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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder become victims of their own thought patterns and behaviors that they are compelled to perform, usually extremely repetitive.

People suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorders have cycles of distressing thoughts and of fears, whether real or imaginary that they just cannot get out of their head.

Those recurring thoughts and fears are called obsessions and these obsessions are what cause the anxiety to manifest.

These obsessions are so bad and intense that they overtake the person’s thinking, until that is all they are thinking about; the person suffering from this knows that this is not normal, hence the extreme anxiety that is caused by this.

Sufferers of obsessive-compulsive disorder have certain routines or rituals that they feel compelled to perform repeatedly in an effort to make the obsessions go away.

The rituals might work on a temporary basis but the thoughts that are obsessive will nearly always come back, triggering another round of compulsive rituals and routines.

People with this disorder feel very much trapped by their obsessions and compulsions but are unable to stop the cycle.

Some sufferers will only develop obsessions but no compulsions and some will have compulsions but no obsessions.

They may be hyper-focused on certain ideas, things, or objects but are unable to control that focus.

Some symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are:

Extreme doubt and insecurity and seeking constant reassurances from others

Fear of germs, dirt or contamination – excessive washing/cleaning, fear of touching other people, surfaces such as doorknobs and counters

Fear of misbehaving – fear of acting unacceptable or acting foolish

Fear of hurting others – obsessive thoughts of doing harm to other people

A pressing need for order, for things to be in their place, symmetry and constant re-arranging or putting things in order – everything has to line up, nothing moved out of place, things must be arranged how they like them and no exceptions

Hoarding – fear of not having something if they need it, collecting things that have no value

Extreme thoughts dealing with religion, sin and sexual acts

Fear of being harmed – constant checking of alarm systems, to make sure doors are locked, windows shut and locked.

Repeating words, phrases or counting either out loud or in their head, such as counting steps, bricks, books on a shelf, etc.

Compulsions must be performed a certain number of times

Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety are constantly afraid that they will make a faux pass in public, that they will embarrass themselves or the people that they are with when in a social situation.

For people suffering from this, any social occasion can be a nightmare, causing panic attacks and anxiety.

Social anxiety sufferers are often insecure and extremely self-conscious and have the constant feeling that whenever they are in public that they are being made-fun of, judged, laughed at, criticized by others, which will end in their being humiliated and shamed.

Social anxiety can begin to take a hold before the person even enters a social situation, just the thought of having to be in a social situation can induce panic in a sufferer.

People suffering from social anxiety tend to be withdrawn and find it hard to hold a job, attend school, or have relationships.

This goes far beyond a fear of speaking in public (which will have its own section); this is an anxiety that can cause its sufferers to feel trapped in their own houses because any human interaction can cause them extraordinary bouts of anxiety or a panic attack.

This is a self-cycling disorder because each time the person attempts to overcome it and fails; it only builds up as such a huge failure on their part that it makes them twice as anxious the next time they have to be in a social situation.

They have such a distorted view of their perceived “mistakes” when in public that they find it difficult to overcome them, even though they usually have not made any mistakes at all, it is often just in their head that they have.

Situations that can trigger social anxiety include:

Having to give a report in class or speak at a meeting – rather than voice their opinions a person with social anxiety will remain quiet

Any situation where attention is called to them

Asking questions of others or when others ask them questions

Meetings and conferences

Having to eat or drink in a group setting

Working as a group

Using public restrooms

Talking on the phone to people that they do not know

Any interaction with people, such as parties, dates, even informal get togethers.

Some symptoms include:

Panic attacks

Intense feelings of anxiety and panic

Tendency to avoid any and all social situations

Upset stomach, blushing, shaking, sweating, confusion, palpitations

Stage Fright (Performance Anxiety)

This is a very common problem, a great deal of the population would rather have a root canal than have to stand in front of a group of people and have to either perform or talk.

If your job requires you to have to go out and give seminars and talks and you have performance anxiety, unless you get it under control, you can end up in trouble at work.

If you are good at sports but are crippled with performance anxiety, you are not able to do what you love; same with actors or dancers and any number or artists who have a talent but are limited by stage fright.

Symptoms can include:

Dry mouth

Rapid heartbeat

Shaking

Sweaty hands

Nausea or butterflies in your stomach

Trouble seeing

Fast, shallow breathing