At least one in fifty adults in America suffer with Over Compulsive Disorder (OCD) double that number for the others who at some time in their lives have been affected by this controlling disease. The frightening thing is how many more are to be cursed by this death sentence imposed on the brain. Speaking from experience it has to be the fatigue factor that without a doubt is the cause behind the bouts of anxiety that accompanies OCD…

When the brain becomes abusive with an onslaught of verbal threats to do this/that and the other, your body becomes powerless to fight back. Lethargic and drained of all energy your body like that of a rag doll limp and lifeless, waves the white flag and surrenders.

Obsessions and habitual acts that each individual experiences will differ greatly. One thing that does not change is the compassion towards each other from fellow sufferers who understand the reasons behind why we do what we do.

You will find being on the road to recovery less of a burden after confiding in someone for help, talking with others who are suffering from this condition is great place to start.

OCD is equally as common in both sex’s man woman boy and girl; symptoms have been diagnosed from an early age for many patients.

Obsessive rituals are stereotyped behaviours that are continually repeated causing anxiety where depression starts to sink in making this a major health concern for the patient.

There are so many different disorders relating to OCD but taking obsessive symptoms and obsessive thoughts are two that work hand in hand together in a similar way, a destructive force to contend with.

Sufferers with obsessive-compulsive disorder are more prone to anxiety/depression bouts where on the other hand sufferers of recurrent depressive disorder can develop obsessive thoughts.

Differentiating between both can be quite difficult in some cases because of the frequency where symptoms occur at the same

Either way both destroy a person’s life eating away at their existence; OCD works its magical charm on anyone that proves to be a threat where obsessive rituals are prevented from being carried out.

Heaven forbid even as a do gooder looking on never tell a sufferer to stop what they are doing because the chances are you will find that you have just become public enemy number one. Let the patient in their own time figure it out for themselves when enough is enough.

Help clinics therapies and treatments are out there for those looking for a cure. Depending on the person and how severe their symptoms let the doctor decide what is the best medication for you.

Success stories where over compulsive disorder victims have been liberated gives the likes of you and me some hope for the future to go on living and destroy the heartfelt emotion of dying on the inside.

Obsessions are the psychological element of OCD. Repeated thoughts and images linger in our minds where our over compulsive disorder takes control of our actions where we are silenced and forced to obey orders hence hostage to our own thoughts. Thus affecting and interfering with the way we would like to live our lives.

OCD over compulsive disorder can be beaten but what makes it difficult for the sufferer is being up against a regimented invisible force in which we find ourselves in a situation where we find it hard to resist their demands. That is why consulting a doctor is important. There are cases where a referral to a psychologist maybe imminent. Psychologists help ease your think pattern by providing professional understanding as to what is going on inside your head. So if you can not make head nor tail of why you do what you do then at least let someone who wants to help, do so.

People suffering with OCD do not enjoy the experiences brought on by these intrusive thoughts but are compelled to listen instead of eliminating There are so many different obsessions and compulsions carried out by over compulsive disorder victims. We have the hand washing ritual, we have the numbers game, we have the checker, what we dont have is the common sense to seek advice before the OCD takes claim of body and soul.

By not consulting a doctor we add to our problem. Why? We dont know, just like the way we dont know why we do what we do. OCD takes you hostage and holds you ransom to your own thoughts and until you let go then forever a prisoner you will be.

A wish come true for an obsessive compulsive disorder patient is to suffer an attack of amnesia. To live in a world of forgetfulness for a day has to be better than winning the lottery. To forget ever suffering from depression along with the other person who you know longer recognize as yourself is a sense of contentment that no amount of money can buy.

If all OCD symptoms were locked away in the closet does it mean we no longer yearn to carry out our repetitive actions, does it mean our compulsions and obsessions are now in the past, does it mean that it is over and we find peace of mind. I dont think so. Just because the OCD symptoms are behind closed doors does not mean out of sight out of mind.

If your health is giving you reason for concern then please act now and talk with a doctor so that you never yearn to live in the world of forgetfulness.

The cry of pain and agony from a cut finger/broken arm is healed with a bandaid plaster cast and sling. Our headache pains are relieved after a pill popping session.

But where is the cure for the blind pain suffered by an OCD victim when all the crying is done on the inside.

Coping with OCD symptoms is a struggle for most sufferers who painlessly battle against the disease. The pain is unbearable and one that can not be described to those who do not fully understand why we do what we do.

Our inner emotions and feelings are in a turmoil and self inflicted. We know this but you try and negotiate with the invaders in our life that make it pretty clear that they have control of our thoughts.

Another sadness we have to endure throughout this painsatking process is the pain caused to our loved ones with our selfishness. Us victims have stronger tolerance of this condition than that of others because, it is our heads that have been invaded by this alien force therefore giving us more understanding on this brain battering disease.

How on earth can we expect people close to our hearts suffer too? How does the saying go, you always hurt the one you love. If this is the case then let me put my arms around the whole world because today I am loving everyone.

A suicidal road is structured out for all victims of this is a self destruction disease believe me. Ask yourself how hard it must be for the family to stand back watching helplessly as we struggle to meet the demands from those little voices in our heads.

Who are the real victims here I ask? Does an OCD victim care how they are making others lives a misery? Yes of course we do but it is out of hands to put the family feelings first.

Rules are rules that have to be abided by and if broken the OCD victim sees this as treachery Punishment is in order for the betrayer where a parting of the ways is put in to force. In the eyes of an OCD victim there is no animosity spared if the partner leaves. Some would see it as less chores more contentment. A contented lonely life ahead, but I am afraid that is the way it goes.

If choosing between a clean sweep (Excuse the pun) and clean break, then say your goodbyes.

If you suffer from symptoms that you feel are related to OCD then please seek help. There are many stress relief groups just waiting to help. Anxiety and panic attacks need to be nurtured by professionals. These are some of the symptoms that an OCD victim battles with on a daily basis.

If you choose to ignore the signs then this condition can become very serious.

If you want to help someone close to you then watch for all the tell tale signs which you may find hard. Because an over compulsive disorder sufferer does all his/her crying on the inside.

How is it that an OCD sufferer can never leave a room or walk through a door without looking back?

Why do we fight the urge to look back? Well let me tell you? It is because we find ourselves going back to fluff up the cushions, god only knows how many times the doors are checked to see if they are locked before retiring to bed, that trickle of glistening water on the draining board needs to be wiped. No matter how tired we are someone has to straighten the rug or dust the television. Whatever it takes for peace of mind an OCD victim will do it.

Actions of an over OCD sufferer is very similar to that of Feng Shui followers, where prosperity energy and good luck comes to those if objects/furniture is placed in the right location. Our daily habits are duplicated in a similar manner only we do not seek prosperity and luck it is that of peace and contentment.

Over compulsive disorder is recognized as a disability it is one of the top ten causes that destroys a person physically/mentally.

Approx over 5 million US citizens will develop it if not already suffer from OCD.

What is so frightening about over compulsive disorder is not to know the statistics behind it all.

Fatigue is a major factor that leaves us so lethargic all because our brain focuses on the next chore before we start the first.

Children can develop OCD and have obsessive rituals like keeping toys in order, teens also fall under the spell.

Mum/dad if you notice any change in your child’s behaviour then get help fast. If left to fester then this disease will spread out of control. The early bird catches the worm, nip it in the bud.

I am not sure of any proven cure but help is out there to ease the stress, OCD is serious, it murders the mind.

A recent research proved children in their preschool years have a strong chance of developing OCD. Most adults battling OCD will have been affected since in their teens.

Repetitive thoughts and odd behaviour as some outsiders would see it become a part of our life where it takes over our life

Obsessions and compulsions is where a victim experiences disturbing thoughts and ideas?

These senseless and stressful symptoms are enough to destroy the sane. To ease anxiety we get an urge to repeat some actions over and over again.

OCD is a part of me where I can not imagine life without it. What would I do if ever this condition was to take leave?

I would live life to the full and walk down the road of freedom with a promise to myself that I will never look back.

I happened to be talking to my local politician before Christmas because a fine website on depression, http://www.DepressioNet.com.au was about to lose funding for its crucial 24 hour support forums as a result of failure by the Australian government to fund its programs.

So I pinged the pollies and Bill, my local politician, wanted to chat. The one illuminating aspect of our 45 minute conversation was that it was very hard (for politicians) to decide what other health programs should be cut in order to increase funding for mental health because of myriad vested interests.

Watching news reports around the world and back home I see similar difficulties arising. It is somewhat reminiscent of the ‘Yes Minister’ dilemmas that Sir Humphrey Appleby would put to his boss, thereby stymieing him every time.

Just last week in South Australia an identical furore erupted. There, the government was brave (or hassled) enough to announce increased mental health funding. The opposition was equally mean enough to demand to know what (more highly valued) general health programs were to be sacrificed for the increase. Read the report here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1545360.htm

Now to get back to Yes Minister, Jim Hacker in his early days would have said ‘But we should just fund health needs according to the cost to the community, the individual and the carer. And that should be the minimum amount needed to restore the ill person’s health so as to function in relationships, at work and in the community.’ You wish!

The unfairness is obvious when authoritative reports state: ‘Stigma is systemic in decision-making at the highest political levels. Ultimate responsibility for mental health services lies with government leaders at Federal and State levels.

‘It is they who have ensured these services have had such a low priority in policy-making and funding

‘The proportion of Australia’s health budget spent on mental health services is under 8%. In comparable OECD countries, the proportion is 12% or more.’ Dare to Care, SANE Mental Health Report 2004 at http://www.sane.org/images/assets/Research_reports_and_images/MHR2004text.pdf

A report by Access Economics for SANE Australia in 2003 calculated the costs of bipolar in Australia as being ‘$16,000 on average’ per year for each sufferer. Yet spending is ‘only $3,007 per person.’

It gets worse. The report states that this paltry $3,007 is even less than spending on the average Australian’s health care, even though ‘the burden of disease the pain, suffering, disability and death is greater for bipolar disorder than for ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or HIV/AIDs, and similar to schizophrenia and melanoma.’

And who makes up the shortfall? According to the report, ‘around half (i.e. $8,000) of this cost is borne by people with the illness and their carers.’

‘Mentally healthy’ public outnumber the mentally ill by a factor of 4 to 1. They want their subsidized spas and perfect teeth at the expense of us getting into hospital when we need it! But because they still view the behaviors of mental illness as not symptoms but as plain bad behavior, our health needs are viewed as less deserving than theirs, and funded accordingly.

Because of the ‘Yes Minister’ factor, I think we face an uphill battle persuading the politicians. They won’t shift until public opinion does, to say nothing of favors and kickbacks.

The 4 people in 5 who don’t have a mental illness have something much worse-prejudice. They are the ones who need persuading that mental health deserves equitable funding.

Australians who want to get involved in dismantling stigma can get involved in SANE Australia’s StigmaWatch program at http://sane.org/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=266&op=page

Visit http://www.twotreesmedia.com/links for other organizations around the world.

You can read a summary of the Access Economics report Bipolar Disorder: costs-an analysis of the burden of bipolar disorder and related suicide in Australia, an Access Economics Report for SANE Australia 2003 at http://www.sane.org/images/assets/Research_reports_and_images/bipolar_costs_es.pdf

When your fears and depression have the best of you, it is easy to feel that things will not get any better. This is not true. There is much help available in today’s society and the best way to deal with your fears is to find effective ways to overcome them. As a result, here are some techniques a person can use to help manage their fears and anxieties.

You never know when the answers your looking for will come to your doorstep. Even if the thing that you feared does happen, there are circumstances and factors that you can’t predict which can be used to your advantage. These factors can change everything. Remember: we may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.

Challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, your afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.

Some people get depressed and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the mornings. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get their mind off of the problem. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.

Seek help from God. You might of heard this before, however have you tried asking God for help? Praying and talking to God about your problem can be effective. Although the answers might not come to you right away, you can’t go wrong on relying on God. You never know how God will work in ones life. All you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take it in stride by using the help of God. God will help us through our problems if we ask him.

As a Layman and author of an anxiety book, I have done many interviews with various counselors in how to manage fear, anxiety and depression. The techniques that I have just covered are some basic ways to manage your depression, however your best bet is to get some help from a professional and not to lose hope. Eventually, you will find the answers you are looking for.

Depression is a medical condition that affects the mind, often leaving the person suffering from it feeling hopeless, without ambition and unable to focus. Left untreated, this condition can adversely affect academic achievement, family life, friendships and careers. People tend to seek help from a mental health professional who may prescribe mood balancing drugs. Most, however; use an alternative form of medicine for a more natural treatment in tandem with drug therapy. Milder cases of depression can be treated solely with natural remedies without the need for prescription drugs.

Therapy is a great way to restore balance in your life. Seeking help from others who have similar issues will provide a support system to discuss issues, understand symptoms, and develop techniques to feel better. Often talking is very cathartic and can help alleviate stress and loneliness, which may cause feelings of depression.

Therapy that involves personal expression has been found to provide an outlet for pent-up feelings and can be a positive way to articulate deep feelings and emotion. This can take many forms. Dance is a great outlet for this as well as other movement therapies such as martial arts. Martial arts teach focus, self awareness, and control which can greatly benefit someone suffering from depression. Using art as a form of therapy is another expressive form of therapy. Whether it is sculpting or painting or any other variation of art, it’s a way to expose feelings in a tangible way.

Relaxation techniques help a person focus and gain a sense of serenity. Yoga is an ideal form of exercise that melds the body, mind, and spirit. It promotes good health, a positive self image and teaches relaxation. Meditation is also a good way to relax and unwind. It reduces the heart rate and clears the mind, allowing more focused thought. Acupuncture has grown in popularity as a means to treat depression. By using various pressure points, it is believed to enable a calming effect and promote a healthier emotional balance. Hypnosis is also popular as a means of getting to the core issues of why someone is depressed and leaving them with a sense of well being.

Certain dietary changes and supplements have been reported to be helpful in the treatment of depression. Adding fish oil, Zinc and B vitamins are found to help the body regulate chemicals that may trigger depression. Exercise is also very important. Keeping active will rejuvenate the body and keep it fit, promoting a healthier lifestyle and better self image. Working out several times per week can calm the senses and invigorate the body.

Depression does not need to be debilitating. Making a few changes to your daily routine will help promote a sense of well-being and help alleviate symptoms of depression. If you continue to have feelings of depression or have severe symptoms like suicidal thoughts, consult a health care professional immediately.