Obsessional neurosis. Syndrome of obsessive states. Reasons and how to get rid

The condition is not any particular disease. Many have repeatedly faced thoughts about whether they forgot to close the front door or turn off the iron. A large number of otherwise healthy people have this mild degree of obsessive-compulsive disorder (approximately one in four people suffer from it). At first glance, such harmless anxiety is only on the way to the development of the true form of the disease. The obsessive compulsive disorder takes on a particularly acute form in two percent of cases, forcing people literally from unfounded fears. The quality of life of patients drops sharply, sometimes they try to isolate themselves completely from the outside world, losing all interest in life.

So what is obsessive compulsive disorder?

If we turn to the scientific definition, then obsessive-compulsive disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, can be considered the occurrence of unreasonable and overwhelming thoughts, memories, fears and doubts. The disease can be chronic, markedly progressive or single (episodic). SNS can be divided into two periods: 1) A period of relative calm, when the patient can fight seizures; 2) An acute period in which the patient is characterized by an irresistible desire to indulge his pathological manias.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is still a matter of controversy. It was not possible to finally find out the cause of this disease. A number of authors adhere to the theory that obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of schizoid and schizopathy. Others, in turn, refer this disease to cycloid burden.

In a number of studies, it was found that obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome is a consequence of some real events that have changed depending on the current situation and situation. It is customary to assign a large role to traumatic experiences and factors such as constant overwork, concomitant

The treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders is divided into several separate groups, each of which has its own characteristics.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The well-known American psychiatrist Jeffrey Schwartz promotes the method of treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy, the essence of which is that patients are required to resist bouts of obsession, try to somewhat change and simplify the “rituals” associated with their manias. The basis of this technique is an attempt to realize the patient's illness and a gradual resistance to emerging symptoms. Here it is important to draw a clear line between which of the symptoms are truly dangerous, and which are only part of the patient's imagination.

Medical therapy with psychotropic drugs

If the obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome is accompanied by depression, the patient is prescribed antidepressants of the serotonin uptake inhibitor group, which help to fight the disease more actively. When it comes to the chronic stage of the disease, antidepressants are prescribed atypical antipsychotics. It is extremely appropriate in this case to combine medication with cognitive-behavioral therapy. In cases of severe anxiety, it would be useful to prescribe tranquilizers.

Physiotherapy

In obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome, it is useful to take warm baths, lasting about 20 minutes, with a cool compress applied to the head, rubbing with water at 23-31 ° C, as well as bathing in sea or river water.

In detail about obsessive thoughts: what is it, treatment

Syndrome of obsessive states and thoughts - OCD. What is this mental mechanism, and how to get rid of obsessive thoughts and fears?

Greetings friends!

For me, this article is very important because I am familiar with this problem from my own experience.

And if you are reading it, you may have encountered something like this yourself, and do not know how to deal with it.

It will be not only about the knowledge of psychology, but even more importantly, about your own experience, feelings and important subtleties, which, in order to know, you need to go through it yourself.

I want you to apply and test what will be discussed in this article on your own practical experience, and not on someone else's words that you heard or read somewhere. After all, nothing and no one can replace your own experience and awareness.

Somewhere I will repeat myself in the course of the article, but only because these are very important points that I want to draw your special attention to.

So, intrusive thoughts, what is it?

In psychology, there is such a thing as "mental chewing gum." This name alone should tell you something - a sticky, viscous, addictive thought.

Obsessive thoughts, obsessive states or obsessive internal dialogue - scientifically OCD (), otherwise called obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This is a mental phenomenon in which a person has a painful feeling of forced appearance in the head of some repeatedly repeated information (some thoughts), which often leads to obsessive actions and behavior.

Sometimes a person, exhausted by obsession, himself invents some behavior for yourself action-ritual, for example, counting some numbers, numbers of passing cars, counting windows or pronouncing certain "stop words (phrases)" to yourself, etc. etc., there are many options.

He invents this behavior (action) as a way of some protection from his obsessive thoughts, but in the end these "action-rituals" themselves become obsessions, and the situation only gets worse over time, because these actions themselves constantly remind a person of his problem, reinforce and amplify it. Although this can sometimes help in moments, it is all one-time, short-term and does not get rid of OCD.

Mechanism of occurrence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

No matter how strange it may seem to someone, but the main reason for the emergence and development of obsessive states, in whatever form it manifests itself, are: firstly, the formed the habit of constantly having an internal dialogue with oneself, moreover, in an automatic (unconscious) way on any exciting old or new occasion;secondly, it attachment to some of their beliefs (ideas, attitudes) and deep faith in those beliefs.

And this obsessive thinking, to a greater or lesser extent, is present in many people, but many do not even know about it, they just think that it is right, that this is a normal way of thinking.

Having become habitual, an obsessive internal dialogue manifests itself not only in what is important for a person, but also in any everyday, daily and new situations. Just watch yourself carefully and you will quickly understand.

But more often this is manifested in what a person is obsessed with, what worries him greatly and for a long time.

From the constant scrolling of a monotonous, restless (often frightening) and essentially useless internal dialogue, such fatigue can pile up that, apart from the desire to get rid of these thoughts, there is no other desire. Gradually, this leads to fear of one's own thoughts, before their appearance, which only aggravates the situation.

A person loses freedom and becomes a hostage of an obsessive state. There is insomnia, VVD symptoms () and almost constant, increased anxiety.

Actually, the general internal anxiety and dissatisfaction for some reason led to the possibility of this problem, but this is the topic of other articles.

Obsessive ideas (thoughts) in their essence.

What are obsessive thoughts in general in their inner essence?

It is very important to understand that obsessive thoughts are those thoughts that, without our will, make us think about something. As a rule, these are straining, monotonous (monotonous) internal scrolling dialogs the same mental plot, just in different ways. And this unconscious stream of thoughts in the head can so absorb attention that at that moment everything else that is happening around almost ceases to exist.

An obsessive state, as a function of the brain, oddly enough, has its own natural task, it plays a certain role and is something like a "reminder", "signal" and "enforcer" that push a person to something.

Many of you may now be thinking, and here is some kind of “reminder” and “signal”, because obsessive thoughts are still just thoughts.

Actually, it's not just thoughts. And the main difference between obsessive thoughts and ordinary, logical ones is that these thoughts, despite all their often seeming reasonableness, do not contain anything healthy in their internal filling.

These irrational, emotional thoughts, as a rule, are always connected with our fears, doubts, resentments, anger, or with something important and disturbing us. These thoughts are always based on an emotional charge, that is, their basis is emotion.

And what can be useful in this obsessive mechanism?

The Imposing Signal is called a signal that informs us about something. This mechanism is mainly designed to automatically remind and focus our attention on what we consider important to ourselves.

For example, if you have a loan from a bank, you need to pay it off, but you don’t have money right now, and if you are a sane person, you will look for a solution. And in many ways you will be helped by obsessive thoughts, which, whether you want it or not, will often or constantly, at any time of the day or night, remind you of the situation that has arisen so that you resolve it.

Another example of the usefulness of this intrusive feature.

What is so vitally important that a person can think about that can bring him to an obsessive state?

About money, better jobs, better housing, personal relationships, and so on. For example, a person has a goal, and he begins to constantly think about it, makes plans, not looking up, does something and continues to think about it.

As a result, if it is non-stop, it goes on for a long time, there may come a moment when, having decided to take a break, he tries to switch and occupy himself with something else, but notices that he continues anyway. unconsciously reflect on your important goal.

And even if he tries to tell himself with willpower and sound reasoning “stop, I need to stop thinking about this, I need to rest,” it won’t work right away.

Obsessive thoughts, in this example, make a person think about the important. That is, they perform a completely useful role, not allowing a person to stop there, but at the same time, without caring about his health at all, because this is none of their business, their only role is to signal, remind and push.

The very occurrence of an obsessive state - dangerous and harmful for us - is a sign that failures in the psyche have begun.

Just keep in mind: no matter what important you do, if you don’t give yourself a good rest, it can lead to any disorders, chronic fatigue, increased anxiety, obsessive-compulsive states and neurosis.

There is only one conclusion - no matter how valuable and useful what you are doing, and what important things you think about, you must always take breaks, stop and allow yourself to have a good rest emotionally, physically and especially mentally, otherwise everything can end badly.

Imposing thoughts on an alarming (frightening) occasion

Obsessive thoughts can be associated with something natural and completely justified, or with something completely absurd, frightening and illogical.

For example, thoughts related to health, when a person, having felt some kind of painful symptom, begins to worry, think about it, and the further, the more he frightens himself. My heart stabbed or pounded hard, immediately thought: "Something is wrong with me, maybe my heart is sick." A person gets hung up on this symptom, worries, and obsessive thoughts arise about this, although in reality there is no disease. It was just a symptom caused by some disturbing thoughts, fatigue and internal tension.

But you can’t just take them and immediately ignore them. Perhaps it really makes sense to listen to these thoughts, because you really can have some kind of physical illness. In this case, consult a doctor. If, after all the tests, you were told that everything is fine with you, but you still continue to worry, go to the second doctor, but if it is confirmed there that you are healthy, then you are, and you are now just prone to OCD .

Other people are attacked by the obsessive thought to harm and even kill someone close to them or do something to themselves. At the same time, a person does not really want this, but this very thought haunts and frightens him with the fact that it comes to his mind at all.

In fact, this is a proven fact: there is no recorded case in the world that would lead to terrible consequences. Just the presence of these obsessive thoughts keeps a person from such actions. And the fact that they arise indicates that you not inclined to it, otherwise it wouldn't scare you.

Those who are inclined to something like this, they do not experience within themselves. They either act or wait, that is, they really want it and do not worry about it. If this scares you, then you are not like that, and this is the main thing.

Why did you have your problem? The following happened to you. Some crazy thought once visited you, and instead of saying to yourself: “Well, stupid things can come to mind,” and not attaching any importance to this, you would leave yourself alone, get scared and begin to analyze.

That is, at that moment some thought visited you, you believed it and believed that since you think so, it means that you are like that and can do something bad. You trusted without solid grounds this irrational thought, not knowing what is so absurd and can visit any healthy person, this is quite an ordinary phenomenon. That thought, in turn, triggered an emotion in you, in our case, the emotion of fear, and off you go. Later, you got hung up on this thought because it scared you, began to analyze a lot and endowed it with power (importance), so you now have a problem, and not at all because you are some kind of abnormal or mentally ill, that you can and want to do something terrible. You just have a disorder that is definitely treatable, and you definitely won’t do anything bad to anyone.

Thoughts themselves cannot force you to do something, for this you need a real, strong desire and intention. All they can do is make you think, but nothing more. This, of course, is also very unpleasant, and how to deal with it, how to get rid of obsessive thoughts, will be below.

For others, obsessions may be related to everyday things, for example, "did I turn off the stove (iron)?" - a person thinks and checks a hundred times a day.

Some are afraid of getting infected with something and constantly or repeatedly wash their hands during the day, wash their apartment (bath), etc.

And someone for a long time can worry and obsessively think about their appearance (), or constantly worry and think about their behavior in public, control over themselves and their status in society.

In general, everyone has their own, and no matter how scary or acceptable what is imposed, it is all essentially the same - OCD only in different manifestations.

An example of how obsessive thinking can manifest itself

Let's briefly, using a simple example, see how often the habit of obsessive thinking can manifest itself, and what physically strengthens and reinforces this habit.

If you have a conflict or argument with someone, and some time has already passed, and the thoughts associated with the situation do not let go.

You continue to mentally, unconsciously scroll through this in your head, conduct an internal (virtual) dialogue with the opposite side, argue about something and find more and more justifications and evidence of your rightness or your guilt. You get angry, threaten and think: "You should have said such and such or done such and such."

This process can go on for quite some time until something grabs your attention.

You worry and get nervous over and over again, but in fact you are engaged in the most real, very harmful absurdity, which is reinforced and automatically moved emotional obsession state and anxiety.

The only right thing to do in this situation is to stop thinking about it, no matter how much you would like it and no matter how important you think it is.

But if you give in, and this compulsive process drags on, then it can be very difficult to gather yourself internally and stop the internal dialogue.

And you can exacerbate the problem even more if at some point you realize that you are not in control of the situation at all, you become even more afraid of these thoughts, you start fighting them in order to somehow distract yourself, and you start blaming and scolding yourself for everything that is now is happening to you.

But the guilt for everything that happens to you is not only yours, but also in the running mechanism, which has both a mental basis and a physical and biochemical component:

• certain neurons are excited, and stable neural connections are created, at which automatic reflex response;
• the body produces stress hormones (cortisol, aldosterone) and a mobilizing hormone - adrenaline;
• the autonomic nervous system (ANS) starts up, and somatic symptoms appear - the muscles of the body tense up; increased heart rate, pressure, tension, sweating, trembling in the limbs, etc. Very often there is dry mouth, fever, lump in the throat, shortness of breath, that is, all signs of VVD (vegetative-vascular dystonia).

Remember: what to scold and be angry with yourself in this situation - a crime against yourself, much here simply does not depend on you, it takes time and the right approach to stabilize all these symptoms, which will be discussed below.

By the way, you should not be afraid of these symptoms listed above, this is a completely normal reaction of the body to your anxiety state. The same as if there were real a threat, for example, a huge dog would run at you, and you would naturally be afraid of it. Immediately, the heart would pound, the pressure would rise, the muscles would tighten, breathing would become faster, and so on. These unpleasant symptoms are the consequences of the release of chemical elements and adrenaline, which mobilizes our body at the moment of danger.

Moreover, notice and realize the fact that all this happens in our body not only at the moment of a real threat, but also during fictitious, virtual, when there is no real danger now, no one attacks you, and nothing falls from above. The danger is only in our head - we think about something restless, wind ourselves up with some kind of disturbing thoughts and begin to tense up and get nervous.

The fact is that our brain simply does not feel the difference between what is happening in reality and a mental (mental) experience.

That is, all these strong, unpleasant and frightening symptoms can easily be caused by disturbing (negative) thoughts that will provoke some unwanted emotions, and those, in turn, unpleasant symptoms in the body. This is what many people constantly do, and then, in addition, they begin to be afraid of these natural symptoms and even bring themselves to PA () and.

Now, I think it will be difficult for you to immediately realize this, because this moment of the relationship between the psyche and the body requires a more detailed and deep explanation, but this will be discussed in other articles, but now, so that you can slowly begin to understand yourself, I will Again I suggest learning to observe yourself, your thoughts and emotions.

Understand where and what comes from, how thoughts, emotions and other related sensations arise; what happens unconsciously and what we consciously influence; how much it all depends on us, and how your thoughts affect your current state.

How to get rid of obsessive thoughts, fears on your own?

First of all, you need to realize the fact that you cannot completely believe everything that comes to your mind, and you cannot associate (identify) yourself, your "I" only with your thoughts, because we are not our thoughts. Our thoughts are only a part of ourselves. Yes, very important, intellectual, necessary for us, but only a part of us.

Logic (thinking) is our main ally, it is a magnificent tool given to us by nature, but we still need to know how to use this tool correctly.

Most people are sure that ALL our thoughts are only our own thoughts, it is we who invent them and then think them over.

Indeed, since some thoughts arise in our head, then these are, of course, our thoughts, but besides this, they are to a large extent derivatives of various external and internal factors.

That is, what we can experience, and what thoughts now come to our mind, does not depend only on us whether we like it or not. All this directly will be connected with our mood at the moment (good or bad) and will be a consequence of circumstances already beyond our control and past experience.

If we had other attitudes, a different mood, a different past, for example, we would have been born to different parents or would now live in Africa - there would be completely different thoughts.

If some negative moment in the past had not happened to us, there would not have been a bad experience, therefore, there would not have been any obsessive thoughts.

When we associate ourselves, our "I" only with our thoughts, when we are sure that our thoughts are WE, then there is nothing left for us but to deeply believe in everything that comes to mind, but it can come such...

In addition, it is very important to realize that we are able to observe our thoughts, comment on them, evaluate, condemn and ignore them. That is, we are what can be attended to outside of thinking to be aware of oneself outside one's thoughts. And this suggests that we are not only our thoughts, we are something more - what can be called a soul or some kind of energy.

This is a very important point in solving this problem. It is necessary to stop identifying yourself with your thoughts, stop believing that they are you, and then you will be able to see them from the side (detached).

Our body is talking to us all the time. If only we could take the time to listen.

Louise Hay

If you start observing yourself and your thoughts, you will quickly notice the fact that most of our thoughts in the head are nothing more than automatic thoughts, that is, they arise unconsciously, on their own without our desire and our participation.

And what is most interesting, most of these thoughts are repeated every day. These are 80-90% the same thoughts only in different variations.

And these are not just someone's words, this is a confirmed scientific fact based on numerous studies. In fact, every day we most often think and scroll through the same thing in our heads. And you can track it yourself.

Second step which I briefly wrote about in the article "", you cannot in any way fight obsessive thoughts, resist and try to get rid of them, dismiss them and forget.

Take care of yourself: if you try very hard not to think about something, then you already think about it.

If you strive to get rid of thoughts, switch or somehow drive them away, then they will overcome even stronger and more persistently.

Because by resisting themselves endow them with an even greater emotional charge and only increase internal tension, you begin to worry and get even more nervous, which, in turn, intensifies the symptoms (unpleasant physical sensations) that I wrote about above.

So the key point is do not struggle with thoughts, do not try to distract yourself and get rid of. In this way, you will save a lot of energy that you are now wasting on fighting them, without getting anything in return.

How to stop the obsessive internal dialogue if you can not fight?

At the moment when you were visited by obsessive thoughts, and you realized that these thoughts do not tell you something really necessary (useful) - it's just from time to time, repeatedly, like a broken record, a repetitive internal dialogue that gives you something something that is very disturbing and has not yet solved your problem - simply, impartially, indifferently, begin to ignore these thoughts, without trying to get rid of them.

Let these thoughts be in your head, allow them to be, and watch them. Look at them even if they scare you.

In another way, and perhaps it would be more correct to say, without entering into a dialogue with them, without analyzing You just contemplate them gently trying not to think about them.

Do not analyze what obsessive thoughts tell you, just observe them without delving into their essence. Always remember that these are just ordinary thoughts that you are not obliged to believe in, and you are not at all obliged to do what they say.

Don't avoid feeling

Also observe the emotions and sensations that arise in the body that cause these thoughts, even if they are very unpleasant for you. Take a closer look and feel what, how and at what moment is happening. This will give you an understanding of why your unpleasant symptoms occur and why at some point you start to feel worse.

Just like with thoughts, don't try to get rid of these feelings, give in to them even if you feel bad for a while. Remember that these are completely natural, although painful symptoms, and they have a reason. During the war, people did not experience such things, and after that they lived long and healthy.

These sensations are necessary accept and live to the end. And gradually inside of you, at a level deeper than our consciousness (in the unconscious), there will be a transformation of these sensations, and they themselves will weaken until at some point they stop bothering you at all. Read more about sensations in this.

Without struggling with internal processes, you can smoothly shift your attention to breathing, make it a little deeper and slower, this will speed up the recovery of the body (read more about proper breathing).

Pay attention to the world around you, people and nature - everything that surrounds you. Look at the texture of various things, listen to the sounds, and while doing something, direct all attention on this matter, that is, with full attention, plunge into real life.

Acting in this way, it is not necessary to do everything in the sequence I have described, do as you are doing now, the main thing is mindfully and attentively observe everything.

If thoughts return, let them be, but without mental analysis and struggle from your side.

Your indifference and calm attitude without fighting to these thoughts will significantly reduce or even deprive them of their emotional charge. With practice, you will understand this yourself.

Do not rush things, let everything take its natural course, as it should go. And these thoughts will surely go away. And they will leave without consequences or without serious consequences for you. It will turn out that you are calm and smooth, somewhere imperceptibly for yourself, naturally turn your attention to something else.

By learning not to fight thoughts, you learn to live when those thoughts are and when they are not. No annoying thoughts - fine, if there is - also normal.

Gradually, with a change in your attitude towards them, you will no longer be afraid of the appearance of any thoughts, because you realize that you can live in peace, without fear and without being tormented by them. And these thoughts in the head will become less and less, because without running away from them, without empowering them, they will lose their sharpness and begin to disappear on their own.

Arguing with obsessive thoughts and finding a logical solution

It happens that you, trying to get rid of a constantly overpowering, obsessive thought, are looking for some thoughts or mental solutions that would calm you down.

You are thinking intensely, perhaps arguing with yourself or trying to convince yourself of something, but by doing so, you only strengthen the problem from the inside.

In a dispute with obsessive thoughts, you won’t prove anything to yourself, even if you manage to find a thought that calms you for a while, obsessive thoughts will soon return in the form of doubts and anxieties, and everything will start in a circle.

Trying to replace thoughts or convince yourself of something doesn't work with obsessive states.

Obsessive States: Possible Mistakes and Caveats

Don't expect quick results. You could cultivate your problem for years, and in a few days change your attitude to thoughts, learn to observe them impartially, not succumbing to their provocation - it will be difficult, but this really needs to be learned. Some will have to overcome a strong fear, especially in the beginning, but it will get better later on.

Something you can succeed almost immediately, and someone will immediately feel better, others will need time to feel how it all happens, but everyone, without exception, will have recessions, the so-called "kickbacks" or "pendulum", when the past state and behavior are returned. It is important here not to be disappointed, not to stop and continue to practice.

Very harmful to talk with someone about your condition, about what you are experiencing, to share and discuss your experiences with a non-professional person.

This can only ruin everything. Firstly, because you once again remind yourself, your psyche, your unconscious about what is happening to you, and this does not contribute to recovery in any way.

Secondly, if the one to whom you are telling something, showing his initiative, begins to ask: "Well, how are you, is everything all right? Are you already well?" or "Never mind, it's all nonsense" - such questions and words can simply destroy the healing process. You yourself can feel what you feel at the moment when you were told this, take a closer look at your inner sensations, you are clearly getting worse, you begin to feel sick acutely.

Therefore, it is very important to exclude any conversations on this topic with other people, except for a specialist doctor. Thus, by not communicating what you are experiencing, you will remove a lot of reminders (internal messages) that you are supposedly sick, and stop developing your problem further.

Trying not to fight with obsessive thoughts, you watch them, but at the same time you internally want and try to get rid of them, fight them, that is, in fact, the same struggle takes place.

Therefore, a very important initial step here will be to capture and fix the self a wish get rid of intrusive thoughts. Do not follow this desire, just be aware of it within yourself.

You don't have to wait impatiently for these thoughts to go away and not to reappear.

It's impossible, because you can't fool the memory, but to induce amnesia, friends, well, it's imprudent. If you keep waiting for some of your thoughts to disappear and not come back, you are already creating resistance and struggle, which means that the problem will remain a problem, and you will continue to dwell on it.

The key to solving it is not that there will be no more of these or similar thoughts, but in your correct approach - in change in attitude (perception) towards them. And then you just won't care much about what comes to your mind from time to time.

Notice this fact when you are already immersed in an obsessive internal dialogue, or you have some kind of obsessive fear, sound logic completely stops working. You seem to be able to remember or think about something right and necessary at this moment, you can say sensible words to yourself, but if you didn’t succeed in immediately following them, then the logic is no longer perceived, the obsessive state stubbornly dictates its own. Even understanding all the absurdity of this obsession (and many people understand), it is impossible to get rid of it either by willpower or logic.

Impartial(no rating) conscious observation without logical analysis(because, in essence, obsessive thoughts are absurd, and even if in some cases they come on business, they only remind and signal that we need some practical steps to solve the problem, and not about what these thoughts need to think), without identifying yourself with this state (that is, to observe everything that happens inside you: the thought process and sensations from the outside, you are separate, the obsessive state (thoughts and sensations) are separate), and natural, soft, without resistance to these thoughts switching (when you don’t try in every way on purpose, by an effort of will, to get distracted, get rid of, forget, etc., that is, you accept everything that is happening to you now), is the most correct way out of the situation and the natural process of recovery (liberation from an obsessive state and thoughts), except for .

If you had done this in the beginning, you wouldn't have this problem now.

P.S. Always remember. In any case, no matter what your intrusive thoughts tell you, there is no point in delving into them repeatedly and scrolling through the same thing a hundred and a hundred times.

Even if some kind of obsession suddenly turns out to be justified and will inform you about a real case or some real problem, then you must solve it in a practical way ( actions), not thoughts. You just need to do what needs to be done; what the imposing thought tells you, and then there will be no reason to worry and think about it.

Sincerely, Andrey Russkikh

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a special form of neurosis in which a person has obsessive thoughts that disturb and disturb him, interfering with normal life. Suspicious, constantly doubting and incredulous people are predisposed to the development of this form of neurosis.

Obsessive compulsive disorder - symptoms

This disease is very diverse, and the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorders can vary significantly. They have an important common feature: a person unnecessarily draws on any object of reality, worries and worries about it.

The most common symptoms are:

• obsessive desire for complete sterility;
• obsessive dependence on the ideas of numerology, numbers;
• obsessive religious ideas;
• obsessive thoughts about potential aggression towards people - relatives or strangers;
• obsessive need for a certain order of objects;
• intrusive thoughts about orientation problems;
• an obsessive state of fear of contracting a disease;
• obsessive disposal of unnecessary things;
• obsessive thoughts about sexual perversions;
• multiple checks of light, doors, gas, electrical appliances;
• fear of unwittingly harming the health of others or their lives.

Despite the variety of symptoms, the essence remains the same: a person suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome involuntarily feels the need to perform certain rituals (compulsive actions) or suffers from thoughts. At the same time, an independent attempt to drown out this condition often leads to an increase in symptoms.

causes of obsessive compulsive disorder

This complex mental disorder occurs in people who are initially biologically predisposed to it. They have a slightly different brain structure and certain character traits. As a rule, such people are characterized as follows:

• sensitive, sensitive and subtle;
• having excessive demands on themselves and others;
• striving for order, ideal;
• brought up in a strict family with high standards.

Often, all this leads to the fact that certain obsessive states develop already in adolescence.

Doctors note one of the three forms of the course of the disease in the patient, and based on this, they choose the appropriate therapeutic measures. The course of the disease may be as follows:

• relapsing course;
• a course with persistent symptoms that last for years;
• progressive course.

Full recovery from such a disease is rare, but such cases do exist. As a rule, with age, after 35-40 years, the symptoms become less disturbing.

Obsessive compulsive disorder: how to get rid of?

The first thing to do is to consult a psychiatrist. The treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder is a long and complex process in which it is impossible do without an experienced professional.

After examining and diagnosing, the doctor will decide which of the treatment options is appropriate in this particular case. As a rule, in such situations, psychotherapeutic techniques are combined (suggestion during hypnosis, rational psychotherapy) with drug treatment, the doctor can prescribe large doses of chlordiazepoxide or diazepam. In some cases, neuroleptics are also used - triftazin, melleril, frenolon and others. Of course, it is impossible to carry out drug treatment on your own, it is possible only under the supervision of a doctor.

On your own, you can only normalize the day, eat at the same time three times a day, sleep at least 8 hours a day, relax, avoid conflicts and adverse situations.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a widespread human condition. As a temporary phenomenon present in most people. However, psychasthenic psychopathy is often observed, in which obsession becomes a character trait. 3% of adults suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. The obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome manifests itself in the form of a constant repetition of unwanted thoughts that cannot be overcome by one effort of the will. There is a feeling of violent thoughts.

In most cases, obsessive thoughts relate to the following areas of a person's life: health, illness, sexual relations, aggression, infection, morality, religion, accuracy etc. In all cases, thoughts involve either directly or indirectly harming oneself or others.

In obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome, obsessive actions of a person are also observed. They are repetitive, apparently aimless acts that resemble some kind of ritual. There are 4 main types of such acts: cleansing (washing hands or wiping objects surrounding a person); examination; actions aimed at dressing in a certain sequence or straightening clothes; account (sometimes manifested as a listing of objects surrounding a person aloud). Such obsessive counting can manifest itself in the form of thoughts (to oneself) and in the form of actions (out loud). Compulsive actions consist of subjective (attraction) and objective (ritual) components.

Obviously, mild forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder have an adaptive value for a person. Such phenomena divert attention from more unpleasant thoughts and actions. Rituals sometimes become an effective way to suppress anger or aggression. It is also impossible to exclude the possibility that the ritual is basically a protective behavior of a person, partly exaggerated. In some cases, obsessive-compulsive states can be quite difficult. Constant obsessive thoughts and acts cause pain and suffering to the patient, which leads to the fact that their protective role is lost. Sometimes obsessions resemble nervous tics.

The obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome has similar features with obsessive fears, but there are also differences between them. Such conditions significantly limit the freedom of a person, but at the same time he is fully aware that all these thoughts and actions occur in himself and are devoid of any common sense. However, the patient himself cannot suppress them, and all attempts to get rid of these conditions can only increase anxiety.

Simple phobias differ from obsessive-compulsive disorder in that the patient is not characterized by anxiety and discomfort until he encounters the object of his fear. Thus, phobias do not cause constant anxiety. In the case of social phobia, anxiety is quite difficult to overcome, because. such fear develops in the presence of people. At the same time, the patient is afraid that he will be condemned, observed and ridiculed. However, even here the experiences are not as pronounced as in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Neurosis is very different from obsessive-compulsive disorder. With neurosis, obsessive states become constant companions of a person, thereby poisoning his existence. They make their way into all spheres of human activity: work, leisure, communication. Any attempt to overcome these conditions leads to collapse and increased anxiety. On average, such neuroses begin to appear at the age of 20. Sometimes there are cases of teenage neuroses, extremely rarely they develop after 40 years. The disease can occur against the background of experienced stress: pregnancy, childbirth, sexual breakdowns, death of a relative, etc. But in 2/3 of cases, it is not possible to identify the true cause of the formation of the disease.

The neurosis proceeds chronically, in waves, sometimes there is an acute onset of the disease. In the case of mild forms of obsessive-compulsive disorders, the patient can continue his life activity, but in especially severe cases, complete disability may develop. Many patients are forced to hide their disease from others, their rituals and obsessive thoughts seem so ridiculous to them. The treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders is complex. Includes medication and behavioral therapy. In rare cases, resort to surgery.

Before using the drugs listed on the site, consult your doctor.

According to experts, each of us faces this problem at least once in a lifetime. This neurosis is most often called an obsession. At the same time, a person has constant, unwanted thoughts, from which it is impossible to get rid of, there is a feeling of violence of such thoughts. Quite an unpleasant state of affairs.

And therefore, we will talk with you today about what you need to know about obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome, symptoms, causes, how to get rid of unwanted thoughts.

Manifestation of the syndrome

The most common manifestation of this neurosis can be called constant tormenting thoughts that you forgot to do something when you left for work in the morning. For example, they didn’t turn off the gas, left the iron on, forgot to lock the door, etc.

Another manifestation of the syndrome can be called obsessive thoughts about illness or an accident, which must necessarily comprehend a person. Some perform a certain ritual before performing some important business. This is also one of the manifestations of the obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome, because a person is sure that without this ritual there will be no success in business.

It is important to note that the syndrome can manifest itself not only in obsessive "ideas", but also in fears, fantasies and representations. All these emotions and thoughts can be divided into three conditional groups:

* Intellectual - which include various fantasies, memories of something, representations of an event.

* Emotional - these include constantly present pathological fears, the so-called.

* Motor - manifested in the constant need to repeat certain movements (touch the tip of the nose, frequent washing of hands).

Such manifestations of obsessive thoughts are quite normal for a person, but only if they are temporary and do not interfere with normal life. But if the syndrome becomes a problem, you can get rid of it only with the help of treatment.

How can obsessive-compulsive disorder be distinguished from ordinary fears and worries? This can be done by paying attention to the characteristic manifestations of obsessive thoughts.

Characteristic features of the syndrome

Conditions and thoughts become permanent or appear for a very long period and prevent a person from living normally.

They are always accompanied by strong fear or have a pronounced painful character.

If the syndrome manifests itself in the form of rituals, certain movements, then after their implementation satisfaction occurs, but it is of a short-term nature.

It is important to note the fact that many people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorders do not pay attention to their problem. And if they notice, understand all the senselessness and uselessness of what is happening, then they do not see any threat in this state.

However, the syndrome is often accompanied by difficulties in concentrating and making decisions. The person becomes too irritable, gets tired quickly. He often has mood swings.

Given the opinion of experts on this issue, it must be said that a person suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder should seek medical help only in cases where these conditions interfere with normal living and communicating with others.

Causes of an obsessive state

But why does it turn out that some people suffer from the syndrome, while others are not affected at all? According to experts, one of the main reasons is the peculiarity of the human psyche. Some people have an innate predisposition to this neurosis due to the individual characteristics of the nervous system. Others are more resistant and have a nervous system resistant to neurosis.

The syndrome can be provoked by fears experienced in childhood, psychological trauma, cruelty on the part of parents or excessive guardianship on their part.

Protracted experiences, stress, frequent conflicts with others, and even overwork, which can also provoke a mental disorder, can lead to neurosis with obsessive thoughts and ideas.

Another cause may be brain injury, the consequences of a person suffering from meningitis or other organic damage.
Also, the syndrome is a constant companion of mental illness, such as schizophrenia.

A large percentage of people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorders are convinced that they can cope with the problem on their own, with a simple effort of will. They are confident that they can order themselves to get rid of obsessive thoughts. However, doctors say unanimously that this is a dangerous delusion that can only worsen a person’s condition.

Therefore, if you notice symptoms of manifestation of obsessive, annoying thoughts that prevent you from living, contact a specialist for help. It must be remembered that trying to get rid of them on your own will only drive the problem deeper without solving it. Thus, making the treatment of the syndrome long and complicated.

The main thing is not to be afraid to face the truth. Tell the psychologist about the problem and start as early as possible. In this case, it will be easier and easier to get rid of the syndrome, there will be more chances for success. Be healthy!

Svetlana, www.site