OBSESSIVE AND COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS

Shakespeare's Lady MacBeth is famous for washing her hands. Today, we might call her a victim of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. Many careful, thorough people are said to be "compulsive," but OCD is different. It can become so severe that it impedes a person's ability to work, succeed at school, or socialize. People with this disorder are trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. For example, a person might spend valuable time arranging and rearranging files in their office; a teenage girl might believe her hair is out of place and unnecessarily comb it continuously, and an older woman might check the gas jets on the stove over and over each day.

OCD is an anxiety-based disorder that has both biological and psychological roots. While people usually understand that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, they are unable to stop themselves. They often feel ashamed of their behavior and may try to hide it from others. OCD tends to last for years, but often varies in intensity. Depression, anxiety, and phobias commonly accompany the disorder. While OCD can be difficult to overcome, some therapists are using behavior therapy quite successfully. There are several new medications specifically designed for the treatment of OCD.

To obtain more information about obsessive and compulsive behaviors and their treatment, please contact the BABBCENTER at 824.3772 or 800.458.1755.