Are you suffering from ongoing, illogical obsessions that cause irrational compulsions — such as obsessing about germs and contamination to the point of compulsive hand washing?
This is just one example of the manifestation of OCD, but If you can relate to the essence of that behavior, you may be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
OCD is a mental illness that causes people to have unwanted thoughts and behaviors. These thoughts and behaviors can be extremely intrusive and cause a lot of distress.
While the cause of OCD is unknown, it has been shown that executive function (EF) plays a role in its development and manifestation.
EF is the ability to plan, organize, and focus on tasks. It is also responsible for controlling impulses and managing stress levels. People with OCD often have problems with EF, which can lead to the development of obsessive thoughts and behaviors.
OCD is a serious mental illness that can interfere with work, school, and personal relationships. If you think you might have OCD, it’s essential to seek professional help. OCD can be treated with medication and therapy.
With treatment, most people with OCD can lead happy and productive lives.
What Exactly Is OCD and What Are the Symptoms?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness that, depending on the severity of the condition, invades and takes over the sufferer’s life.
People with OCD often have ongoing obsessions, which are unwanted and intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that repeatedly pop into their minds. These obsessions often spawn compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors that the person feels the need to do in order to ease the anxiety brought about by the obsessions.
For example, someone with OCD may be obsessed with germs and contamination. This may cause them to wash their hands repeatedly — or avoid touching people and objects altogether.
Or, someone with OCD may be obsessed with the threat of being physically harmed. This may cause them to check their doors multiple times to make sure they are locked. They may also avoid going out in public to help ease the obsessions and anxiety.
The symptoms of OCD can vary from person to person. Some people may have only a few mild symptoms, while others may have many intense and debilitating symptoms.
In addition to the obsessions and compulsions, the most common symptoms of OCD include:
- Anxiety: Feelings of unease, dread, or panic around your obsessions
- Depression: Feeling sad and hopeless about your life due to your OCD
- Distress: Feeling overwhelmed and stressed by your obsessions and compulsions
What Are the Roles of Executive Functions?
Executive function (EF) is a term that refers to a group of skills that help us manage our lives. They allow us to plan and organize, focus on tasks, control impulses, and manage stress.
Examples of the executive functions are as follows:
- Organization: The ability to keep track of information and materials
- Planning: The ability to set goals and develop a plan to reach them
- Time management: The ability to use time efficiently and effectively
- Task initiation: The ability to start a task and see it through to completion
- Impulse control: The ability to resist temptation and refrain from acting on impulse
- Stress management: The ability to deal with stress in a healthy way
People with OCD often have impaired executive function.
This is because EF is responsible for managing our emotions and reactions. When we are overwhelmed or stressed, proper EF helps us calm down and focus on what needs to be done.
However, when someone with OCD is experiencing an obsession or compulsion, they cannot calm down and focus. This leads to the development of more obsessions and compulsions, creating a vicious cycle.
How Does Executive Function Play a Role in OCD?
OCD is often triggered by a stressful event, such as a death in the family or a major life change. This event can lead to additional problems with EF, leading to further obsessions and compulsions.
For example, someone who experiences a death in the family may become obsessed with the idea of death and start checking things endlessly to make sure everything is the safest it could possibly be.
Or, someone who experiences a major life change may become obsessed with the idea of being perfect and start compulsively organizing their environment in ways that serve no other purpose than to quell the obsessions.
EF can also play a role in the diagnosis of OCD.
People with OCD often have difficulty completing tasks and may appear irrational. This is because they are spending so much time on their obsessions and compulsions that they cannot focus on tasks geared toward a healthy, productive life.
As a result, they may fall behind in work or school and have trouble maintaining personal relationships. To a doctor or mental healthcare provider, these behaviors are helpful clues in determining a proper diagnosis.
Restoring Wellness Solutions: Treating OCD and Improving Executive Function With Ketamine Therapy
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, it’s vital to seek professional help. OCD is a serious condition that can significantly impair your quality of life. However, there are effective treatments available.
One treatment option that is showing considerable promise is ketamine therapy. Ketamine is a medication that has been used for decades as an anesthetic. Recently, however, ketamine has been shown to be an effective treatment for mental health conditions, including OCD.
Ketamine therapy works by increasing levels of glutamate in the brain. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that is essential for learning and memory. When levels are low, it can lead to problems with executive function. By increasing levels of glutamate, ketamine therapy can help improve EF in people with OCD.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, please contact Restoring Wellness Solutions today for a consultation. We are currently admitting new patients with referrals. If you need assistance with obtaining a provider referral, we can help with that, too!
We are the leading ketamine therapy provider in North Carolina, operating in Winston-Salem, and we can tailor a treatment plan that is molded around your unique case and circumstances.
Click the link below to learn more about how Restoring Wellness Solutions can help!
