Immigration Essay, Research Paper

Obsessive-compulsive disorder has a dramatic effect on a person’s life. The obsessions and compulsions cause marked distress because they take at least an hour each day, and can significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, occupational functioning, or usual social activities or relationships. At some point, the person realizes that his or her obsessions and compulsions are irrational, but still has no control over them. The person will usually keep the disorder a secret because he or she thinks he or she is crazy and is the only one with weird thoughts or behaviors. These feelings of insanity can cause a person to feel isolated which can lead to emotional distance in relationships.

Over half of OCD sufferers also are clinically depressed and as many as 15% develop involuntary, uncontrollable tics. Other disorders that sometimes occur with OCD are Parkinson’s disease, Sydenham’s disease, and epilepsy.

People who suffer from OCD are usually intelligent, talented people who would function normally if they did not suffer from the disorder.