Obsessions, Compulsions and Impulsivity

Nov. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Obsessions:
1.Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
2.The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
3.The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
4.The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)
Compulsions:
1.Repetitive INVOLUNTARY behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
2.The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.
At some point during the course of the disorder, the addict may recognize that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.
The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress and are time consuming taking up more than 1 hour a day and significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning social activities and relationships.
If another disorder is present like addiction then the obsession/compulsion is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance but the condition can be exacerbated by drug and alcohol abuse.
Impulsivity:
A natural internal feeling carried out without forethought rather than through necessity or reason tendency to act on sudden urges or desires

Definition
Impulse control disorders are characterized by an inability to resist the impulse to perform an action that is harmful to one's self or others. This is a relatively new class of personality disorders, and the most common of these are intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pyromania, compulsive gambling disorder, and trichotillomania.
All of these impulse control disorders involve the loss or lack of control in certain specific situations. The hallmark of these disorders is the individual's inability to stop impulses that may cause harm to themselves or others. Affected individuals often feel anxiety or tension in considering these behaviors. This anxiety or tension is relieved or diminished once the action is performed.
Intermittent explosive disorder is more common among men, and involves aggressive outbursts that lead to assaults on others or destruction of property. These outbursts are unprovoked or seem to be out of proportion to the event that precedes them.
Kleptomania is more common among women, and involves the theft of objects that are seemingly worthless. The act of stealing relieves tension and is seen by the individual to be rewarding. The actual stealing is not preplanned, and the concept of punishment for the crime does not occur to these individuals, although they are aware that what they are doing is wrong.
Pyromania is more common among men, and involves setting fires in order to feel pleasure and relieve tension.
Pathological gambling occurs in roughly 1-3% of the population, and involves excessive gambling despite heavy monetary losses. These losses actually act as a motivating factor in continuing gambling in order to recoup some of what was lost.
Trichotillomania involves pulling hair from one's own scalp, face, or body, and is more common in women. It often begins in childhood, and is often associated with major depression or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is a mental disorder most commonly characterized by intrusive, repetitive thoughts resulting in compulsive behaviors and mental acts that the person feels driven to perform. There is a strong correlation between OCD and Addiction and it is not always clear which disorder comes first! An example could be the addict who thinks that they are a sex addict but does not take into consideration that their primary addiction exacerbates/creates their uncontrollable urges! An addict can compulsively take mood altering drugs that ignites destructive impulses that the mind steers you into believing must take place in order to avert a perceived disaster that does not even exist………………….yes , this is insanity!
1.I must take drugs to fill the emptiness inside, to become witty and social!  
2.Excessive drug usage can lead to strong uncontrollable urges such as the need to carry out a precarious sexual act
3.The psychological and physical ritual must be accomplished in order to feel in control and wholesome-yet-quite quickly the addict may feel depressed, guilty and lonely again and develop an obsession, compulsion or impulsively start the process again!

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Twin Rivers offers affordable residential treatment for people suffering with an addiction and/or mental health disorder