An Overview of OCD and Anxiety Disorders and Why You Should Care
Do you have a bad case of nerves? Even though COVID-19 may be causing people to worry more, for many people, anxiety is a mental health issue that may be quite debilitating.
Anxiety disorders, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), are quite frequent in the world of mental health.
One in three women and one in five men will feel anxiety at some point in their lives, according to Beyond Blue. Over two million Australians suffer from anxiety each year.
This month, an educational and public awareness campaign aimed at bringing attention to OCD and anxiety disorders is being conducted across Australia.
Anxiety: What Is It and What Causes It?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are all included under the term "anxiety".
Different people experience anxiety in different ways. Worry or mild fear, or even stress, can be the source of the feeling.
Anxious people may get concerned with traumatic memories. Concentration and relaxation might be challenging at times. Anxiety and dread can lead to panic attacks, which can cause physical symptoms such as a speeding heart rate and dizziness as well as sweaty hands in some people.
To determine whether you have anxiety, your doctor will look at aspects such as how many days in the past few months you've had anxious feelings, and how this has affected your life.
What Is OCD, and How Is It Diagnosed?
OCD sufferers are plagued by recurring, intrusive thoughts that they must deal with by engaging in ritualistic behaviors. There are many common compulsions, such as:
Contamination or preoccupation with microorganisms, bodily fluids, or environmental contaminants. It's not only a desire to clean that drives this. Because of this, you could worry that you'll create an environmental or health problem if you neglect to clean and disinfect your environment.
Either self- or other-harm is the worry of not being able to control your dark urges. You may get the impression that these fantasies of what you'd like to accomplish are unable to be 'turned off.'
Something terrible will happen unless you do particular things, or you feel the need to continually check if certain events or circumstances are occurring.
There is a difference between anxiety and OCD in that they both entail a concern with dread or doom, stress or discomfort sensations.
Anxiety sufferers tend to worry about things like their health, relationships, and finances. Those with OCD are plagued by obsessive-compulsive behaviors and repetitive thoughts.
Anxiety, OCD, and the COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic may have heightened the anxiety of persons with OCD or other mental health issues.
Whether it's a fear of the future or a worry about the present:
Concerns about your own health and the health of those you care about are a normal part of life.
Whether or not you'll be able to keep your employment and pay your debts.
Overcoming the effects of social isolation and dealing with the problems of daily life
As well as other issues
Keeping a handle on one's emotional well-being has become even more critical during this outbreak.
OCD and Anxiety Disorders Treatment
Treatment is available for OCD and associated illnesses. Several treatments have been found to be particularly successful in lowering anxiety, according to research. Medication, meditation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or a combination of these may be used to treat depression.
An expert in the field of medicine can help you locate the best treatment option for your specific condition.
There are also a number of internet sites that can help you learn more about COVID19 anxiety and how to deal with it.
Anxiety problems can be effectively managed by using the following strategies:
Prevention of Illness. Watch what you eat, how much sleep you get, and how much alcohol you consume. To alleviate these symptoms, it is important to maintain a good diet, exercise, and a positive outlook on life.
Knowing what causes you to react in a certain way can help you avoid it in the future. Keep a close eye on COVID rates on the news and social media if you're experiencing OCD or anxiety as a result.
Determine what you have and don't have control over. Take action if you have control over anything, like whether or not you have clean hands. If you can't do anything about the possibility that COVID will evolve, try to concentrate on the things you can.
Be patient with yourself and understand that recovery may take some time.
Appointments are available at Psychological Health Care if you're struggling with anxiety and OCD. You can learn to manage your anxiety better if you receive the proper treatment and assistance.