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The difference between OCD and Tics – what is it?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by repetitive behaviors and obsessive thoughts. Tics are commonly thought as a byproduct of OCD itself, but is that really the case here?
What is the difference with an TIC?
A tic is a repetitive, uncontrollable movement of the body resulting from the contraction of one or more muscle groups.
For example, a blinking of the eyes, a rolling of the shoulders, a sudden movement of the body.
Unlike OCD, tics are not associated with a haunting idea or compulsions.
What are the causes of OCD?
Like many mental disorders such as anxiety, OCD results from the interaction of several biological, environmental and social factors.
What are the symptoms?
The patient with OCD is aware of the foolish or inappropriateness of their haunting thoughts.
OCD is distinguished from anxiety disorder in that obsessive thoughts and the rituals are neither coherent nor useful for the person.
The obsessions often revolve around the fear of contamination; the need for symmetry and accuracy or repeated doubts and manifested by compulsions of verification (checking several times that the light is off, that the door is closed); washing or counting rituals.
Checking Cell Phones Obsessively is OCD, not a Tick!
People may prefer to work from home more during the Covid 19 crisis, to avoid their fear of contamination.
We talk about OCD, when these disorders last at least an hour a day and have a significant negative impact on your social life.
Phobic obsessions
The most common obsession is the fear of being soiled or infected by germs.
The corresponding ritual is excessive cleaning and washing.
Obsessions of error
This is the permanent and obsessive fear of having forgotten to do something and / or of having done it wrong.
Compulsion is expressed by systematic and excessive checking (closing the door, window, gas, etc.
Obsessive cell phone use and checking if you’ve received the latest emails, notifications and information can wreck havoc on your mental health
Obsessions of impulsivity
Those affected are afraid of committing a malicious or even criminal act unintentionally.
Obsessions of collection:
Here, a person suffering from OCD will seek to pile up and accumulate objects of no particular value but above all, without the pleasure specific to the collector.
What are the risk profiles?
You have to be concerned when the disorder begins to severely affects your life.
In first intention, it is useful to speak about it with a doctor who will then refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
In some very rare cases, small brain tumors can be masked by OCD, so it is essential to see if there are other associated symptoms.
Which test to diagnose OCD?
The psychologist or psychiatrist will be able to perform tests or have completed questionnaires to determine the intensity of his disorders.
What are the treatments?
Treatment is generally based on a combination of two strategies: the prescription of antidepressants such as Zoloft in the more intense forms and therapy.
The dosage of drugs can be particularly high but it is for the benefit for yourself overall.
The treatment must be followed scrupulously for at least 2 months.
Additionally, people can also try CBD products to aid with their obsessions and frequent impulses, depending on whether it could impact any existing medication they’re already taking.
The key differences between tics and OCD is that with OCD, treatment with medication may be quite more commonplace.