OCD stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder. An individual with OCD tends to worry about many different things. One out of fifty adults currently suffer from this disorder, and twice that many have had it at some point in their lives. When worries, doubts, or superstitious beliefs become excessive then a diagnosis of OCD is made. With OCD it is thought that the brain gets stuck on a particular thought or urge and just can't let go. Most often people with OCD describe the symptoms as a case of mental hiccups that won't go away. This causes problems in information processing. OCD was generally thought as untreatable until the arrival of modern medications and cognitive behavior therapy. Most people continue to suffer even though they had years of ineffective psychotherapy. Today treatments tend to help most people with OCD. OCD is not completely curable but is somewhat treatable.
OCD is a potentially disabling condition that may persist throughout a person's life and get worse without treatment. An individual with OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but are extremely powerful and hard to overcome. OCD can occur in cases from mild to severe, but if left untreated can destroy a persons life and capacity to function at work, school, and even at home. Some of the worries and rituals can get out of control. An individual life becomes dominated by thoughts and behaviors they know make absolutely no sense but they are powerless to control. People with OCD tend to fear uncertainty; These people are plagued by persistent and recurring thoughts or "obsessions" that they find very disturbing. These thoughts usually reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears that have no basis on reality.
A person who suffers from OCD has constant doubts about their behaviors and constantly seeks assurance from other people. Many people who suffer from...