All of us at least occasionally have distasteful and unacceptable thoughts. Most people at one time or another have had the following thoughts: "Might I do violence to someone I love?" "Am I absolutely sure that I've locked all the doors and windows?" "Have I left the gas in the stove on?" Most of us pay little attention to these thoughts when they occur or if we do, we soon dismiss them. Such is not the case in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorders.
An general example of such an individual follows:
A thirty-eight-year-old mother of one child had been obsessed by fears of contamination during her entire adult life. Literally hundreds of times a day, thoughts of being infected by germs would occur to her. Once she began to think that either she or her child might become infected, she could not dismiss the thought. This constant concern about infection resulted in a series of washing and cleaning rituals that took up most of her day. Her child was confined to one room only, which the woman tried to keep entirely free of germs by scrubbing it-floor to ceiling several times a day. Moreover, she opened and closed all doors with her feet, in order to avoid contaminating her own hands. (Rachman and Hodgson, 1980)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder consists of the two components from which we derive its name: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive thoughts, images, or impulses that invade consciousness, are often abhorrent, and are very difficult to dismiss or control. In the case above, the mother is occupied with repulsive thoughts and images of disease and infection, which she cannot turn off. Compulsions are the behavioral responses to obsessive thoughts. A compulsion is a repetitive, stereotyped, and unwanted action that can be resisted only with difficulty. The mother above reacts to her thoughts of germs by compulsively scrubbing her child's room. Generally, individuals who are afflicted with obsessions also suffer from compulsions (Rachman, 1978; Rachman and Hodgson, 1980). Because obsessions and compulsions are usually found together, some writers use the terms "obsessive" and "compulsive" interchangeably, but essentially they refer to two distinct events: obsessions are thoughts, compulsions are actions.
What distinguishes obsessions of clinical proportions from more harmless recurring thoughts? There are three hallmarks: (1) obsessions are unwelcome and intrude on consciousness; an obsessive complains, "The thought that I might strangle a child keeps returning and prevents me from concentrating on my work," whereas mere recurring thoughts do not interfere with work; (2) obsessions arise from within, not from an external situation; and (3) obsessions are very difficult to control. Someone with merely recurring thoughts can readily distract himself and think of something else; obsessives, in contrast, complain, "I can't help myself-I keep saying the numbers over and over again." Howard Hughes, who in the last half of his life, was afflicted with a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder about germs. He was also watching porn in a obsessive way. Looking for Porn or sex addiction treatment? If you are ready to schedule a FREE Consultation... I encourage you to access this website for the treatment I recommend here: http://www.TheLiberatorMethod.com/