Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder which includes unwanted thoughts and repetitive behavior like hand washing, counting, cleaning or checking. These rituals provide temporary relief and if they are not performed, anxiety is increased. If you have OCD, you have repeated upsetting thoughts known as obsessions. You perform the same thing repeatedly - this is compulsive behavior. Examples are a fear of being hurt. It tends to run in families.

[a]Causes of OCD: Doctors are not absolutely sure of the causes of OCD. People believe that all anxiety disorders are associated with feeling a lack of control that go back to insecure attachments in childhood. This insecure attachment can produce changes in the brain and may happen to generations in one family. OCD is known to be a medical disorder and is not the fault of a person with a weak or unstable personality.

[b]Symptoms: Some of the symptoms of OCD include turning the lights or the stove off or locking the door, lacking will power when it comes to shopping, compulsive gamblers or substance abuse. When alcohol or tobacco is a part of your life, you feel anxiety and you are compelled to use them even though they are harmful. You could be a compulsive worker without a break or a compulsive eater or exerciser.

[c]Prevention: Early treatment can prevent future problems. Watch for symptoms of OCD and prevent a relapse by sticking to your therapy and taking medicines that are prescribed. Take care of yourself and involve family members in your treatment. Communicate with your family and loved ones. Reduce stress in your life. Take slow, deep breaths. Listen to soothing music and soak yourself in a warm bath. Try yoga, eat a balanced diet and stick to an exercise routine.

[d]Treatment: Apart from medication which you can discuss with your doctor, there are types of counseling available that could be effective in treating OCD. Treatment includes a combination of professional counseling and medicines. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe both counseling and an anti-depressant. You may be asked to write down a list of rituals and then expose yourself to each obsession in order to overcome them.

If you are suffering from this disorder, then you will go back home, check to see that you did actually shut off the stove and leave again only to return in a little while to check the stove again. A victim knows that the stove is off but his thoughts and actions work against his mind.

Cognitive therapy is one of the most successful obsessive compulsive disorder treatments available. This treatment works with the individual's mind rather than his mood. Since it focuses on thought patterns and helps the patient exercise his brain, this is an ideal obsessive compulsive disorder treatment. However, cognitive therapy is not the best approach as a treatment for conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. You see, these are mood disorders that hinge on an individual's emotions rather than his cognitive functioning. You can definitely reap the benefits of using cognition as an obsessive compulsive disorder treatment, even if it is difficult to think yourself out of a mood.

A cognitive approach for obsessive compulsive disorder treatment is a good first step in gaining control of the thought patterns that lead to the behavior patterns. An individual can find that the repetitive behavior and craving for order diminish significantly once the thoughts are under control. The individual will gradually function on a relatively normal basis with a regular obsessive compulsive disorder treatment.