Five facts you probably didn’t know about OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, known as OCD, is a common anxiety-related mental health problem which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when individuals start to have obsessive thoughts, which turn into obsessive urges to carry out the same behaviours or rituals over and over again.

These obsessions take over the person’s life and they become locked into a damaging cycle where they are unable to avoid carrying out their compulsions. It can, and frequently does, get to the stage where these compulsions start to take over their lives and take up a lot of their thoughts, time and energy – simply to keep the anxiety at bay.

Mental health experts have recently shared five interesting facts about OCD, which may not have previously been known.

The first is that OCD often starts in young people. There are thought to be two ‘peaks’ when it can occur, either at the onset of puberty, between the ages of 8 and 12 or in late adolescence when the sufferer is aged between 18 and 22. Sufferers are from both genders but it’s likely to start younger in boys. There are even reported incidents of it starting as young as four or five.

Secondly, it is thought that there may be a genetic component to OCD, as many sufferers seem to have family members who also have the same condition. It has also been identified in identical twins.

Surprisingly, the third fact is that there could be a link between OCD and strep throat. Strep throat in children can develop into Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infection (known as PANDAS). OCD is one of these disorders and in some cases has been shown to appear overnight with the onset of Strep Throat.

Support from family members for people with OCD often backfires. They attempt to help the person overcome the anxiety, but end up enabling the behaviour by providing long-term assurance for anxiety, in place of medical treatment.

Finally, OCD can be conquered, especially if you seek appropriate treatment as soon as possible. People often feel embarrassed about seeking medical advice for OCD, but they should be aware that it is a common problem and can be easily treated with medication and therapy.

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