By Anonymous, Sat, August 06, 2011
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a very difficult, at times tremendously strenuous mental condition to deal with. Approximately 2-3 percent of adults and anywhere from 1-2 million Americans are impacted by the anxiety disorder in some way, shape or form on a yearly basis. Given its pervasiveness, treatments for OCD are constantly being sought out.
In order to deal with OCD, it's first important to take note of what the condition entails. OCD is an anxiety disorder in which sufferers are forced to deal with obsessions and compulsions in undesired times and unwanted locales. These obsessions and compulsions more or less take over a given person’s life, and force him or her to conduct themselves in a manner that is unbecoming of them.
Although OCD is not curable at this time, a great number of treatment options exist that can help sufferers lead relatively normal lives. Which option a given sufferer chooses depends largely on how quickly they want their treatment option to take effect, what side-effects they are prepared to live with, and what their lifestyles are like.
Over the past few years, a growing number of people begun to turn to more holistic, natural options in order to deal with their mental disorders – and OCD is no exception. Researchers are now looking into what inherently triggers the negative side-effects of OCD, and are advising sufferers to perform activities which boost mental health in an effort to minimize the effect of those triggers.
Exercise, eating well, and regular cognitive behavioral therapy have all been linked to helping people dealing with OCD cope with their condition. Foods heavy in minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium have excellent track records when it comes to alleviating OCD worries. Similarly, vitamins have begun to be increasingly more prominent amongst sufferers, particularly B- and C- vitamins.
As is the case with any treatment option, natural or otherwise – it is important to consult your mental health specialist before committing to any course of action in the battle against OCD.