What causes OCD?

Way too lazy to type up everything… but from my class notes

Generalized biological vulnerability (so something you’re born with really, gene/genes)

Specific psychological vulnerability

• Early life experiences and learning
• Thoughts are dangerous/unacceptable
• Thought-action fusion (this is when thinking things means you have to act on it)

Distraction temporarily reduces anxiety - Increases frequency of thought = cycle… the more you perform the behaviors, the more you’re reinforcing it, and so the cycle continues…

Like ichibanarky said, really when your brain is sort of set up in that way you’re always going to be more sensitive to your obsessions I guess we can call them (I have this thing for dirt). The idea is not to let it control your life. This only turns into a disorder when it becomes dysfunctional or distressing… ichibanarky’s habits dont bother her and they dont interfere with her life… so you wouldnt really label her as having a disorder… If these things are bothering you or they start interfering with your life (for example taking 6 showers a day or being so distracted by something you cant focus) then yes you might have the disorder and talking to someone might help, for severe cases SSRIs (antidepressants) are prescribed, and they do help.

I was actually diagnosed with semi-severe OCD when I was about 6. I washed my hands every 30 minutes and scrubbed until they bled. I got over it, sort of, and it’s been raging again. I’ve heard you get severe outbreaks in OCD when something large changes in your life, (Hitting Puberty, Divorcing, going to college, when a toddler develops into a child, etc.).

Sometimes, you are born with it. I was most likely born with it. My mother has it as well.

Other times, you get it when you have a fear. I was afraid of germs when I was diagnosed, making me scrub my hands like crazy. When my parents divorced, my dad broke into a house we were staying at and tried to kill my mom. (My dad’s insane.) So whenever I go to bed, I shut all the windows, make sure the alarm is on, have a phone near my bed, and check the doors three times.

I have OCD. I have a thing about numbers, colors and organization. When I’m heating something in the microwave, the last digit can’t be a 5 or a 0. And when I eat something colorful like fruit loops, I have to eat them in order of the rainbow. Also, when I’m walking on floors with cracks in it (sidewalk, tile) I can’t step on the cracks and I have to count my steps. I really don’t mind it either. It’s just something I do… There are medications that can be prescribed: clomipramine and fluoxetine. They can also take therapy.

I’m not sure anything really causes it - it’s just something you have.

I’ve been OCD since I can remember, and have never felt the need for treatment. I just like to have things put in a specific place and order, and always need to do everything in three’s (3 items on my dinner plate, 3 pictures on the wall, etc…)

It’s not a bad thing to have, you just have to learn not to let it control you, because not everything can go according to your own plan.

I have OCD. Everyting has to be neat and in order.. I CANNOT have people touch my things or take things of mines without permission getting there discusting little hands all over it!!! I have to use my sleave while opening doors and carry hand sanitiser with me. also when im putting the television on the number has to be 4, 18 or 21. I dont know what triggerd it. I think it may have been when I used to be anorexic I used to clean to distract myself from food.

im not sure what causes ocd I have it but not real bad and it drives me crazy everytime I pour water in a cup I have 2 count 2 15 the same when im applying deodarent or when I go 2 the store its a little different there but it drives my bro nuts he always makes fun of me hahaha