OCD... The Mental Hiccup

This is to create awareness about the OCD, a common disorder as its cure lies with the patient him/herself.

     Almost all parts of human beings are physical and produce some similar output for all persons. Only one part is conceptual and produces unique output for each person. It is also considered the key part of humans and is named "Mind" (don't get confused with 'brain').

     Any behavior/condition which is deviated from the normal state is called a disorder. The disorder can be either mental or physical. Physical disorders are comparatively easy to diagnose and to cure whereas mental disorders have no laboratory tests and can be diagnosed only through behavioral syndrome. Their cure is thus complicated and there will be no 100% result as the measures are relative. The word 'relative' refers to the fact that there are no standard measures for the normal properties of mind whereas we have certain standards for physical parts such as normal temperature of human body etc. The mental disorders affect the social life of an individual and more importantly one's performance in various aspects.

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder...? 
     It's a mental disorder, widely known as 'OCD' and is seen in most of the people with various severity levels. It's basically an anxiety disorder in which people will have some unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations or behaviors (Obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something (Compulsions). To get rid of the unwarranted obsessions the compulsory activities are performed. But the so called compulsory 'rituals' provide only a temporary relief from obsessive thoughts and not performing them reportedly increases anxiety.

One common example of OCD is - few people are excessively scared of germs and wash their hands repeatedly. The obsessive thought that their hands might not be clean (though they know that they washed just before some time) keeps popping up in their mind and make them anxious. They will follow the compulsory act of washing again to get rid of the anxiety created by that obsession. Here the thing to be noted is they know that not washing hands do not make any harm as they just washed. But they can't convince themselves until they wash hands again. Also there is no guarantee that that obsession will end after washing hands for second time. Immediately after the wash the thought might pop up again to compel the individual to repeat the ritual of washing. Thus they might end up doing the compulsory act several times. The repetition count might differ from each incident to other.

Another common example is - Few check their door locks repeatedly. Though they know that it is locked, they check it again.

     Often people feel that such thoughts are their own but if they clearly observe, their mind has no control over such thoughts and they can't stop the anxiety created by such thoughts unless they follow some compulsory rituals.

What happens If they dont perform the compulsory rituals...? 
     People can't identify what exactly is the impact if they dont do such compulsory acts but they feel great misery and anxiety if they dont. Just the mind is stuck to some thought or urge and it wont let go away. Its like mental hiccups.

The symptoms of this are ... The person can identify over a time that the obsessive thoughts are unwelcome and irrational but out of their control and they feel there is an urgent need for resorting to certain rituals when such thoughts come. The person might experience both obsessive and compulsive thoughts or only one at a time.

Few noted obsessons are...

• Thoughts that you may hurt/misbehave with the person who you are speaking with. For ex, fear like you might slap your boss for no reason while sitting next to him/her.
• Feel like having few things always in only a certain order or shape.
• Cleaning or arranging things in house repeatedly.
• Intrusive thought that you might do something embarrassing infront of others.
• In temples or pujas, the feel like doing certain things more and more without any reason (not even holistic reason) for ex, Doing more and more pradakshinas (rounds around temple), taking aarthi or doing pranaam several times etc.
• By mistake hand or leg touches something and you feel like touching the same for few more times.
• You rub a finger due to itch. But feel like rubbing all other fingers (though there is no itch on them) or rubbing the same finger certain no of times.
• Moving head from neck in certain fashion and feel like repeating it for several times.
• Repeatedly adjusting shirt by moving chest from one shoulder to another in certain fashion 

     Any thought with no validity and reason if makes you feel anxious and compel you to do some activity to get rid of anxiety, such thoughts can be called obsessions.

How to cure...?
     There are medical approaches using medicines. But such approaches need care as the drugs applied to cure mental diseases can have side effects.
     The best and primitive approach to cure OCD is 'self help'.  If you observe the obsession is a thought of your mind making you anxious about something and thus forcing you to resort to some compulsory rituals. Stop obeying to such thoughts. Tell yourself that the anxiety is unwarranted and needs no attention.

Note: Don't get confused with the terms OCD and OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder). OCPD is a different disorder though it sounds similar.

Govt hiked Petrol... So do I...!

After a tiresome journey through KSRTC bus, finally i got down at Nellore bus station at around 4:30 am.

My mind was little excited as i was going home after a complete month. This might sound odd bt considering my travel experience for the past 1 and 1/2 years which used to be a weekly exercise, my statement carries its weight. My close frens know it clearly :-). That too its been few months since I reached Nellore in wee hours.

Amid all these thoughts a thought came forward that I need to travel 2-3 more kilo meters to reach home and I need to look for an auto.

Within no time one auto came and driver asked me "Where to go?"

I said "Usman Saheb Pet. Next to City M.L.A's house."

"Oh that side..! Its Ok come." the driver confirmed the deal without any more delay and started auto.

"Wait...!" I said firmly as I wanted to fix the amount before getting into auto, keeping my past experience in mind.

"How much?" My immediate question.

"80 Rs...!" His prompt response.

"Why so much? It never crossed 40 to 45 Rs at anytime in night. The sun is almost out there. Just few months before I gave 45Rs at 3:30am." I tried to use logical reasoning as my weapon in that bargaining war.

"Kab ka baat hain sir. Petrol rates are hiked every day. We cant run autos in loss nor can we control the petrol rates."

"But..." I am left with no words as I ve problem in countering facts. The weapon i tried to use had bounced back.

"Its Ok but reduce a bit" in a helpless tone.

"Ok. it wont be profitable for me unless it is min 70"

"Ok... lets go"

I forgot the matter and dozed off after reaching home. The next day mom ordered me to bring vegetables from market.

I said "I came on holiday dont give me work. I need to rest." with strong voice.

"What great things are you doing in Bangalore to rest here...?" Immediate response from my sister.

"If you come once a while, thats called holiday. For those who come weekly its not." She continued.

I could see similar if not same expressions in my mom's face and sensed the heat in the weather so left before I got another counter.

"How much is one kilo of Brinjal?"

"30 Rs...!" the fat lady replied.

"What..? Why so much? Tell me the actual price."

"Yoh..!" She miffed With all the irritation and arrogance of the world in her face.

Actually 'Yoh' is the short form of 'Endi Ayyoh', used to counter a guy with frustration, anger when the guy's words are not acceptable.

"I am not doing charity. U need - take it. If not - just leave. Dont waste my time." She added. "See how is he Bargaining as if he takes some 10 kilos" she murmered.

I felt bad but wanted to deal with her some other way.

"But 30 rs is little high. Let me know your final price" I asked her in a little soft voice.

Seems the trick worked but not with her rather with her husband.

He answered me in a low voice "There is nothing new sir. Petrol rates are increased. So are the rates of Vegetables. If you come to my village, I will give you for half the price. I am not farming rather I purchased from wholesale market and reselling here."

I silently finished the business and left the place.

On my way back home, similar stint happened with the autovalah and he too gave me the same reasoning of Petrol, Diesel.

Then started wondering... The shop keeper and the autovalah both are just adjusting their price table according to their expenses with some profit. But so is the Govt doing in case of Petrol and Diesel rates. No Service. If the barrel price is hiked in international market or the dollar value is increased, they are increasing the price. They are just doing business moreover a mere adjustment of price table. But i dont remember they have decreased the domestic rates when the crude oil rates went down. But each time they increase the rate of diesel, the repercussions continue for months in almost all commodities of common man and there is no going back.

It reminded me Mr.Sarad Pawar's words... "The supply for milk is decreasing but the demand is not. So to attract farmers to produce more milk and thus meet the demand, we need to hike the milk prices".

Are the govt, ministers, their assistants, strategists, all this equipment and infrastructure there just to adjust the price table based on demand & supply?

If that is the case, do we need to maintain such expensive system which is again a burden on common man?

If they can't forecast the supply / demand and take corrective measures, why do we need to feed them?

Don't our Finance minister and his dept know the basic economic principles that an autovalah and vegetable shop keeper know? If they know that simple things, we would have not seen this ridiculous hikes in Diesel atleast leave Petrol which is more of a personal affair.

They know but they want to project India is shining in front of the world. Even I want it to happen but not at the cost of common man's life. The development and Inflation cant go in the same road, I agree too. But A perfect balance is required. Nobody wants to say that we are developed with what I am earning is way less than what I need for my basic needs.

First I want to make sure that I am happy inside home. Only then I think of projecting myself to the outside world.