OCD syndrome, obsession... fear of dirt

ocd - Photo 1.

Washing hands many times, frequently because of the obsession with dirty hands, fear of catching diseases... is one of the manifestations of OCD syndrome - Photo: THANH HIEP

OCD becomes severe when the anxiety gets out of control.

Being clean, tidy or careful is considered a good virtue. However, when these behaviors become an irresistible obsession, causing suffering to the person involved, the person with this OCD syndrome needs intensive treatment.

The disease of "torn" mind

On social forums there are many closed groups called "People with OCD" or families/communities of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms with thousands of participants.

The posts are usually posted by anonymous members who are not sure if they are suffering from this psychological symptom or not.

A Facebook account shared that although this person is not obsessed with viruses or bacteria, if his hands are even a little dirty, he has to wash them immediately. Every time he cooks, he washes his hands continuously at least 10 times.

"Every time I leave the house, I have to check if the door is closed and the electric stove is unplugged before leaving. Many times, after closing the door, I have to open it to check if the electric stove is unplugged. Many times, after going a distance, I still turn back to check if the gate is closed tightly."

There are many famous people in the world who have publicly shared that they have this syndrome, such as Leonardo DiCaprio (the famous actor of the classic movie Titanic), legendary football player David Beckham or "king of pop" Michael Jackson...

Clinical psychologist Vuong Nguyen Toan Thien, professional director of LUMOS Psychotherapy Consulting Center, said that OCD syndrome is a mental disorder characterized by two elements: obsessive ideas and compulsions.

Obsessive thoughts are repetitive, invasive, inappropriate and distressing thoughts and images such as: fear of infection (catching an infection through shaking hands), doubts about safety (forgetting to lock the door, turning off the gas stove...), symmetrical or logical arrangement, aggression and impulsive behavior (wanting to hurt children, screaming in church), sexual images... Even though they are known to be irrational, the patient still cannot stop.

They often try to resist but fail, leading to compulsive behaviors such as hand washing, checking, praying, arranging… not for the purpose of creating joy but to reduce anxiety, even if only for a moment.

"In most cases, people with OCD feel compelled to do the above actions to reduce the pain and anxiety of the obsession, or to prevent a certain scary event or situation," Mr. Thien shared.

The cause is unclear, the consequences are very real.

Mr. Thien said that Vietnam currently has no national-scale research officially published on the rate of OCD. However, according to statistics at some medical facilities, such as the clinical psychology department of Le Van Thinh Hospital (HCMC), patients diagnosed with OCD account for about 2% of the total number of patients visiting this department.

In addition, some studies in Vietnam show that the rate of OCD in the population can range from 2-3%, equivalent to the global prevalence.

According to MSc. Nguyen Tran Phuoc, a psychologist from the Psycare office of applied psychological science , the exact cause of OCD is still unclear. However, factors such as genetics, changes in the brain, childhood psychological trauma or PANDAS syndrome may play a role.

The average age of onset for OCD is 19, but about 50% of people begin to show symptoms in childhood or adolescence. Common symptoms include: hand washing, checking locks, arranging objects in order, hoarding unnecessary items, counting the number of actions, avoiding touching doorknobs or contact with other people…

"These obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per day) or cause distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

If not treated promptly, OCD can lead to depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and even thoughts of self-harm due to feelings of helplessness and prolonged inner conflict," Mr. Phuoc warned.

Don't self-diagnose online.

According to doctors, unlike normal stress, OCD cannot "go away on its own" without professional intervention.

To conclude that a person has OCD, Thien said, a thorough clinical assessment is needed based on diagnostic criteria. Key elements include: the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both; symptoms that cause marked anxiety, impair social or occupational functioning; and are time-consuming.

Currently, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are effective treatments. In addition, meditation, muscle relaxation, slow breathing... also help reduce stress. In severe cases, medication may be prescribed in combination.

There is no test for OCD. Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and medical history, making sure your symptoms are not caused by a substance abuse problem, another medical condition, or another mental disorder.

Doctors say OCD is a serious disorder that cannot be simply diagnosed through a few tweets. Labeling yourself (or others) with OCD can be confusing, worsen the person’s mental health, or miss the most effective treatment.

Seek professional help if you or a loved one experience persistent, distressing, or otherwise disruptive symptoms that interfere with daily life. It is important to differentiate between obsessions and obsessive-compulsive disorders in clinical assessment and appropriate intervention.

Not to be confused with obsessive personality traits

Many people easily confuse OCD with meticulousness and perfectionism. However, according to Mr. Vuong Nguyen Toan Thien, these two things are completely different.

People with OCD cannot help but wash their hands because of anxiety, they can wash up to 100 times a day and they suffer because of it. Meanwhile, people with obsessive traits like to arrange things in order and feel comfortable and satisfied.

People with obsessive traits still have control over their behavior, can stop when it is inconvenient, and do not suffer mental distress. Meanwhile, people with OCD lose control, are controlled by their behavior, and have serious damage to their work, school, relationships, and quality of life.