Dr. Phillipson explores the brains of Pure O sufferers and explains that debilitating intrusive thoughts are really false signals in the amygdala. Subtítulos disponibles.

For more info on Dr. Phillipson, please visit: [ Ссылка ]

Read full video transcript below:

Aaron Harvey (AH): So how is it that highly intelligent, switched-on people are experiencing such a level of trauma and fear? What is sort of the science behind OCD?

Dr. Steven Phillipson (SP): It’s not completely clear. There are systems in our brain that are designed to prepare us for an emergency. So the system that I focus most on is called the Amygdala. That portion of the brain isn't responsible for a lot of thinking. That portion of the brain is responsible for a lot of very basic functioning: hunger, sleep cycles and also emergency systems if we’re in danger. My belief is that this portion of the brain has a malfunctioning misfiring mechanism going on. This basic portion of the brain is sending a signal that the thinking portion of the brain becomes aware of. And I think that the brain doesn't like to feel like we're about to die without having an association as to where from. And so the brain spontaneously pairs this emergency signal with these thoughts and it infuses a completely authentic experience of danger. So, you know, if there was a poisonous snake running around the floor, you and I would have a very natural physiological reaction of terror and we think "get rid of the snake" and we’ll calm down. So with OCD, sufferers then react in the most basic and instinctual way, which is get rid of the danger. So that might involve for the classic subset of OCD, if I touch a doorknob that might have AIDs on it and washing and for the pure o to prove that I'm not capable of harming someone. To try to maybe ask other people whether or not they see me as dangerous, to look up online, you know, what are the qualities of a murderer and after time it's not really clear whether the anxiety comes first and then the thought follows or whether the thought comes first and then that precedes by triggering the anxiety response. I think over time it really becomes a chicken and the egg question.

AH: So is OCD a mental illness?

SP: Many of my patients speak about themselves as if they have a mental illness, and I often correct them to say and OCD is an anxiety disorder. Most humans experience anxiety at some point in their life. And if you look at all the forms of anxiety disorders, OCD is just sort of the top of the pyramid of the complexities of the different types of anxiety disorders. Patients with OCD often find it difficult to disclose their condition to loved ones or friends because it’s often misunderstood. So to say that I often have thoughts about molesting children or harming you, people can misconstrue that. I reserve the term mental illness for things that are more severe like psychosis, schizophrenia, hallucinations, bipolar disorder. I see those as being much more of a severe form of mental illness or disruption.

ABOUT OCD3
OCD 3 is a web series that brings professional perspectives to the OCD community so sufferers can make healthy decisions and lead better lives.

ABOUT MADE OF MILLIONS
The Made of Millions foundation is a global advocacy nonprofit on a mission to change how the world perceives mental health.

SUPPORT MADE OF MILLIONS
[ Ссылка ]

CONNECT WITH US
- Web: [ Ссылка ]
- Twitter: [ Ссылка ]_
- Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
- Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
- Beautiful Brains Guide: [ Ссылка ]
- Pax The OCD Bot: [ Ссылка ]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Crisis Text Line: [ Ссылка ]
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: [ Ссылка ]
- Psychology Today Directory: [ Ссылка ]
- Open Path Collective: [ Ссылка ]
- Medicaid Eligibility Information: [ Ссылка ]
- American Psychiatric Association: [ Ссылка ]
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America: [ Ссылка ]
- Medicine Assistance Tool: [ Ссылка ]
- NeedyMeds: [ Ссылка ]
- Finding affordable care: [ Ссылка ]
- Resources for POC, LGBTQ, Disabled individuals: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть