Monk and the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

An obsessive compulsive condition can lock a person into ritualistic actions that they need are like your desire to have a compelling need to follow. You can see some of these ritual like practices on the tv show Monk on the USA Network.

Many people that have OCD are more easily diagnosed due to their physical ritualistic patterns that can be found in their daily routine.  People suffering with obsessive compulsive disorders with a specific phobia can find themselves doing the same thing over and over regardless of how many times they do a routine.  They can literally tell themselves that they've done something but there is a little nagging doubt that returns them back to re check and review what was done.

A good example of OCD behavior is someone who checks and re checks the security of their home.  This person may lock all the doors and windows before going to be only to get up several times at night to check them all again.  While it's not a problem, at least in my mind for someone to re check something, the pattern and frequency of the routine is what can determine obsessive compulsive behavior.

Another example is someone with an aversion to germs may wash their hands an inordinate amount of time.  We're not talking about the person who washes their hands a dozen times or so a day but one who washes dozens and sometimes hundreds of times per day.

Yet another example are people who are so enamored with their looks that they cannot go past a mirror without stopping to admire the view.  These people have been know to literally check their looks in reflections of plate glass while shopping!

Monk is just a television show but he does demonstrate several phychological behaviors and problems that can be used to help you understand what may be in your own life.  Note that the most important aspect of this however is that OCD can take over a persons life. 
An obsessive compulsive disorder is caused by unreasonable thoughts, worry or fears that in turn cause someone to attempt to control the situation with ritualized activities.  Those activities (hand washing etc.) can lower the stress lever enough to enable continued functioning in life. 

The thing that makes it so difficult to diagnose many mental disorders is the subjectiveness of the decision to state someone has a problem. Put another way, how much is to much of a behavior to be considered a problem. Another problem, and why having a trained health care profession involved with your diagnosis and treatment is that so many of the mental disorders have overlapping symptoms. Someone with social anxiety disorder can exhibit symptoms and rituals a lot like someone who is suffering with OCD. Sorting this out is complex.

It's extraordinarily difficult to live a life controlled by compulsions and obsessions.  Note that in the Television show Monk, he has regular appointments with his mental healh professional to deal with his anxieties and difficulties.

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder