Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Research Paper Example Worried that she might have an allergic attack, she cleans the house every couple of hours, never seemed to be satisfied that she did it right two hours ago. This action continues throughout the day, leaving little or no room for her other activities that are equally essential (Mayo Clinic Staff). Typically, obsessive compulsive disorder makes a person go through repeated actions that mainly originates from having distressing thoughts. These thoughts make the individual do or perform a certain action that is done over and over again in order to pacify the stress and anxiety that he or she is feeling (NIH: National Institute of Mental Health). The obsessions which come about constantly are often unreasonable, quite disturbing and in fact have no actual basis. The individual who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder eventually realizes that the obsessive feeling and thoughts he or she is currently having distorts reality; and they feel incapable to control them because they go thr ough the same motions again and again (Mental Health America). Trying to stop or ignore the obsessions only heightens the feelings of apprehension and distress; while doing rituals or compulsions give short-term relief from the stress and discomfort brought about by having obsessions. Unfortunately, having obsessive compulsive disorder upsets a person’s daily living schedules and activities because the obsessions and subsequent compulsions makes it hard to concentrate in doing the normal activities which the person was accustomed to. The rituals or repetitive actions takes hours to do, sometimes the whole day making it quite impossible for the individual with obsessive compulsive disorder little time to do something more productive. If obsessive compulsive disorder is not properly addressed overtime, it can have a negative impact on all the aspects of a person’s life (The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)). The theoretical causes of obsessive compulsive d isorder are biology, environment and inadequate seratonin. These causes are considered to be hypothetical since the true or actual cause of obsessive compulsive disorder is not fully known (Mayo Clinic Staff). Biology pertains to the study of plants and animals, which includes the normal chemistry and role of the brain in relation to the other parts of the body. It is contemplated by researchers that obsessive compulsive disorder is an end result of an irregular change in the normal working condition of the brain circuits, which may be due to an inadequate level of serotonin, a chemical messenger within the brain (Mayo Clinic Staff). The insufficient amount of such brain chemical affects the normal communication of brain parts that ultimately gives rise to the occurrence of obsessive compulsive disorder (Mental Health America). The environment is also said to contribute in the occurrence of obsessive compulsive disorder because of some behavior-related habits, which were acquired du ring the growing and developmental phase of a particular individual (Mayo Clinic Staff). The habits are generally inculcated from childhood to early teens where various factors that stem out of one’s surroundings are easily assimilated and are considered normal even if they are not within the norm or are socially unacceptable. Obsessive compulsiv