Did you know that the history of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) dates back as far as thousands of years ago? In fact, OCD has possibly existed for as long as humans have walked on the Earth. It affects every human race and astonishingly it also affects animals. Animals are affected too because they also have fears and they will develop routine behavior based on these fears.

OCD is a mental condition that includes fixations and repeated behavior. Studies have shown that approximately 90 percent of the public have these thoughts and behaviors. However, it is those who suffer from OCD that act in a harmful and disorderly way. They use this irrational behavior as a way to handle and control their obsessions. In the beginning these repeated actions will offer some release to an individual, but in the end they become more harmful.

The main cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not currently known but it is most commonly associated with stress. When stress engulfs us it will mentally fatigue us and also reduce the effectiveness our immune system. In many cases stress is the starter of Obsessive Compulsion Disorder.

People who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are constantly searching for methods to control and eliminate their harmful thoughts. However, it is their lack of ability to control these harmful thoughts that results in them acting irrationally to try and handle their depressing emotions. Over the years, Doctors have been plagued by trying to develop the best way to cure OCD. The key to this is to stop thinking irrationally and to focus on positive thoughts.

In the past Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has been treated through electro convulsive therapy. Doctors basically connected an electrode to a sufferers head and forced electricity into their brain. This causes a seizure in the patient. Doctors believed this would cause the brain to release neurotransmitters that might help control a person’s behavior. For obvious reasons this treatment method has not been used for a long time. Could you even imaging having this procedure performed on yourself or someone you know?

Most individuals that suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder understand that their thoughts and behaviors are not normal but they do not understand how they can stop them. This is the main factor that splits OCD from other mental disorders. It is believed that by facing an obsession head on can help treat the condition. One technique to control OCD is to force yourself to think rationally and control any impulses that you might have.