How do you stop your brain from doing something like.. thinking about a stupid idea that makes you nervous?
How do you stop your brain from doing something like thinking about a stupid idea that makes you nervous when you know the idea has no basis in reality, but it is so deeply engrained that It keep reappearing over and over. Every once in a while an idea will pop in my head that makes me very self concious, such as "oh no their going to think.. this is or that" then I will start acting different to compensate for this thought, thus making other people nervous.but at the same time my higher brains feels like I really don't care!! It's like an automatic idea my brain thinks, then I think, this is stupid.. but it still makes me feel uncomfortalbe. How do I stop retarded thoughts? Why am I cursed with the stupid stuff that doesn't matter , even popping into my head? I just hope I will have more control over my thoughts as I get older, but I am already 24.. I just want my brain to be okay with me no matter what anyone thinks, but It's like it doesn't feel it can stand on its own! Help
Answers:
I used to get that way a lot. I still do sometimes, but as I have gotten older, it has gotten easier. Part of it might be self-confidence, another part of it is that you just might be sensitive to your feelings and those feeling of others. Not an all bad thing, you just have to learn how to manage it.
One thought that helped me was to think about how many people there are in this world, and I am just one little person amongst them. So if I said something stupid, so what? Life goes on, and it is likely that the people I embarrassed myself in front of are just in my life briefly.
And then if you do embarrass yourself, so what? Does what other people think of me really matter? A little, but not enough for me to fuss about. They have flaws just like I do.
Just keep trying and practicing. Realize that you have value as a person and contributions to make towards the group of people you are interacting with. Just relax and enjoy life.
you could be bipolar or something like that, go get checked out at a doctor
You walk into a place like you own it, or you don't give a **** who owns it. Once you get that attitude, your on track.
just keep your self busy.. listen to a good music.. or a watch a movie.. reading books like that.. the best is to have sex..
hey! i know exactly what you are talking about and it's a form of anxiety. yours sounds like social anxiety disorder, i would recommend speaking with your doctor about going on medication for it! i have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and i went on effexor and xanax and it totally helped. goodluck!
you have to charge your brain batteries. they're not working anymore.Ü lol
practice, practice, practice; the brain is a muscle, if u practice u can make it stronger; meditate, try to relax and keep your mind empty; or look at something really gross while thinking about your favorite food, etc it is an awesome power takes lots of practice
i know how u feel i been there 2
I feel you on this one. i used to do the exact same thing until I realized it's easier (and funner) to just laugh at myself and take the embarassment than to dwell on the fact that I might get embarassed. Now, if there's something I'm scared to be embarassed of, I'll do it on purpose just to get it out of my system and laugh at myself. I'm goofy, but I love it.
could be you are biplar i guarantee it yeah them thoughts lol just dont so what yuor thoughts say and see a dr take se meds it helps i guess atleast your normal rightn soory good luck
Think of something else. Seriously. Everyone is cursed with retarded thoughts.
I have a list of topics I enjoy thinking about. When stuff comes up that is insane or that I have problems dealing with, I mentally scan my list of topics.
I also keep a specific spiritual genre book with me all just about all times, so that if I get a moment during the day I can leaf through it for positive thoughts. That helps alot too. So does taking a moment to call a friend and explain my insane thoughts. Then they tell me how stupid that thought is, and we laugh about it.
Do you abuse substances? By this I mean any amount of anything illegal and/or drinking solely for effect. Pain meds are illegal if you're not following the dosage, or they belong to someone else.
practice. at twice your age I still practice. repeatedly saying the serenity prayer clears my thoughts. hope you find what works for you. life is much better not thinking about what I have no control over.
Well, I think that this subconscious voice of yours is healthy. But if it is at the point where you CONSTANTLY think about what other people think and such, then maybe you should go see a therapist. I know people gringe at that idea, but they aren't there for "wackos." They are people there to listen to other people. It is actually very soothing and she/he will probably have some helpful hints or ideas to help you get over your inner voice of confidence or lack of..whichever you prefer. If you really hate that idea, just block it out. Just block out those thoughts when they come to you and think about something else. Or think the exact opposite of what the thoughts are telling you. I.E. You hair is goofy today. Think: My hair is so hot, everyone wishes they had my hair. That kind of self confidence leaks out onto people and they are very aware and kean perceptors of this type of behavior. When they see you acting like this, they will probably think you're very comfortable with yourself and wish they were like you!
Count. Clear the negative thoughts by counting and making sure that you verbally think about each number as you count. You can only think one conscious thought at a time if you concentrate so the simplest way to control it is to count. It really helps you to get to sleep too.
I am not being sarcastic. Ever hear of 'Bipolar? Manic? Schizophrenic? You need to talk to a professional NOW! This is out of your control. please seek help. There are a lot of medications that will help calm racing thoughts.
If this is a joke brought on by boredom, take a walk, burn it off.
My thoughts are with you.
I'm in your position also but I dont think you can stop such thoughts, they just come and go. You have to really gain more of that "I dont care" personality, if you think of what everyone is thinking of you, itll just make you anxious and nervous. You're deffinitly not cursed with this, your human, everyone thinks about everything but you just have to work on not getting it under your skin. You have to have that self-confidence. Dont worry too much of other's opinions, your you, be proud of it and if no one cant accept that then screw them.
"Over thinking, over analyzing, separates the body from the mind."
-Tool
You're a thinker and you naturally analyze every little detail. The anxiety of being wrong or cast out makes you extremely nervous, because deep down we all want to be accepted as who we are.
It's a curse and a blessing. Most people are not in tune with their inner self. However, being in tune with the self causes these thoughts to continue their work (wanted or not). Your brain probably keeps yapping even when you're trying to fall asleep, doesn't it?
I've tried a lot of methods (meditation, bio feedback, etc.) I still cannot let go of where I am. Do you also have trust issues?
It's not such a bad thing as the years go by. The key is learning how to channel this energy into something productive. For example, you should keep a journal of these thoughts, just to get them out. I blog like a fiend on my 360 page - it's my therapy.
I think we live life on many levels, not always according to what we believe or really want to be. Parents, girlfriends, wives, teachers, they are leave an imprint on our minds. For some with very active mind, this ends up as an unending series of what-ifs that can paralyse action. I suggest listen to your gut. Take each action as an experiment to test alternative views and action. Not everybody can think up alternatives. Also try meditation which is about understanding how the mind works and working with the mind.
OK, we all have that certain part of use that has wild, crazy, goofy thoughts. However if you cannot control your reactions/action to these thoughts then you need to go to your Doctor. Stress could be bringing on the strange thoughts. So, if you know you do not have any underlying mental / medical problems, and this has not gone on for years and years, no worries mate. It is prob stress. So take some time everyday to free write in a notebook,(just for your eyes) put all the 'thought in there" and then you can" get them outta your head." It helps to free write your problems, thoughts, hopes,ect.. Hope this helps.
This is quite common - don't freak out about it !
there is a technique called "thought stopping" where you just tell yourself "Stop ! Not going there !" and choose another train of thought.
see cnvc.org
to learn to understand yourself & others.\
Good Luck !
also, try Alanon if there is alcohol use in your family.
Definitely sounds like anxiety- maybe social, but maybe not. I would look into obsessive-compulsive disorder. It maybe something that you're self-conscious about, or related to something that worries you. It has become an obsession that you cannot stop yourself from thinking about. Try things to distract yourself from these thoughts. Put a rubberband around your wrist and snap it when you think this way or pick something pleasant to think about for when it happens. Or try writing when it happens. Write all about it- you might find a way to make sense of it all, which might bring you peace. Anxiety meds may be helpful at first, but they're only a "band-aid." I wouldn't recommend them unless this is related to post-traumatic stress. Try talking with a therapist instead. Someone else may be able to help you talk your way to understanding.
just don't think about it
You have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Effective treatments are available. Consult a Clinical Psychiatrist.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
The phrase "obsessive-compulsive" has worked its way into the wider English lexicon, and is often used in an offhand manner to describe someone who is meticulous or absorbed in a cause. Such casual references should not be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder; see clinomorphism. It is also important to distinguish OCD from other types of anxiety, including the routine tension and stress that appear throughout life. A person who shows signs of infatuation or fixation with a subject/object, or displays traits such as perfectionism, does not necessarily have OCD, a specific and well-defined condition.
To be diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, one must have either obsessions or compulsions alone, or obsessions and compulsions, according to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. The Quick Reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV-TR (2000) describes these obsessions and compulsions:
Obsessions are defined by:
1. Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress.
2. The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
3. The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
4. The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind.
Compulsions are defined by:
1. Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
2. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.
In addition to these criteria, at some point during the course of the disorder, the sufferer must realize that his/her obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable or excessive. Moreover, the obsessions or compulsions must be time consuming (taking up more than one hour per day), cause distress, or cause impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (Quick Reference from DSM-IV-TR, 2000).
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Symptoms and prevalence
* 2 Causes and related disorders
* 3 Demographic Features of OCD
* 4 Treatment
* 5 Neuropsychiatry
[edit]
Symptoms and prevalence
Modern research has revealed that OCD is much more common than previously thought. An estimated 1 in 50 adolescents and adults are thought to have OCD. Because of the condition's personal nature, and the lingering stigma that surrounds it, there may be many unaccounted-for OCD sufferers, and the actual percentages could be even higher.
The typical OCD sufferer performs tasks (or compulsions) to seek relief from obsession related anxiety. To others, these tasks may appear odd and unnecessary. But for the sufferer, such tasks can feel critically important, and must be performed in particular ways to ward off dire consequences and to stop the stress from building up. Examples of these tasks: repeatedly checking that one's parked car has been locked before leaving it; turning lights on and off a set number of times before exiting a room; repeatedly washing hands at regular intervals throughout the day.
Symptoms may include some, all or perhaps none of the following:
* Repeated hand-washing
* Specific counting systems - i.e. counting in groups of four, arranging objects in groups of three, having objects grouped in odd/even numbered groups, etc.
o One serious symptom which stems from this is "counting" your steps, e.g. you must take twelve steps to the car in the morning, etc.
* Perfectly aligning objects at complete, absolute right angles, etc. This symptom is shared with OCPD and can be confused with this condition unless it is realised that with OCPD it is not stress-related.
* Having to "cancel-out" bad thoughts with a good thought. Examples are:
o Imagining harming a child, and having to imagine (for example) a child playing happily to "cancel" it out.
o Unwanted sexual thoughts. Two classic examples are fear of being gay or fear of being a pedophile. In both cases, the sufferer will obsess over whether or not they are genuinely aroused by the thoughts.
* A fear of contamination; some sufferers may fear the presence of human body secretion such as saliva, sweat, tears or mucus, or excretions such as urine or feces. Some OCD sufferers even fear the soap they're using is contaminated. [1]
* A need for both sides of the body to feel even. As in, a person with OCD might walk down a sidewalk and step on a crack with the ball of their left foot. They might then feel the need to step on another crack with the ball of their right foot. Also, if one hand gets wet, the sufferer may feel very uncomfortable if the other is not.
* There are many other symptoms. It is important to remember that one must be diagnosed by a doctor to officially suffer from OCD in medical terms; furthermore possessing the symptoms above is not an absolute sign of OCD and vice-versa.
Obsessions are thoughts and ideas that the sufferer cannot stop thinking about. Common OCD obsessions include fears of acquiring disease, getting hurt, or causing harm to someone. Obsessions are typically automatic, frequent, distressing, and difficult to control or put an end to by themselves. People with OCD who obsess about hurting themselves or others are actually less likely to do so than the average person.
Compulsions refer to actions that the person performs, usually repeatedly, in an attempt to make the obsession go away. For an OCD sufferer who obsesses about germs or contamination, for example, these compulsions often involve repeated cleansing or meticulous avoidance of trash and mess. Most of the time the actions become so regular that it is not a noticeable problem. Common compulsions include excessive washing and cleaning; checking; hoarding; repetitive actions such as touching, counting, arranging and ordering; and other ritualistic behaviors that the person feels will lessen the chances of provoking an obsession. Compulsions can be observable — washing, for instance — but they can also be mental rituals such as repeating words or phrases, or counting.
Most OCD sufferers are aware that such thoughts and behavior are not rational, but feel bound to comply with them to fend off fears of panic or dread. Because sufferers are consciously aware of this irrationality but feel helpless to push it away, untreated OCD is often regarded as one of the most vexing and frustrating of the major anxiety disorders.
In an attempt to further relate the immense distress that those afflicted with this condition must bear, Barlow and Durand (2006) utilize an odd example. Strangely enough, they implore readers not to think of pink elephants. Their point lies in the assumption that many people will immediately create an image of a pink elephant in their mind even if told not to do so. The more one attempts to stop thinking of these colorful animals, the more they will succeed in generating these mental images. This phenomenon is termed: the “Thought Avoidance Paradox”, and it plagues those with OCD on a daily basis, for no matter how hard one tries to get these disturbing images and thoughts out of his/her mind, feelings of distress and anxiety inevitably prevail. Although everyone may experience unpleasant thoughts at one time or another, these are usually warranted concerns that are short-lived and fade after an adequate time period has lapsed. However, this is not the case for OCD sufferers. (K. Carter, PSYC 210 lecture, February 14, 2006).
People who suffer from the separate and unrelated condition obsessive compulsive personality disorder are not aware of anything abnormal with them; they will readily explain why their actions are rational, and it is usually impossible to convince them otherwise. People who suffer with OCPD tend to derive pleasure from their obsessions or compulsions. Those with OCD do not derive pleasure but are ridden with anxiety. OCD is ego dystonic, meaning that the disorder is incompatible with the sufferer's self-concept. Because disorders that are ego dystonic go against an individual's perception of his/herself, they tend to cause much distress. OCPD, on the other hand, is ego syntonic--marked by the individual's acceptance that the characteristics displayed as a result of this disorder are compatible with his/her self-image. Ego syntonic disorders understandably cause no distress (K. Carter, PSYC 210 lecture, April 11, 2006). This is a significant difference between these disorders.
Equally frequent, these rationalizations do not apply to the overall behavior, but to each instance individually; for example, a person compulsively checking their front door may argue that the time taken and stress caused by one more check of the front door is considerably less than the time and stress associated with being robbed, and thus the check is the better option. In practice, after that check, the individual is still not sure, and it is still better in terms of time and stress to do one more check, and this reasoning can continue as long as necessary.
Not all OCD sufferers engage in compulsive behavior. Recent years have seen increased diagnoses of Pure Obsessional OCD, or "Pure O." This form of OCD is manifested entirely within the mind, and involves obsessive ruminations triggered by certain thoughts. These mental "snags" can be debilitating, often tying up a sufferer for hours at a time. As of 2004, headway continues to be made by specialists. It is believed by many that Pure O OCD is in fact more prevalent than other types of OCD, although it is likely the most underreported as it is not visibly apparent, and sufferers tend to suffer in silence. In this disorder, the sufferer tries to "disprove" the anxious thoughts through logic and reasoning, yet in doing so becomes further entrapped by the obsessions. "Pure O" OCD is thought to be the most difficult form of OCD to treat.
Some OCD sufferers exhibit what is known as overvalued ideas. In such cases, the person with OCD will truly be uncertain whether the fears that cause them to do their compulsions are irrational or not. After some (possibly long) discussion, it is possible to convince the individual that their fears may be unfounded. It may be extra difficult to do ERP therapy on such a patient, because they may be, at least initially, unwilling to do it.
OCD is different from behaviors such as gambling addiction and overeating. People with these disorders typically experience at least some pleasure from their activity; OCD sufferers do not actively want to perform their compulsive tasks, and experience no tangible pleasure in doing so.
OCD is placed in the anxiety class of mental illness, but like many chronic stress disorders it can lead to clinical depression over time. The constant stress of the condition can cause sufferers to develop a deadening of spirit, a numbing frustration, or sense of hopelessness. OCD's effects on day-to-day life — particularly its substantial consumption of time — can produce difficulties with work, finances and relationships.
The illness ranges widely in severity. The illness affects many people and it is not cureable but can be treated with anti-depressants. This illness affects millions of people worldwide, and the number keeps growing.
[edit]
Causes and related disorders
It was the general belief in the 14th and 15th centuries that those who experienced blasphemous, sexual, or other obsessive thoughts were possessed by the devil. Based on this reasoning, treatment involved banishing the evil from the possessed patient through exorcism (Baer, Jenike, and Minichiello, 1968). This idea is no longer widely accepted and advancements in science have allowed many disorders to be better understood in both physiological and psychological terms. However, though more is now known regarding the psychological aspect of obsessions and compulsions, the definitive cause of OCD is still unknown.
In the early 1900s, Freud attributed obsessive-compulsive behavior to unconscious conflicts which manifested as symptoms (Baer, Jenike, and Minichiello, 1968). Even more recently OCD was linked to stressors or traumas that occurred during childhood (bad parenting and family problems, being bullied, for instance). However, subsequent research into this disorder has provided evidence to support the possibility that OCD is a biological problem.
There are many different theories about the cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some research has discovered a type of size abnormality in different brain structures. The majority of researchers believe that there is some type of abnormality in the neurotransmitter serotonin, among other possible psychological or biological abnormalities; however, it is possible that this activity is the brain's response to OCD, and not its cause. Serotonin is thought to have a role in regulating anxiety, though it is also thought to be involved in such processes as sleep and memory function. This neurotransmitter travels from one nerve cell to the next via synapses. In order to send chemical messages, serotonin must bind to the receptor sites located on the neighboring nerve cell. It is hypothesized that OCD sufferers may have blocked or damaged receptor sites that prevent serotonin from functioning to its full potential. This suggestion is supported by the fact that many OCD patients benefit from the use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)—a class of antidepressant medications that allow for more serotonin to be readily available to other nerve cells. (For more about this class of drugs, see the section about potential treatments for OCD.) (BBC Science and Nature, accessed 4/15/06).
Recent research has revealed a possible genetic mutation that could be the cause of OCD. Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have found a mutation in the human serotonin transporter gene, hSERT, in unrelated families with OCD. Moreover, in his study of monozygotic twins, Rasmussen (1994) produced data that supported the idea that there is a “heritable factor for neurotic anxiety”. In addition, he noted that environmental factors also play a role in how these anxiety symptoms are expressed. However, various studies on this topic are still being conducted and the presence of a genetic link is not definite as of yet.
Technological advancements have allowed for the possibility of brain imaging. Using tools like positron emission tomography (PET scans), it has been shown that those with OCD tend to have brain activity that differs from those who do not have this disorder (Tennen, accessed 4/14/06). This suggests that brain functioning in those with OCD may be impaired in some way. A popular explanation for OCD is that offered in the book 'Brain Lock' by Jeffrey Schwartz, which suggests that OCD is caused by the part of the brain that is responsible for translating complex intentions (e.g., "I will pick up this cup") into fundamental actions (e.g., "move arm forward, rotate hand 15 degrees, etc.") failing to correctly communicate the chemical message that an action has been completed. This is perceived as a feeling of doubt and incompleteness which then leads the individual to attempt to consciously deconstruct their own prior behavior - a process which induces anxiety in most people, even those without OCD.
It has been theorized that a miscommunication between the orbital-frontal cortex, the caudate nucleus, and the thalamus may be a factor in the explanation of OCD. The orbital-frontal cortex (OFC) is the first part of the brain to notice whether or not something is amiss. When the OFC notices that something is wrong, it sends an initial “worry signal” to the thalamus. When the thalamus receives this signal, it in turn sends signals back to the OFC to interpret the worrying event. The caudate nucleus lies between the OFC and the thalamus and it prevents the initial worry signal from being sent back to the thalamus after it has already been received. However, it is suggested that in those with OCD, the caudate nucleus does not function properly, and therefore does not prevent this initial signal from recurring. This causes the thalamus to become hyperactive and creates a virtually never-ending loop of worry signals being sent back and forth between the OFC and the thalamus. The OFC responds by increasing anxiety and engaging in compulsive behaviors in an attempt to relieve this apprehension (BBC Science and Nature, accessed 4/15/06).
Violence is rare among OCD sufferers, but the disorder is often debilitating and detrimental to their quality of life. Also, the psychological self-awareness of the irrationality of the disorder can be painful. For people with severe OCD, it may take several hours a day to carry out the compulsive acts. To avoid perceived obsession triggers, they also often avoid certain situations or places altogether.
It has been alleged that sufferers are generally of above-average intelligence, as the very nature of the disorder necessitates complicated thinking patterns, but this has never been supported by clinical data.
People with OCD may be diagnosed with other conditions, such as Tourette syndrome, compulsive skin picking, body dysmorphic disorder and trichotillomania. It is also interesting to note that there is some research demonstrating a link between drug addiction and obsessive compulsive disorder as well. There is a higher risk of drug addiction among those with any anxiety disorder (possibly as a way of coping with the heightened levels of anxiety), but drug addiction among obsessive compulsive patients may serve as a type of compulsive behavior and not just as a coping mechanism. Depression is also extremely prevalent among sufferers of OCD. One idea for the high depression rate among OCD populations was posited by Mineka, Watson and Clark (1998), who explained that people with OCD (or any other anxiety disorder, for that matter) may feel depressed because of an "out of control" type of feeling. There may also be a link between autism and Asperger syndrome and OCD.
Some cases are thought to be caused at least in part by childhood streptococcal infections and are termed P.A.N.D.A.S. (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections). The streptococcal antibodies become involved in an autoimmune process. Though this idea is not set in stone, if it did prove to be true, there is cause to believe that OCD can to some very small extent be “caught” via exposure to strep throat (just as one may catch a cold). However, if OCD is caused by bacteria, this provides hope that antibiotics may eventually be utilized to treat or prevent it (Belkin, accessed 4/12/06).
OCD in men at least may be partially caused by low oestrogen levels (external link about this is below).
[edit]
Demographic Features of OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder tends to be slightly more common in females than in males. Moreover, females are somewhat more likely to have lifetime prevalence of this disorder than are men (2.9% versus 2.0%). In a 1980s study of 20,000 adults from New Haven, Baltimore, St. Louis, Durham, and Los Angeles, the lifetime prevalence rate of OCD for both genders was recorded at 2.5%.
In regards to education, it was found that the lifetime prevalence of OCD is lower for those that have graduated high school as opposed to those who have not (1.9% versus 3.4%). However, in the case of college education, lifetime prevalence is higher for those who graduate with a degree (3.1%) than it is for those who have only some college background (2.4%). As far as age is concerned, the onset of OCD usually ranges from the late teenage years until the mid-twenties in both genders, but the age of onset tends to be slightly younger in males than in females (Antony, Downie, & Swinson, 1998).
[edit]
Treatment
OCD can be treated with Behavioral therapy (BT), Cognitive therapy (CT), medications, or any combination of the three. Psychotherapy can also help in some cases, while not one of the leading treatments. According to the Expert Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1995, Vol. 54, supplement 4), the treatment of choice for most OCD is behavior therapy or cognitive behavior therapy.
The specific technique used in BT/CBT is called Exposure and Ritual Prevention (also known as Exposure and Response Prevention) or ERP; this involves gradually learning to tolerate the anxiety associated with not performing the ritual behavior. At first, for example, someone might touch something only very mildly "contaminated" (such as a tissue that has been touched by another tissue that has been touched by the end of a toothpick that has touched a book that came from a "contaminated" location, such as a school.) That is the "exposure." The "ritual prevention" is not washing. Another example might be leaving the house and checking the lock only once (exposure) without going back and checking again (ritual prevention). The person fairly quickly habituates to the (formerly) anxiety-producing situation and discovers that their anxiety level has dropped considerably; they can then progress to touching something more "contaminated" or not checking the lock at all — again, without performing the ritual behavior of washing or checking.
Pharmacologic treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine (Paxil, Aropax), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and fluvoxamine (Luvox) as well as the tricyclic antidepressants, in particular clomipramine (Anafranil). SSRIs prevent excess serotonin from being pumped back into the original neuron that released it. Instead, the serotonin can then bind to the receptor sites of nearby neurons and send chemical messages or signals that can help regulate the excessive anxiety and obsessive-compulsive thoughts. SSRIs seem to be the most effective drug treatments for OCD, and help about 60% of OCD patients, but do not "cure" OCD (Barlow & Durand, 2006). Other medications like gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and the newer atypical antipsychotics olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal) have also been found to be useful as adjuncts in the treatment of OCD.
The naturally occurring sugar Inositol may be an effective treatment for OCD. [2]
Recent research has found increasing evidence that opioids may significantly reduce OCD symptoms, though the addictive property of these drugs likely stands as an obstacle to their sanctioned approval for OCD treatment. Anecdotal reports suggest that some OCD sufferers have successfully self-medicated with opioids such as Ultram and Vicodin, though the off-label use of such painkillers is not encouraged, again because of their addictive qualities.
Studies have also been done that show nutrition deficiencies may also be a probable cause for OCD and other mental disorders. Certain vitamin and mineral supplements may aid in such disorders and provide the nutrients necessary for proper mental functioning. [citation needed]
For some, neither medication, support groups nor psychological treatments are helpful in alleviating obsessive-compulsive symptoms. These patients may choose to undergo psychosurgery as a last resort. In this procedure, a surgical lesion is made in an area of the brain (the cingulate bundle). In one study, 30% of participants benefited significantly from this procedure (Barlow & Durand, 2006).
[edit]
Neuropsychiatry
OCD primarily involves the brain regions of the striatum and the cingulate cortex, especially the striatum. OCD involves several different receptors, mostly H2, M4, nk1, NMDA, and non-NMDA glutamate receptors. The receptors 5-HT1D, 5-HT2C, and the mu opioid receptor exert a secondary effect. The H2, M4, nk1, and non-NMDA glutamate receptors are active in the striatum, whereas the NMDA receptors are active in the cingulate cortex.
The activity of certain receptors is positively correlated to the severity of OCD, whereas the activity of certain other receptors is negatively correlated to the severity of OCD. Those correlations are as follows:
Activity positively correlated to severity:
* H2
* M4
* nk1
* non-NMDA glutamate receptors
Activity negatively correlated to severity:
* NMDA
* mu opioid
* 5-HT1D
* 5-HT2C
The central dysfunction of OCD involves the receptors nk1, non-NMDA glutamate receptors, and NMDA, whereas the other receptors exert secondary modulatory effects.
Pharmaceuticals that act directly on those core mechanisms are aprepitant (nk1 antagonist), riluzole (glutamate release inhibitor), and tautomycin (NMDA receptor sensitizer). The drugs that are popularly used to fight OCD lack efficacy because they do not act upon the core mechanisms.
The page content post from users, we do not guarantee its accuracy. If you belong to the copyright which contains information, please contact us to remove it.
More Questions...