thoughts<\/a> are ideas, images or impulses that enter the individual’s mind again and again. They are almost invariably distressing (because they are violent or obscene, or simply because they are perceived as senseless) and the sufferer often tries, unsuccessfully, to resist them.<\/p>\nWhat are compulsions?<\/h2>\n
Compulsive acts or rituals are behaviours that are repeated again and again. It is performed in order to neutralize the anxiety caused by the obsession. The basic assumption here is that one should not have such a thought and bad will occur as a consequence. To avoid the bad from happening, a compulsion is carried out. This behaviour is often recognized by the individual as pointless and repeated attempts are made to resist it; in very long-standing cases, resistance may be minimal.<\/p>\n
The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming and interfere significantly with the person’s normal routine,<\/strong> occupational functioning, usual social activities, or relationships. A patient with OCD may have an obsession, a compulsion, or both. \u2013 Kaplan and Sadock, ICD<\/p>\nHow to manage OCD effectively?<\/h2>\n
OCD is a very difficult and debilitating disorder<\/strong>. The more one tries to \u2018stop\u2019 the obsessions or refrain from acting on it, the harder it gets to actually do so. Trying to \u2018get rid\u2019 of it only ends up making it worse. Therefore, the approach has to be that of graceful defence rather than a violent fight with it. Here are some pointers:<\/p>\n\n- \n
Mindset:<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remember that \u2018the more you resist, the harder it will persist. There is already a layer of intense anxiety when one is suffering an obsession. We only add another layer when we try to \u2018stop it\u2019 from happening. Therefore, instead of trying to \u2018get rid of\u2019 it, remember that the only way out of it is \u2018through it\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Nature of obsessions and related anxiety:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEmotions, anxiety in this case by nature, build, peak, and subside like waves. When we learn to allow the anxiety <\/strong>take its course, it often passes within a short time (often within a few minutes). Which means, that the thought by itself isn\u2019t the problem, but our interaction with it is! Instead of promoting the ineffective thinking at that time, if we focus on \u2018observation\u2019 of ourselves, the thinking gradually reduces.<\/p>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/What-is-OCD.jpg\")
<\/p>\n