so-called anxiety disorders . OCD is characterized by thoughts that appear again and again and that lead the person to repeat the same behavior numerous times with the intention of minimizing the anxiety that these thoughts provoke.
Obsession is precisely an idea, image or impulse that occurs in a recurring and persistent way, and that is not experienced voluntarily but rather invades the consciousness and is meaningless and can even be unpleasant. These characteristics turn the obsession into something egodistonic , dissonant or in conflict with the goals and needs of the ego.
Compulsion is understood to be any behavior that is repeated and that seems like a whim , that follows an exaggerated rule with the purpose of reducing the anxiety that an obsession generates. One of its most striking characteristics is the apparent resistance that accompanies it, since the subject does not always want to do it or is not convinced of its potential usefulness; Above all, adults who suffer from OCD do not find meaning in their compulsions, and they do not feel pleasure in letting themselves be carried away by them.
Suppose a person has an obsession with security. The fear of suffering a problem of this nature generates great anxiety and leads to OCD: the subject needs to check that the door of his house is properly closed . In this way, when he is at home, he repeatedly goes through the door and pushes it to confirm that it is closed correctly. This OCD, classified as a verifier (see explanation below), prevents him from leading a normal life since the person constantly interrupts his activities to go to control the door.
OCDs, therefore, can lead to disability . The patient, in addition to repeating behaviors, may experience an intense sense of guilt due to not being able to control the compulsion. Your family and friends, meanwhile, may get angry about your behavior.
To treat an OCD, it is possible to resort to psychotherapy (either behavioral, cognitive or a combination of both) and the provision of drugs . In the case of drugs , they aim to minimize symptoms through an action on serotonin , an important neurotransmitter. The paroxetine , the fluvoxamine and fluoxetine are some of the drugs commonly prescribed for that treatment of OCD.
Most common types of OCD:
* verifiers : as expressed in the example of the person who checks over and over again if he has locked his door, this type of OCD is characterized by an excessive inspection of certain elements to protect himself from a very serious event. There are those who constantly monitor electrical connections, gas outlets and drawers, among many other objects, to make sure they avoid accidents of various kinds. It is important to note that your concern is not only for your own well-being, but for that of others;
* Washers and cleaners : in this case, the obsessions are aimed at preventing the spread of certain diseases or contamination . Dirt is the worst enemy of a person with OCD of this type, which is why not only do they repeatedly clean every room in their homes, but they make sure to wear gloves and disinfect their hands after each session. As is to be expected, they never manage to feel the security they seek — involuntarily — with their compulsions;
* Accumulators : unlike the previous two types, which are obsessed with the state of certain objects and the consequences that it can cause them, accumulators are dedicated to collecting things that for most people may seem insignificant, and they cannot get rid of them.