Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a chronic anxiety disorder in which a person experiences recurrent, unwanted, disturbing thoughts (called “obsessions”) and performs repetitive, often ritualized actions (called “compulsions”) that they feel powerless to stop or control. These thoughts and actions are often accompanied by feelings of anxiety or dread that something terrible is going to happen.
OCD was once thought to be a rare disorder; new research, however, has revealed that from 2% to 3% of the general population will have OCD at some point in their lives -- as many as 5-6 million people. OCD seems to effect an equal number of men and women and, while some people develop symptoms in childhood, many others do not develop symptoms until their teenage or early adult years. The average age of onset for symptoms tends to be around 19-21, with most people describing a slow and gradual build-up of obsessions followed by compulsions.
Of course we all feel "blue" from time to time. The loss of a loved one, an illness, and everyday disappointments can make anyone feel overwhelmingly sad. But sometimes, feeling "down" can be serious. If the feeling lasts for more than a few weeks and significantly interferes with everyday activities like sleeping, eating, socializing or simply enjoying aspects of life, you may be suffering from clinical depression -- a term that will be defined a bit latter.
Like other illnesses, clinical depression should be taken seriously. Depression is a real, treatable illness that is not "just something you have to live with." It has many components and it effects people differently depending on an number of things, including age and gender. The way depression feels to you, and how it effects you, is what's important.
Although worry is a normal part of life, persistent worry and accompanying anxiety (lasting 6 months or longer) about health, work, money or family -- even when there is no sign of trouble -- is not a part of normal life. Constant and uncontrollable worry and accompanying anxiety may represent a mental health condition known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD.
GAD is a long-term condition that can last for many years before you think to seek help for it. Many people with GAD believe that their anxiety or nervousness about life is a “personality flaw” and have just put up with it, often at the expense of relationships, self-perception and self-esteem. Yet GAD is a real illness, and one with treatment options that can help relieve the anxiety you feel by simply “being.”
|
