Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Everyone has occasional unwanted thoughts and it's not uncommon to have obsessio

ns with things at times as well. But when these keep coming back, and are accomp anied by compulsive actions, it's known as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The causes are unclear, but there are tools available to help you manage OCD, wh ich are best used with the help of a doctor or psychiatrist. This will be useful if you... frequently have unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviours think you might have OCD want to manage and control OCD What can I do now? Practice waiting before you act on a compulsion Find different ways to relax Visit a psychologist for help with coping strategies What's obsessive compulsive disorder? Everyone has occasional unwanted thoughts. But obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder where you have repeated inappropriate unwanted thoughts, or feel like you absolutely have to do certain things. There are two parts to obses sive compulsive disorder (OCD) obsessions, and compulsions. People with OCD will often also feel more stressed, frustrated and depressed than people without it. What's an obsession? An obsession is any intrusive, unwanted or inappropriate thought that comes back repeatedly. Common obsessions are cleanliness, symmetry or religion. What's a compulsion? A compulsion is an activity that you have to complete to feel like things are go ing to be alright. You might feel like you have to do things in a certain order, clean things repeatedly, count things, or hoard a certain type of object. What causes OCD? Like a lot these things, the exact causes aren't clear. But it's likely brain ch emistry, brain structures, stressful events and hormones all play a part. What can you do about OCD? There are a few different ways to manage OCD, and the best and easiest way to do it is to work with a psychiatrist or psychologist. By working with a profession al, youre most likely to find the approach, or combination of tactics, that's goi ng to work for you. Some tools to manage OCD include: Medication Exercise Talking to others with OCD Keeping a journal Relaxation techniques You can't expect too much up-front. It's something that's going to take a lot of time and a bit of tinkering before you'll see massive results. But they'll happ en over time. Did you find this article helpful? Add a comment Your comment Submit comment 0 Comments Related articles All about sleep problems Widening your comfort zone Ways to relax Why me worry? All about worrying Im feeling overwhelmed

Similar topics Stress and anxiety Professional help Relaxation Communication skills Need help? eheadspace Age: 12-25 To talk to someone and get advice about tough issues 1800 650 890 www.eheadspace.org.au Kids Helpline Age: 5-25 To talk to someone about anything thats going on in your life. Kids Helpline has phone counselling 24/7 1800 55 1800 Chat Online www.kidshelp.com.au Lifeline For support and advice in a personal crisis 13 11 14 Chat Online www.lifeline.org.au