By: Anthony Martinez Danny Quach

 OCD is a mental disorder in which a person suffers from unwanted thoughts(Obsessions) or rituals(Compulsions)  Usually the person feels like they have no control over their compulsions  Performing rituals only provide the individual with brief relief from the anxiety that the thoughts cause

 Having repeated thoughts or images about different things, such as:  fear of germs and dirt  Intruders or acts of violence  hurting loved ones  sexual acts or being overly tidy  Often perform the same rituals over and over again such as taking a shower, locking and unlocking doors, counting, keeping unneeded items.  Usually spend at least 1 hour a day on the thoughts and rituals, which cause distress and get in the way of daily life.

 Theories suggest that OCD is based upon an interaction between biological and environmental factors  The biological perspective says that OCD is the cause of insufficient levels of neurotransmitters (seretonin, dopamine, and glutamine) in the brain.  OCD can also originate from traumatic experiences as well. An example would be Paul’s experience as an adolescent

 Exposure and response prevention- is a behavioral therapy that exposes the individual to whatever triggers their obsessive thoughts and teaches them techniques to avoid performing their compulsive rituals  Anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants can also be used to treat symptoms

 About 2% of the U.S. population has OCD in a given year.  OCD typically begins during adolescence or early childhood; at least one-third of the cases of adult OCD began in childhood.  Famous people with OCD are Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba, David Beckham, Donald Trump …

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