OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a condition characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions), combined with the compulsion of performing activities (compulsions) ostensibly to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. The causes of the disease are complex, and the treatment most often combines psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
Causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder
The following factors play an important role in the development of OCD:
- Biological – the risk of developing the disease increases the occurrence of the disease in the family.
- Genetic – disorders of the functioning of neurotransmitters and abnormalities in the work of certain areas of the brain.
- Psychological – strict upbringing, stress and traumatic events can trigger OCD or exacerbate its course.
OCD symptoms
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is commonly called obsessive disorder because intrusive thoughts are a characteristic feature. These may concern, for example:
- fear of pollution,
- the need to arrange things in a specific way,
- constantly analyzing whether you have performed such actions as closing the door or disconnecting the iron from the power supply,
- reminiscing about events from the past,
- committing acts inconsistent with one’s own value system, e.g. harming loved ones or blasphemy.
Intrusive thoughts result in compulsions, i.e. forced and repeated performance of certain activities, e.g. checking the door lock. These activities are intended to reduce tension and prevent events that the patient fears.
OCD Treatment
Various streams of psychotherapy are used in the treatment of OCD, including psychodynamic and behavioral-cognitive therapy. The duration is usually from a few months to several years.
Relaxation techniques and, if necessary, pharmacotherapy, most often with the use of SSRI drugs, play an auxiliary role.
Relational OCD
Relational Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a form of OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Intrusive thoughts here are focused on the relationship with a loved one, specifically on their flaws or fear of the breakup of the relationship. The first symptoms of the disease usually appear in early adulthood, and treatment consists mainly of psychotherapy.
Symptoms of Relational OCD
Symptoms of relational obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
- constant uncertainty about the durability of the relationship,
- the need to constantly receive assurances of feelings from the other person,
- not noticing the advantages of the partner and exaggerating his or her defects, both physical and mental,
- the desire to make changes in the behavior and appearance of the partner,
- Compulsively checking the other person’s actions, for example on social media, and carefully analyzing their behavior.
These fears and behaviors negatively affect the quality of relationships and often become the cause of a breakup. They are also a direct source of suffering for a person with relational OCD. Obsessive thoughts are not wanted, they cause a sense of shame and lower self-esteem.
What does the treatment of relational OCD look like?
Relational OCD makes it difficult to build a happy relationship based on mutual trust and respect, so it requires appropriate treatment. Psychotherapy enables a person struggling with this disorder to understand the mechanisms of its operation.
The therapist helps the patient identify the reasons for the lack of faith in the partner and in the durability of the relationship. They are often associated with negative and sometimes traumatic past experiences, excessive perfectionism and low self-confidence. In the treatment process, it is crucial to work through these difficulties.