What keeps Monica Geller up at night?

The same thing that makes her Obsess over cleanliness and has her categorise and organise. 101 on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

What keeps Monica Geller up at night?

The same thing that makes her obsess over cleanliness and has her categorise and organise. 101 on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Monica Geller-Bing played by Courteney Cox on the hit show Friends is the poster girl for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Thanks to her, OCD is now part of everyday vocabulary. In fact, on a recent episode of a popular chat show, a Bollywood icon was referred to as having the anxiety disorder as well. But what does it mean to be OCD?

You could have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Active! gets expert
opinion on the anxiety disorder that has people engage in repetitive
behaviors to quell fears and worries

Psychologists point out that OCD is often the very trait that makes successful people, successful. Dr Paresh Doshi, In-Charge, Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Jaslok Hospital says, "It is common to all successful people.

Unless they're extremely organised and particular about something they cannot perform better than others." So the next time someone accuses you of having OCD, smile because you're in good company.

The Symptoms
The problem begins when the personality turns into a disorder, obsession or uncontrollable habit. "A person suffering from OCD has numerous obsessions and performs various repetitive behaviors called compulsions to get over them.
OCD has clearly marked symptoms of praying, cleaning, hand washing or checking. These thoughts and behaviors are fear-driven and irrational as they do not help in overcoming the fear; for example the fear of dirt, where the compulsive behavior is cleanliness.
These compulsions are time-consuming and cause tremendous distress to the patient," explains psychiatrist Dr Anjali Chhabria. "People may avoid work because they are so engrossed with their compulsions. They may also find it difficult to cope with the situation if they are unable to control their thoughts or actions, which may take the form of compulsions. For example, a person may feel that he needs to wash his hands seven times before eating or else on of his family members may die," she says.

All in the family?
According to Dr Sandeep Vohra, psychiatrist, Umrao Hospitals, OCD can run in families. "Perfectionists are more prone to OCD," he says. "Some intelligent people who want perfection in every sphere of their life are also susceptible to it. Depending upon the coping capacity of an individual, OCD can aggravate at the time of external stress."
Dr Chhabria explains further, "Symptoms of OCD generally appear by the age of 19 and progress to become more visible with time.
The occurrence of OCD symptoms can be triggered by stressful Continued on p17 Continued from p16 events such as pregnancy, break-ups, sexual problems, and death of a relative.u00a0 Also, people who may be insecure and worry excessively are more likely to develop OCD behaviours."
Dr Doshi recounts a case where a 60-year-old man suffering from OCD would wash his hands about 80 to 100 times a day, spending three to four hours in the toilet. He would repeatedly ask the same questions and verify the answers multiple times. Since the past two years he has been confined to the home, as the symptoms were severely affecting his daily life and also that of the caretakers.
His was the first OCD case to be surgically solved. At the end of the treatment, he could sign his name for the first time in 15 years.
"The latest in OCD management is the use of surgical treatment. The prevalence rate of OCD is 2% of population and 10% of these can be refractory, in whom surgical treatment can be used," says Dr Doshi.

OCD management
All cases however, do not require surgery. "Medical treatment is the mainstay of managing OCD. However, as the disease becomes more difficult to deal with, it requires other supportive treatment, like Behavioral therapy. This is administered in order to break their thought processes. It aims at identifying the negative patterns in the patients mind and openly confronting the same," explains Dr Doshi.
"Some basic ways to overcome the symptoms can be through self-help techniques, including yoga and meditation, being part of a support group, relaxation training, use of humour, stress management and family support," adds Dr Chhabria.

5-point plan to manage OCD
Accept and acknowledge your OCD symptoms and try to break the endless loop
Relabel: The important point is to keep in mind that you must, Relabel unwanted thoughts, urges and behaviours. Call them what they really are "obsessions and compulsions".
Dispute irrational thoughts
Refocus: This instructs you to "work around" those nagging, troublesome thoughts. Divert you actions and thought processes.
You are not defined by OCD: Remember OCD is part of your life but not your life. Don't stop living because the symptoms still persist. Be indifferent and detach yourself from OCD.

Types of COD
Washers are afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing compulsions. Checkers repeatedly check things (has the gas been switched off? is the door locked?) that they associate with harm or danger.
Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isn't perfect or done just right something terrible will happen or they will be punished.
Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colors, or arrangements.
Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don't need or use.

Do you have COD?
Take the 60-second OCD quiz to find out
1. Worried you or your loved ones may have OCD? Dr Chhabria gives you a quick quiz to find out.

2. Do you wash your hands, check doors and windows, pray repeatedly when you feel something bad may happen?

3.u00a0 After going to bed, do go you get up to check all electrical devices?

4. Do you rearrange objects on your desk, cupboard or other places repeatedly, even though nothing has been touched since you last arranged them?

5. During the day do you think several times about work you have already finished or you need to finish?

6. Do you check for cleanliness of public seats such as those in buses or taxis, before you sit down?

7. Having left home, do you constantly think about whether everything is in order?

8. Do you ever find yourself counting things for no reason?

9. Are you particular about how things are arranged in your house even if it is a cushion or a doormat?

10. Do you ever touch things several times before you have used them?