- What is and what is not OCD?
- Is OCD curable?
- At what age does OCD begin?
- Is there a trigger for OCD? Can it be prevented?
- Are there differences in the symptoms of OCD experienced by boys and girls?
- How long do symptoms have to last for an OCD diagnosis?
- What is the treatment for OCD?
- What is the approximate time it takes for a person with OCD to experience a reduction in their symptoms during therapy?
- If you take medication and it works, do you need to take it for life?
- Do yoga, meditation, or other therapies work for OCD?
- Is OCD dangerous for the person who has it?
- How can we differentiate OCD from the symptoms of ASD?
- If a child with ASD has OCD, should we leave it alone or try to reduce or eliminate it?
- Is OCD associated with ADHD or bipolar disorder?
- How can I tell if my son or daughter has OCD?
- My daughter's hair is constantly breaking, which weakens it. She's even gone into the house up to 10 times to check that the gas was off. What can we do to stop her?
- How can we help our daughter with OCD to gain more self-confidence and reduce her anxiety?
- Why does a person with OCD generally have thoughts related to magic and religion?
- What should mothers do if they detect exaggerated symptoms in their children that cause suffering?
- Can people with pathological jealousy be treated with strategies similar to those used for people with OCD?
- I have an 11-year-old daughter who does a lot of things that seem like OCD. Is a diagnosis necessary? I'm afraid the label will overshadow the disorder itself, and that any behavior will be excused because she has OCD.
- I was diagnosed with OCD 20 years ago, I can't stop talking to myself (silently or in a low voice) and I get very distracted. Why might this be and what can I do?
- What can we, as a family, do if our adult daughter refuses help and has no interest in getting better?
- When my OCD drives the people around me crazy, what should they do?
- What is the difference between having tics and doing compulsions?
Is there a trigger for OCD? Can it be prevented?
Studies show that in approximately 35% of people with OCD, the onset of symptoms is related to certain triggers. These triggers can be physical (such as certain infections, hormonal factors, or substance use) or life events that involve changes (both positive and negative for the individual).
Regarding physical factors , the clearest examples are what are known as PANDAS (Post-Streptococcal Neuropsychiatric Disorders), cases in which there is a sudden and rapid onset or worsening of obsessive symptoms or tics, usually in children who have suffered a respiratory infection caused by a bacterium of the streptococcus family. In these cases, the body generates antibodies to defend itself against the bacteria, which attack certain areas of the brain (the basal ganglia), causing the onset or worsening of obsessive symptoms.
We also know that hormonal changes can affect the onset and course of OCD. It is common for girls with obsessive symptoms to experience the onset of the disorder around the year of menarche, their first period. It is also relatively common for some women to begin experiencing obsessive symptoms during pregnancy or especially postpartum, or to experience a worsening of symptoms during different phases of the menstrual cycle (ovulation, menstruation). In these cases, if symptoms worsen significantly during menstruation, regulating the cycles with oral contraceptives can be attempted, and it will also be especially important to monitor the progression of OCD if the woman becomes pregnant.
Finally, some people describe the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder after using certain drugs such as cannabis or cocaine . In these cases, it is essential to recommend complete abstinence from drugs.
Regarding changes in the environment , we know that OCD can sometimes appear after traumatic events and also in situations that represent a significant change for the individual, especially if they involve an increased sense of responsibility (starting new studies, a new job, moving out of the family home, beginning a romantic relationship, etc.). Those who associate the onset of their OCD with environmental stressors tend to be somewhat older and have less of a family history of OCD than those with a more "spontaneous" onset.
