When fears lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder

Excessive fears easily lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder

02/07/2012

Exaggerated anxiety can easily develop into an obsessive-compulsive disorder, warns Frank Bergmann from the Professional Association of German Nervous Physicians (BDVN) to the news agency „dpa“. Anyone who discovers signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder should urgently seek therapeutic help in order to prevent more severe mental impairment, according to the expert.

At the beginning of an obsessive-compulsive disorder there are often trivial worries, such as the question of whether the iron is actually switched off - even if the person concerned actually knows exactly that they have switched it off. Over time, such fears may develop into an obsessive-compulsive disorder in which those affected experience their personal constraints as exaggerated and meaningless, but can not resist them on their own. The expert from the Professional Association of German Neurologists therefore advises early countermeasures.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder with far-reaching health consequences
The personal fears can lead to an obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which the affected persons are subject to compulsive behavior in everyday situations. This manifests itself, for example, in an exaggerated compulsion to control, cleanliness of order compulsion. For example, according to Frank Bergmann, those affected are afraid of catching a virus when they shake hands, so they wash their hands every five minutes. Also, the eternal control of the stove or the iron, out of concern that they have not turned off, is classified as obsessive-compulsive disorder (control compulsion). Anyone who discovers appropriate behaviors should, in the opinion of the expert from the Professional Association of German Neurologists, seek medical help immediately. Only with therapeutic support, the health consequences of obsessive-compulsive disorders such as the constant tremors, excessive sweating, palpitations, inner turmoil and heart stumbling could be prevented, said Frank Bergmann.

Those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder often become depressed
According to the expert, the obsessive-compulsive disorders can be of different characteristics and refer to different inner fears. It also stressful sexual or aggressive ideas may be an indication of a corresponding obsessive-compulsive disorder. The compulsive behavior and the thoughts of those affected usually revolve around the order and the correct execution of certain activities, Bergmann reports „dpa“. The mental disorder is noted by most sufferers as such, but concealed by ignorance and fear and shame of many, so the statement of the expert from the Association of German Neurologists. This in turn means that those affected often become depressed because they themselves notice their nonsensical behavior, but have little to oppose without medical support. In such cases - where patients have OCD and depression - taking antidepressants in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy can, for example, produce significant positive effects, emphasized Frank Bergmann.

Counteract exaggerated fear at an early stage
From the figures of the Professional Association of German Neurologists shows that obsessive-compulsive disorder is one of the most common mental illness in Germany and about one to two percent of the population suffer. Since mental health problems are often caused by excessive anxiety, sufferers may want to try to get these fears under control with the help of behavioral therapy. Hypnosis can also be used to treat exaggerated anxiety and help anxious patients avoid the occurrence of obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann / Carlsberg1988