OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Essay by shampoo0000University, Bachelor'sA+, September 2010

download word file, 6 pages 0.0

Studies show that twenty two percent of Americans over the age of eighteen suffer from a mental illness. There are a numerous amount of mental illnesses that are discovered all over the world; one of these illnesses is obsessive-compulsive disorder. About every one in eighty two people have obsessive-compulsive disorder. The interesting thing about OCD is that many people that have it are very aware of their actions but they don't think that it is out of the ordinary. OCD is extremely common like asthma or diabetes, and the people who have can live a normal life. (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder, that it is characterized by repeated unwanted thoughts or obsessions and repetitive behaviors" (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder); in which victims feel that they cannot control. Along with these characteristics there are usually rituals that run jointly with OCD. Rituals such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are some of the most common.

Performing these rituals is the person's way to try and cope with the anxiety; but they usually only offer temporary relief, and when these tasks are not performed it usually increases anxiety (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Although the sufferers of OCD know that their anxiety is senseless and embarrassing their obsessions are always popping up without warning. Dr. John March and Christine Benton have a way of describing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in a different way:"OCD is much like the hiccups, it may not seem that bad at first; but as time goes on, they get harder and harder to live with. If you had them and they refused to go away, you naturally would have to fit in breathing, speaking, eating and every other function between hiccups" (March and Benton 10)The unpleasant reality of having OCD is that it has a...