Our World On: OCD

This blog, my 6th blog, wow.. I've posted 6 blogs already?? That's insane! In my 6th blog, I will be talking about a mental illness that I know well... OCD. In this blog, I will be talking about symptoms, causes, personal experiences, etc.

Now, OCD is just a acronym for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is given that name because it is made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are urges or images that don't go away and are repetitive and unwanted. This also causes a lot of anxiety. For example, someone might worry about making people they love sick by bringing in germs. Obsessions are not thoughts people would normally worry or focus on and they are not about a person's character. 

Compulsions are actions. These actions are meant to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions. Compulsions may be behaviors like washing, cleaning and putting things in order in a certain way. On the other hand, some are not obvious to others like for example, some people will repeat things in their head. Some people think that they have to keep doing it until it feels ''right''. It's a way to cope with obsessions. 

I remember in grade 4, I had OCD, you could say that I still have it now but not as bad as I had it before. I remember I had made my bed and I didn't want anyone sitting on it or else it would be wrinkly, I even had my teddy bears all lined up and neatly put at the end of my bed. Also, when we would go on trips, I would fold everything so it would be perfectly neat and clean. I would even fold it more than once to make sure it was PERFECTLY done.

There isn't really a cause for OCD, but there are likely many different things involved such as family history, biology and life experiences. 

If you have this, do you have these? 
Thoughts, for example: I'm responsible for that accident, What if I get sick but don't know it and get my parents sick when I touch them?, etc. 
Physical feelings: Stomachaches, dizziness, racing heart, shallow breathing, headaches, muscle tension, etc. 
Emotions: Anxiety/worry/fear, sadness, shame, guilt, anger/rage.
Behavior: washing hands and body excessively, repeating certain sentences in multiples two to four times, doubting something has been done correctly, etc.

I've noticed that when someone has OCD that it has some effects in school, organization and focus, personal hygiene, etc. When I do my work now, it takes me a long time because I want everything to be nice and neat, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME. It affects my work because it takes me longer than I wanted it too. 

To end my post, I would like to thank whoever is reading. I hope these blogs help and interest people from all around, it still makes me happy that people from across the world could be reading my post, it just amazes me. Keep on reading! :) 


Sources:
1. http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/#.V0N_YYQrLIU
2. https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/obsessive-compulsive-disorder