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Obsessive compulsive disorder was first tackled by the great Sigmund Freud and he theorised that it was caused by unconscious conflicts which manifested themselves as symptoms. It has been widely documented and there are many people throughout history who have been retrospectively diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. Such great figures as Samuel Johnson, the great poet and literary critic, was documented as having elaborate rituals regarding doorways and stairs. Another, more contemporary, figure who has been very outspoken in the media about obsessive compulsive disorder is the footballer David Beckham, who has discussed his disorder at great length. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety disorder which manifests itself in the form of intrusive thoughts, which cause severe anxiety in the sufferer and generate compulsive and repetitive behaviours which are the mind’s strategy for reducing the anxiety. Symptoms of the disorder are varied and wide ranging but can include excessive washing or cleaning, hoarding and ritualistic behaviours such as turning a light switch on and off a specific number of times. It is the fourth most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in the world and it is believed that roughly one in fifty adults suffer from the condition. Obsessive compulsive disorder has been linked to abnormalities in the neurotransmitter of serotonin, and it has been theorised that the abnormalities this neurotransmitter exhibits have a direct correlation to obsessive compulsive behaviours. There have been various explanations for these abnormalities and one of them is the possibility of a genetic mutation in one of the genes related to serotonin transportation. Cognitive behavioural therapy has been utilised in a number of ways to help sufferers to manage and cope with their obsessions and compulsions and one such method is known as exposure and ritual prevention, which revolves around teaching a sufferer to gradually learn to tolerate the anxiety associated with not performing their patterns of behaviour. It focuses on ritual preventing by exposing the sufferer to their anxieties and then teaching them to ignore their compulsions through a gradual program of cognitive therapy. This method of treatment is considered to be the most effective there is and has helped many sufferers to overcome their fears and get on with life with the disorder having a minimal effect on their day to day lives. Once a person recognises and faces the causes of their anxiety it becomes increasingly easy for them to overcome their fears and enjoy a life free of. OCD treatments Warrington can help OCD sufferers to get on with their day to day lives, and Cheshire can help with a wide array of psychological disorders.
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