We all experienced rush of sudden fear or anxiety: “Did I turn off the iron? Have I locked the door? ” Sometimes, in a public place, having to grasp a pen or handrail, you try to wash your hands as soon as possible, not forgetting that they are “dirty” for a minute. Or, struck by someone's sudden death from an illness, listen for some time to their own condition. This is normal, besides such thoughts do not become permanent and interfere with life. In the case of
when the opposite happens, and almost every day you return to the same topic that scares you, not only do you come up with a “ritual” that should help relieve tension from the fears that pursue you, we are talking about a mental disorder called obsessive-compulsive neurosis.
How to understand that you have a mental disorder
Obsessions (obsessions) and forced actions (compulsions) as a result of this are not in themselves a clear sign of illness. They periodically appear in healthy people.
Obsessions refer to painful manifestations in the event of an involuntary occurrence that is steadily repeating and causing suffering and anxiety. The patient, as a rule, is aware of the absurdity of the idea that has embraced him, trying to get rid of it. But all his efforts are useless, and the idea comes back again and again. To reduce the likelihood that he is so worried, the patient comes up with protective actions, repeating them with pedantic accuracy, and receives temporary relief as a result.
For example, a person is afraid of contracting an infection, and therefore, after each exit from
at home he washes his hands for a long time, lathering them ten times. He surely considers this, and if he gets lost, he starts the wash first. Or, fearing that the door is closed badly, twitches the handle twelve times. But, having gone far away, she again worries about whether it is closed.
Who is affected by the obsession syndrome
Obsessions are constantly repeating, accompanied by a sense of fear, a state of short-term satisfaction after performing a “ritual” (often of an absurd nature). In addition, they are accompanied by fatigue, memory impairment, difficulty in concentrating, irritability and mood swings.
Both adults and children are equally predisposed to this type of neurosis, regardless of gender, social status and nationality. Long stress, overwork, conflict situations can lead to it . But sometimes the syndrome also occurs as a result of brain injuries or its organic damage. Childhood trauma, cruelty on the part of parents, and connivance, and hyperprotection - all this can lead to the emergence of a neurosis of obsessive states.
How to treat a neurosis
The main thing is that the patients themselves and their relatives should not be deceived by the thought that this disorder can be defeated by strong-willed effort, giving the order not to worry. In addition, the more actively you try to control this process, the deeper it will take root. Obsessions are treated only by specialists!
Treatment of neurosis in children and adults is a rather complicated process. It is necessary to take into account all the individual characteristics of the patient, choosing both psychotherapeutic and medical treatment. Only by understanding what caused this disease, how does it manifest itself, and understanding the personality traits of a given person, you can choose safe and effective methods of care.