“Is OCD a disease or a habit?”
My sister has OCD and it has become very irritating for us around her. Is it a disease or just a habit? Is there treatment for it?
19 Answers
It's a personality trait. Successful individuals usually have this trait. It's the degree or intensity of the behavior that identifies pathology. If it is destructive behavior causing significant negative outcomes, there is medication to alleviate symptoms while using conscious thought process to modify and replace the destructive thinking.
OCD is a disease that can be treated with medication and therapy.
Dear Sir/Madam:
It must be even more difficult for your sister than it has been for you. She probably is distressed about her OCD and about the family's reactions to her OCD. OCD is included in DSM 5 by American Psychiatric Association. So, you can educate yourself more about the OCD through the information in this book.
Has your sister seen a psychotherapist and or a psychiatrist? What is the advice of her primary care doctor.? It's not just a habit, it is obsessiveness, compulsiveness or a combination of both. She needs to get to the roots of her OCD and she needs professional help and your compassionate understanding. Get her the help she deserves ASAP.
Take care,
Dr. Sonpal
It must be even more difficult for your sister than it has been for you. She probably is distressed about her OCD and about the family's reactions to her OCD. OCD is included in DSM 5 by American Psychiatric Association. So, you can educate yourself more about the OCD through the information in this book.
Has your sister seen a psychotherapist and or a psychiatrist? What is the advice of her primary care doctor.? It's not just a habit, it is obsessiveness, compulsiveness or a combination of both. She needs to get to the roots of her OCD and she needs professional help and your compassionate understanding. Get her the help she deserves ASAP.
Take care,
Dr. Sonpal
OCD is a mental disorder where people have irrational obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. It is usually hereditary and incurable. Psychotherapy and medication is sometimes indicated which can be very helpful. There is a personality disorder called Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder which is much different from O.C.D. O.C.P.D. individuals are very perfectionist and everything has to be a certain way
Both.
OCD is a disease where habitual and ritualized behaviors are symptomatic. It is a manifestation of underlying anxiety and is a source of great suffering for the person who lives with OCD. Even though you feel irritated by her habits, challenging yourself to show empathy for her will help yourself and her. Encourage and support her to get professional help--she should consult a psychiatrist for medication assessment and also see a psychologist who can work with her on managing her symptoms. There are many tools and skills she can learn to cope better and live a more fulfilling life.
OCD is an illness...and generally speaking, a treatable illness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be extremely helpful for people suffering from OCD. It is common for friends and family to become irritated by OCD behaviors...so again, this is a good reason to seek professional help.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) consist of obsessions and compulsions that cause significant distress or functional impairment. Similar to other mental disorders, causes of OCD include a biological predisposition, environmental factors, and flawed thought patterns. Treatment consists of meeting with a specialist for therapy with or without the use of medication. Prescribed psychotropic medication often successfully decreases the severity of symptoms. A mental health provider who specializes in treating OCD uses a combination of mindfulness, cognitive therapy, and behavioral therapy to help most people who suffer from OCD successfully overcome it.
Geraldine Fee
Psychologist
OCD is neither a disease or a habit. The condition responds well to medical and psychological therapies. Consult your physician.
Geraldine Fee, Ph.D.
Geraldine Fee, Ph.D.
Definitely NOT a habit. It is an uncontrollable urge, its cause or reason not readily understood by onlookers. It has to do with the afflicted person’s feeling or belief that she has no control over something and that if she does the rituals dictated by the illness, she will have the control she needs. The illness controls her. It needs to be understood by the person with a psychotherapist, and medication is very helpful.
OCD is one of those issues where our desire for a clear and direct answer is made somewhat challenging. According to the research I’ve read, OCD is effectively a combination. In other words, OCD may be described as both a disease and habit. We know from the medical research that OCD has a significant medial component that manifests like a disease and is frequently associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This can be associated with some of the obsessive thoughts that are representative of the diagnostic title.
In my experience as a clinician treating this disorder, much of what I encounter is the “Compulsive” end of the diagnostic label. Namely, the compulsive behaviors that are frequently found attached to this disorder. The way I conceptualize such an issue is to see it as the individual’s innate desire to rid themselves of the emotional experiences they find uncomfortable. In an effort to try to control the emotional and physiological states driven by the anxiety, habits frequently form that reflect the desire to remove or avoid the aversive emotional/physiological states.
From the treatment standpoint, I’ve found that it can be beneficial both for the course of treatment and for the subjective sense of empowerment for the client for them to understand the apparent function of these symptoms in their experience. When a client can see themselves as having the ability to be effective in dealing with their own issues and can relate to them in a more direct fashion, there tends to be less experience of unnecessary fear and additional emotional and physiological distress.
In my experience as a clinician treating this disorder, much of what I encounter is the “Compulsive” end of the diagnostic label. Namely, the compulsive behaviors that are frequently found attached to this disorder. The way I conceptualize such an issue is to see it as the individual’s innate desire to rid themselves of the emotional experiences they find uncomfortable. In an effort to try to control the emotional and physiological states driven by the anxiety, habits frequently form that reflect the desire to remove or avoid the aversive emotional/physiological states.
From the treatment standpoint, I’ve found that it can be beneficial both for the course of treatment and for the subjective sense of empowerment for the client for them to understand the apparent function of these symptoms in their experience. When a client can see themselves as having the ability to be effective in dealing with their own issues and can relate to them in a more direct fashion, there tends to be less experience of unnecessary fear and additional emotional and physiological distress.
Yes it is a medical disorder and there is treatment. To start weekly counseling and seeing a psychiatrist.
Dr. G
Dr. G
OCD is an anxiety-based disorder and there are a variety of treatments ranging from meds to psychotherapy.
OCD is an official diagnostic name – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder –listed in the DSM V. It is not just a "habit." There are many kinds of treatment and which would be most appropriate for your sister is not something as simple as we would hope. Perhaps there is a large university-affiliated hospital where she lives which has a department of psychology and/or psychiatry who could meet with her and recommend a therapist, or program that would be appropriate for her. It is a terrible limitation on life for the person and for those who live with her; I hope she gets the help she needs. If there is no fine hospital in your area, perhaps a referral service that lists specialists in this area could be another option.
Peace,
(Dr.) Marian K. Shapiro, Licensed Psychologist
Peace,
(Dr.) Marian K. Shapiro, Licensed Psychologist
It is a real medical issue and yes there is treatment for it. She needs to see a Psychiatrist or Medical doctor.
OCD is a variation of an anxiety disorder, but with a devastating twist. It causes a great deal of suffering for both the patient and often for the family. Obsessions are disturbing repetitive thoughts and compulsions are strong urges to engage in some unnecessary behavior. They are frequently linked together in that the anxiety from the obsessional thoughts may receive temporary reduction whenever the patient engages in the compulsive ritual. Sadly, the more the patient tries to obtain relief by engaging in the ritual, the stronger the compulsion becomes. I would suggest that you check the website for the International OCD Foundation where you will also find a list of specialists with special expertise in treating this often devastating mental disorder. Find them at: https://iocdf.org/
It is a mental health issue and can be treated - have her see a psychologist or MH professional experienced in dealing with OCD issues.
I would encourage you to talk to your sister about seeing a mental health provider to obtain a formal diagnosis. My experience has been people often label themselves or others as having "OCD" but after further exploration, their symptoms do not warrant a diagnosis. OCD is a mental illness that is treatable with the support of a mental health professional who specializes in the disorder. If indeed your sister does have symptoms of OCD, please know that support, patience, and understanding are critical for her treatment. Educate yourselves with material from reputable sources like www.nami.org.
Of course there is treatment for that. It is considered a disorder. She needs to see s therapist that can help her. Remember, half the therapist out there are more concerned about keeping clients instead of actually curing them.
