The obsessional neurosis It is a term created by the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud who considered it a mental disorder characterized because people who suffer from it are constantly worried about thoughts that do not really interest them. People who have an obsessional neurosis are extremely perfectionist and meticulous, which causes them to generate these types of thoughts that, in turn, become obsessive. This leads to compulsive and repetitive behavior in order to alleviate their discomfort. It is necessary to mention that currently in clinical practice, the term obsessional neurosis is no longer used and the disorders that most closely resemble it are anxiety disorders, specifically it is closely related to . In both cases, the person is aware that they have a problem, however, they lack control over it and no matter how much they try to remedy it, they cannot put a stop to the situation.
In this Psychology-Online article about Obsessive neurosis: symptoms, characteristics and treatmentwe are going to tell you in more detail what this type of disorder consists of.
Symptoms and characteristics of obsessional neurosis
People who suffer from an obsessional neurosis or what is known today as obsessive-compulsive disorder, have a series of symptoms and characteristics in common that identify them. Among the main symptoms and characteristics that these individuals present are the following:
Obsessive thoughts
The person may have recurring thoughts about some issues that do not allow her to be calm. Some topics may be the following:
- Fear of contamination or dirt.
- Feeling the need for things to be extremely organized.
- Recurrently thinking about harming others and/or oneself.
- Continually having thoughts about unwanted topics.
- Constantly thinking that you are going to act inappropriately.
- Having the constant worry that something has been done incorrectly or something important has not been done. For example, doubting whether the house door or the gas tap has been closed properly, etc.
Compulsive attitudes
People with this type of condition tend to carry out behaviors compulsively due to the recurring and intrusive thoughts that appear in their mind, with the aim of feeling relieved when doing them. Some compulsive behaviors The most common are the following:
- Perform repetitive behaviors as rituals to reduce the anxiety generated by your thoughts. For example, having recurring thoughts that if you don’t go back to touch the table you just touched a few moments ago, something bad could happen to you and it is better not to risk it.
- Repeat some words or phrases of thoughts that you have in your mind that are causing you too much stress.
- Making gestures in a repetitive and irrational manner in order to stop the anxiety generated by the thoughts with which you are torturing yourself at those moments.
Obsessive neurosis: causes
There are various causes by which this type of condition can be triggered. These are some physical, genetic and psychological factors that are in constant interaction:
- Genetic factors: it has been found that it is easy to detect cases of obsessional neurosis in some families, so people who have a first-degree relative with this type of condition are more likely to also develop it.
- Physical factors: obsessional neurosis is related to the chemical imbalances in the brain that a person may present. There are some specific alterations that make it easier for this type of disorder to develop. For example, it has been found that poor function of the orbito-fronto-caudate circuit can lead to this type of disorder.
- Environmental and psychological factors: people who have experienced childhood trauma or situations that they could not control are more likely to develop this type of condition. For example, being a victim of sexual abuse, being abandoned, being exposed to almost daily.
Obsessive neurosis: treatment
It is necessary that the person receive Psychological Support as part of the treatment. Treatment of obsessional neurosis can be carried out with a therapist or psychoanalyst.
In the case of the cognitive behavioral therapy, the treatment consists of modifying those obsessive thoughts that do not allow the person to be calm and replacing them with more positive and constructive ones. There is also a discussion with the patient about those obsessive thoughts that do not allow them to carry out their daily activities normally to create more awareness about them and their veracity. You are also taught relaxation and meditation exercises, which will help you gain greater control of yourself and better management of your emotions and, therefore, also of your actions, thus preventing them from taking over. he she).
On the other hand, it is also important to mention that sometimes it is necessary, depending on the severity of the situation, for the person to carry out, along with psychological treatment, a Pharmacotherapy which will be determined by the psychiatrist. Anxiolytics or antidepressants are regularly used.
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This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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