GET CONNECTED The BrainPhysics discussion forum can be found at www.NeuroticPlanet.com. Please pay a visit today! We have special sections for OCD, Body Image and Eating Disorders, Sexual Obsessions, and even Off-Topic discussion.

What is OCD?

OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The obsessions and compulsions caused by the disorder are unwanted and sometimes horrifying. The compulsions are repetitive and senseless. The stress and anxiety can be like a continuous mental scream. The good news is that there are many excellent treatments for OCD, and now we have new information about treatment-resistant OCD. Learn more important facts about OCD, and for a more comprehensive study, read our frequently asked questions about OCD. Plagued by religious obsessions? Also see our special section about OCD and the Christian. More about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder...

I'm Gay but You're Not!

Have you ever been afraid that you were gay? Have these worries become frightening, disturbing, and pervasive? A gay professor with OCD explains why these concerns may mean that you're not gay, but in fact have a type of OCD. Read I'm Gay and You're Not: Understanding homosexuality Fears. Also see our fact sheet about OCD and Homosexuality Fears...

Mental Health News

The BrainPhysics site keeps you informed with the latest news about mental health. We have information from two online feeds, including the New York Times compilation on Anxiety Disorders. Read today's news now...

Can't Get a Date?

Has OCD got you down in more ways than one? People suffering from anxiety disorders frequently have difficulty meeting people and dating. Simply approaching someone of the opposite sex can seem like an insurmountable hurdle. SSRI's can treat the symptoms of anxiety but still leave you feeling, well, flaccid. Read our chemical account of the neurobiology and pharmacology behind the pain in Mate Selection in the Human Male Confounded by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

OC Foundation Conference

The National Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (OCF) is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public and professional communities about OCD and related disorders; to provide assistance to individuals with OCD and related disorders, their family and friends; and to support research into the causes and effective treatments of OCD and related disorders.

The OC Foundation's 15th Annual Conference will be held at the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel in Boston, MA. The dates for the conference are Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3, 2008. For more information, please visit the OC Foundation website.

When Appearance Matters

Mirror, mirror on the wall... Can't stop checking yourself for flaws, zits or imperfections? Is it making you miserable? You may have a syndrome similar to OCD called body dysmorphic disorder. Read more about this illness in a special article by Dr. Eda Gorbis of Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders. Learn more about body dysmorphic disorder...

One cause of defects in a person's appearance can be the result of compulsive skin picking and scratching — a very common problem among OCD sufferers. Dr. Ted Grossbart of Harvard Medical School tells us how to stop compulsive skin picking and scratching...

Thumbs Up!

The BrainPhysics mental health website has recently been expanded, with new articles, updated discussion forum, online bookstore, eating disorder resources, and more OC spectrum disorders and impulse control disorders. We hope you like our site and find the resources you need to maintain sanity. More about us...

Taking Charge of Your Treatment

If you're taking medication, but it's not working, your dosage may be incorrect. Correct dosages vary from drug to drug, based on your weight and severity of symptoms. One thing to keep in mind when taking medication is that the dosages for OCD can be much higher than dosages needed for other disorders, like depression. Read more about medications for OCD and our new article about herbal remedies for OCD and anxiety. Also see our online pharmacy for anxiety and mood disorders.