Opening, Closing A Door Repeatedly - A Sign Of Obsessive Compulsion

By Zulkiple Ibrahim There are people who have the urge to repeatedly check whether their car or house has been locked, their gas stove or electric iron switched off. However when these individuals become obsessive with these acts, the situation becomes extreme to the extent that this behaviour hampers their everyday lives. This problem is known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This is the first of two articles on people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Undergraduate Wong (not his real name), frequently feels that he is dirty, to the extent that he spends hours cleaning himself in the bathroom. He will wash his hands and body repeatedly. Not only that, in order not to dirty his body again, he will walk backwards out of the washroom after finishing his bath. When Wong leaves his room to attend a lecture, he repeatedly checks whether the door is locked by closing and opening it many times, and turns the door knob repeatedly. Many times, he will return after only walking for several metres to make sure that the door is really locked. The final act will have Wong knocking on the door to make sure that there is nobody inside the room. Wong happens to be an individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). URGE, BEHAVIOUR A person who suffers from OCD, will have extreme urges and behaviours, explains a medical officer in neurology, Dr A. Ridzwaan Talib. "People who suffer from OCD have obsessive and compulsive behaviour, as well as desires that will have impacts on their daily lives. No matter how hard they try, these people cannot shrug off this problem. "OCD is caused by impulses transmitted from the brain, like extreme anxiety, or fear, or maybe both," he says. The symptoms of OCD are acts like repeatedly washing the hands, repeatedly washing and checking, obsessive and extreme thinking on sexual, violent and religious aspects. "Committing repetitive acts such as closing and opening the door for 20 times to reduce the apprehension and thoughts that the door is not locked is an example. "Acts of OCD are time wasting and can cause severe stress. These paranod thoughts can make the sufferer paranoid. "However, many of the sufferers are aware of the obsession," he explains. NEEDS HELP, UNDERSTANDING Dr Ridzwaan says those with OCD need assistance and can be helped. "First, people with OCD need to understand their problem. They need to know that this behavour originates from an urge over which they have no control, as if they are forced to do it and cannot escape from doing it". He says in OCD cases, the mind of the sufferer is fixed on a stimulus or urge. "For example you may feel the need to check the gas stove for 20 times to make sure it is switched off. You may wash your hands until it almost bleed, and other extreme acts. "These acts are committed without control, like an image or impulse from the brain which is continuous and non-stop". TYPES OF OBSESSION Dr Ridzwaan says there are several categories of OCD. The first is those who fear being dirty and contaminated. They wash their hands and clean their bodies repeatedly. "The second group are people who feel compelled to repeatedly check the door, gas stove and others to ensure safety. "There are those who feel guilty and think that they need to do something to avoid punishment or penalty. "Some may feel obsessed over the way of items on a table are arranged, with shelves or racks or with the furniture or interior decorations in a homes. Others may have superstitions about a certain number, colour or pattern and arrangement. Dr Ridzwaan also points out there are hoarders, people who keep and store almost everything, as they feel that something bad may happen if these items are discarded. "But, even if you have some obsessive thoughts or commit extreme acts at times, this does not necessarily mean that you have OCD," he says. -- BERNAMA