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There's a common misconception

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that if you like to meticulously [br]organize your things,

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keep your hands clean,

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or plan out your weekend [br]to the last detail,

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you might have OCD.

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In fact, OCD, which stands [br]for obsessive compulsive disorder,

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is a serious psychiatric condition

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that is frequently [br]misunderstood by society

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and mental health professionals alike.

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So let's start by debunking some myths.

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Myth one: repetitive or ritualistic[br]behaviors are synonymous with OCD.

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As its name suggests,

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obsessive compulsive disorder[br]has two aspects:

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the intrusive thoughts, images,[br]or impulses, known as obsessions,

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and the behavioral [br]compulsions people engage in

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to relieve the anxiety [br]the obsessions cause.

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The kinds of actions that people often [br]associate with OCD,

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like excessive hand washing,[br]or checking things repeatedly,

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may be examples of obsessive[br]or compulsive tendencies

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that many of us exhibit from time to time.

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But the actual disorder is far more rare[br]and can be quite debilitating.

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People affected have little or no[br]control over their obsessive thoughts

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and compulsive behaviors,

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which tend to be time consuming

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and interfere with work, [br]school or social life

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to the point of causing [br]significant distress.

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This set of diagnostic criteria is what[br]separates people suffering from OCD

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from those who may [br]just be a bit more meticulous

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or hygiene obsessed than usual.

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Myth two: the main symptom of OCD[br]is excessive hand washing.

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Although hand washing is the most common[br]image of OCD in popular culture,

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obsessions and compulsions[br]can take many different forms.

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Obsessions can manifest [br]as fears of contamination and illness,

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worries about harming others,

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or preoccupations with numbers,[br]patterns, morality, or sexual identity.

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And compulsions can range from[br]excessive cleaning or double checking,

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to the fastidious arrangement of objects,

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or walking in predetermined patterns.

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Myth three:

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individuals with OCD don't understand[br]that they are acting irrationally.

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Many individuals with OCD actually[br]understand the relationship

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between their obsessions [br]and compulsions quite well.

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Being unable to avoid [br]these thoughts and actions

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despite being aware of their irrationality

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is part of the reason[br]why OCD is so distressing.

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OCD sufferers report feeling crazy

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for experiencing anxiety [br]based on irrational thoughts

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and finding it difficult [br]to control their responses.

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So what exactly causes OCD?

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The frustrating answer [br]is we don't really know.

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However, we have some important clues.

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OCD is considered [br]a neurobiological disorder.

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In other words, research suggests [br]that OCD sufferers brains

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are actually hardwired [br]to behave in a certain fashion.

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Research has implicated [br]three regions of the brain

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variously involved in social behavior[br]and complex cognitive planning,

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voluntary movement,

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and emotional and motivational responses.

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The other piece of the puzzle

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is that OCD is associated [br]with low levels of serotonin,

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a neurotransmitter [br]that communicates between brain structures

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and helps regulate vital processes,

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such as mood, aggression, impulse control,

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sleep, appetite, [br]body temperature and pain.

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But are serotonin and activity [br]in these brain regions the sources of OCD

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or symptoms of an unknown[br]underlying cause of the disorder.

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We probably won't know until

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we have a much more intimate [br]understanding of the brain.

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The good news is there are [br]effective treatments for OCD,

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including medications, which increase[br]serotonin in the brain

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by limiting its reabsorption [br]by brain cells,

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behavioral therapy that gradually[br]desensitizes patients to their anxieties,

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and in some cases, [br]electroconvulsive therapy,

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or surgery, when OCD doesn't respond[br]to other forms of treatment.

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Knowing that your own brain [br]is lying to you

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while not being able [br]to resist its commands can be agonizing.

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But with knowledge and understanding[br]comes the power to seek help,

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and future research into the brain

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may finally provide [br]the answers we're looking for.