Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by uncontrollable, intrusive, and time-consuming thoughts or images (obsessions) and/or repetitive acts. These rituals are often irrational, such as checking locks on doors. Obsessional rituals are repetitive behaviors or mental routines that individuals with OCD feel compelled to perform in response to an obsession or rigid rules.
The first step in treating OCD involves recognizing the familiar cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Some rituals arise from the belief that doing so can prevent a feared outcome. Examples of OCD rituals include excessive washing or cleaning, repeating actions, and checking things.
Obsessional rituals, related to PTSD, contain elements of fear, disgust, and repetitive thoughts pertaining to the environment. Examples of OCD rituals include asking repetitive questions or repeating the same statement over and over, hoarding, ordering and arranging objects, and refusing.
When rituals interfere in the home or school or take up too much time, it may be a sign of OCD. This blog explores what we know about compulsions in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) versus those that occur in OCD. Common compulsive rituals include excessive praying, repetition of religious rituals and scriptures, and unnecessary repetition of words or phrases.
In conclusion, OCD rituals are distressing and repetitive actions or mental exercises that people with OCD perform to alleviate feelings of disgust or anxiety. Understanding the difference between OCD and other disorders can help provide a more comprehensive understanding of these behaviors.
📹 PTSD 70% VA rating for obsessional rituals. #vadisabilitybenefits #vadisability
Many veterans have obsessional rituals that interfere with their daily lives. These symptoms show that the veteran should receive …
Do people with OCD like routines?
Obsessive compulsive disorder patients often adhere to daily routines to combat anxiety, as uncertainty is a significant source of anxiety. However, this approach can lead to a prescribed pattern of behavior that lowers spontaneity and prevents experiencing new things or meeting new people. This can result in a life that is essentially a robot performing its duties, unable to experience new things or meet new people.
To combat this, it is essential to be aware of the real reasons behind prescribed behavior patterns and actively mix structure with spontaneity, similar to having an outline but with the freedom to fill it in various ways. This approach can help individuals manage their anxiety and maintain a balanced life.
What is an example of a ritual behavior?
Ritualistic behaviors are often associated with safety, predictability, and comfort, often found in daily activities such as morning, in-class, after-school, homework, and bedtime. These behaviors can be driven by stress, resistance, or excitement to break a routine. Rituals are internally motivated, have a sense of purpose, and are perceived as having a positive effect on individuals. Some individuals may associate rituals with fears and anxieties, helping them accept and counterbalance stressful situations.
Some repetitive behaviors, routines, and rituals are expected, such as exercisers having a specific way of warming up before exercise or athletes engaging in rituals before competing. These behaviors are typical as long as they remain related to the activity and do not interfere with other life aspects. Overall, ritualistic behaviors are essential for maintaining a sense of purpose and coping with stress.
Why am I obsessed with routines?
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition where individuals feel nervous and afraid due to obsessive thoughts. To cope, they engage in compulsions, or rituals, which they create to control their thoughts. For instance, a person with OCD may repeatedly wash their hands, even if they are already clean, to relieve their anxiety. These behaviors usually temporarily alleviate the anxiety, but when they return, they repeat the routine. Despite being considered rare, recent studies suggest that OCD is more common than previously thought, affecting both men and women equally.
What are rituals and routines?
Family routines and rituals are specific, repeated actions that involve two or more family members. Routines are routine actions like family meals, while rituals have symbolic meanings and purpose, such as yearly celebrations. They maintain structure and cohesion within the family, providing a sense of rhythm to all members, especially developing children.
Developing family routines and rituals can help in skill development, such as literacy skills, and create strong emotional bonds. Routines, like reading or singing before bedtime, allow parents and caregivers to engage with their child, while rituals provide a platform for family members to discuss the negative and positive aspects of their day, fostering a sense of comfort and connection.
What is OCD mental ritual examples?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition where individuals feel compelled to repeat certain behaviors, such as handwashing, lining up objects, and locking doors. However, not everyone with OCD engages in these behaviors. Some children with OCD experience mental or internal compulsions, which are just as real and disruptive as physical ones. The term “pure O” is sometimes used to describe this type of OCD, which implies that the person only experiences obsessions without compulsions.
However, this term is misleading, as it is rare for people with OCD to experience obsessions without any compulsions at all. Often, the compulsions are present and invisible. Clinical psychologist Jerry Bubrick, PhD, suggests that knowing what questions to ask can help identify compulsions in children, even if they may not recognize them as compulsions.
What are PTSD obsessional rituals?
PTSD is a mental health condition characterized by obsessional rituals that disrupt routine activities, often manifesting in Veterans who check their home’s locks, windows, and perimeter. Treatment options for PTSD often involve cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, support groups, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or other antidepressants. While not a comprehensive list of PTSD symptoms, these examples can help determine if a veteran has PTSD or another mental disorder. Veterans who suffer from a serious mental health condition during military service are entitled to VA disability benefits, but they must apply for them first.
How can OCD interfere with someone’s daily activities?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by obsessions and compulsions that can significantly impact a person’s life. It can lead to avoidance of activities that trigger obsessive fears, making it difficult to perform daily tasks. Some individuals may even become housebound. Recovery from OCD can be achieved through psychological therapy, self-help techniques, and medication.
What are the 4 types of rituals?
Gluckman distinguishes four kinds of ritual, with rite of passage being a typical constitutive ritual. However, the terms “rite of passage” and “ritual” face difficulties as analytic concepts, making it difficult to differentiate between common behavior, rite of passage, and ritual in a strict sense. Van Gennep’s original expressions of the basic features of the rite of passage are vague, and the core problem is what people want to change through ritual.
Travel away from home but not for subsistence is a human behavior that has been widespread in all societies since ancient times. It wasn’t until the late twentieth century that tourism became a general necessity of life, promoting the development of related industries around the world. Determining the coordinates of tourism in cultural anthropology and establishing an analytic framework of tourism are frequently the focus of research for tourism anthropologists.
Graburn and Nash, two important researchers in the anthropology of tourism, have debated these basic questions. Graburn suggests that tourism is a “modern ritual” in contemporary society, where people are outside of their daily lives and in the travel life, which differs from routine work and life. He divides the life of the tourist into three stages: secular work-divine travel-secular work.
Nash later proposed that the purpose of travel, attitude toward travel, and the traveler’s behavior vary from person to person, and not all kinds of travel are similar to pilgrimage. While Graburn’s points of view can be useful for analyzing tourism, it’s important to be wary of being trapped into any one conceptual scheme, particularly one that may acquire a quality of truth in the minds of its proponents.
What are examples of obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities?
The practice of excessive cleaning, including the washing of hands, bathing, and the cleaning of household items, is a common occurrence. Such behaviors entail a repetitive and exhaustive process of checking and re-checking doors, turning off stoves, and unplugging hairdryers on numerous occasions throughout the day. Additionally, certain phrases or activities are repeated with great frequency.
What is an obsessive activity?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears, known as obsessions, which lead to repetitive behaviors or compulsions. These obsessions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress. The obsessions often lead to a vicious cycle of compulsive acts to ease stress, even when attempts are made to ignore or eliminate them. OCD often revolves around themes like fear of germ contamination, which can lead to repetitive actions like washing hands until they become sore and chapped. The vicious cycle of OCD is a significant factor in the development of OCD.
What are obsession rituals?
OCD rituals, which involve repetitive activities and touching items in specific ways, can alleviate distressing emotions and physical discomfort in some patients. These rituals can manifest as muscle tension or pressure throughout the body. Treatment for OCD rituals typically involves a combination of therapy and medication, such as SSRIs, which can help reduce anxious feelings and obsessions. Therapy can teach OCD patients coping skills for stress, which can trigger symptoms. An experienced therapist can guide OCD patients on how to reverse repetitive habits and rituals.
Almost half of all users of SSRIs won’t find adequate relief from medications alone. Deep brain stimulation techniques like TMS may be worth exploring for this subset of OCD patients. TMS stimulates certain areas of the brain thought to play a role in anxiety symptoms, without the need for anesthesia, IV lines, or other invasive procedures. TMS is highly targeted, reducing side effects, and patients can return to work or school shortly after a session.
📹 70% Mental Health VA Disability Rating – What It Looks Like
Mental health VA disability rating for 70%. NEXUS LETTERS: This option is for those who REALLY WANT a quick turnaround.
I just got 70. I think the 35 years of addiction and depression and last 5 years of seeing Drs and therapists and social workers and the stack of medical information i accumulated basically spoke for itself. You are right….i have zero relationships with family or friends. I have extreme difficulty even having conversations with most people. The rating has changed my finances considerably thank God.
Your last 2 tips are absolutely spot on. I got rated 70% for MH and my C&P tore me up. Like full on balling my eyes out because for the first time I was actually hearing myself describe to my examiner how I really feel and what I deal with daily. I’m praying for all my brothers and sisters out there who are struggling. I know we’ll get through it!
Clay, thanks for your service in uniform, as well as in civvies. The info and service you provide is invaluable and you have helped hundreds or maybe thousands of vets. I do have some additional info about psych claims that may help some of your viewers. I recently helped a friend do a psych claim and he went from 0% to 70% rather quickly. That extra money really helped him and how he can stop worrying about finances and start taking care of his mental health. With the psych claim, I found out that you do not need a diagnosis for a general psych disorder claim. For PTSD-specific claims, you DO need a diagnosis. But general psych disorder, you just need a C&P exam to diagnosis you and establish a Nexus. Looks like the VA finally realized that a lot of vets who need psych help do not reach out to get help and therefore do not seek help and therefore do not have a diagnosis from a mental health care provider. So what we did for his claim, we filed a standard claim for general psychological disorder (I think that was the term). I helped him write up all the details about the specific incidents from his deployments, as well as very specific details about his current mental health. We also got a couple of witness letters from an ex-spouse and a family member and submitted those with his claim. I think those were probably very helpful as they documented his personality changes following deployments. We submitted the claim (with the witness letters) and then he got notice of a C&P exam with a psychiatrist.
I just had my MH C&P and the advice about preparing to be uncomfortable is spot on. Prior to retiring, I never discussed my MH with anyone mainly due to the stigma associated with it. The lady that was my examiner was extremely easy to talk to but she definitely did ask some questions that caused an emotional response. My suggestion to anyone that is going to claim MH is DO NOT be afraid to cry and DO NOT hold it in. You will be asked some tough questions and I believe you will only get whatever rating you deserve if you are completely vulnerable as Clay said.
Hey, Clay. Called the VA in Wisconsin at 0430 and found my supplemental claim went to a VA rater on 22 June 2023. Also uploaded VA form 21-4138 to repudiate some of the inconsistencies (you remember these) on my C&P exam. Now it’s more of the waiting game for my back and all three MH conditions you described. Dude, you are my go to man on disability. Lots of others appear to care but are after money. Keep up with the great articles.
Thank you brother. I have my C&P exam for PTSD this Friday. Has been almost TWENTY years since I got home from Iraq. I have undoubtedly been suffering this entire time and have missed out on much in life. I believe I and more importantly, MY FAMILY deserve to be properly compensated for this! I was USED as an “asset” – now its time for them to PAY for that asset! God Bless all of us!
Thank you for the help on the mental disability part. It took a year and a half but I got my butt to the Dr. and talked about my symptoms as there related to the 38 CFR and M21 Manuel that VA raters use to rate veterans.. It was to bad that Dr. Sharma gave me the excuse that he is to busy to help. I worked with what I got and used the VA Mental Health Resources and got a favorable C&P exam..The key to the claim was talking about my symptoms as they related to the 38.CFR rating purposes. I was vulnerable through the whole process and held nothing back.
Spot on. I’d only add consider buddy letters from family and friends. Also, take a real inventory of symptoms. Keep a symptom journal. You’ll likely be surprised at how psyc disabilities really affect personal and professional life. Take that info with you to the C&P and bring up the problems that are having. Don’t just rely on the questions that the evaluator is asking. And yes, above all… be honest.
Finally someone that understands! I am 52 and did not know the the issues the ringing in the ears caused me for 30 years! Hell i did not know i had VA benefits! This year i got 10% for the ringing and filed for depression and was denied even though i have decades of mental health and take meds for it! I do not how to explain to them! Higher level review phone call i missed last week! But they sent a letter saying the found a difference of option, what ever that means!
I’m 30% for hearing. They denied my right knee and PTSD and depression claims because I didn’t submit enough evidence. I submitted a supplemental claim with evidence of the event for the ptsd. I’m not going to pursue the right knee. I went to a C&P exam for the PTSD and it was tough. The DR. called the VA crisis line while I was there. It wasn’t pretty. So the VA went into panic mode the head of the clinic called me and said I had fell through the cracks and they were sorry. They scheduled me for an appointment with a doctor about my meds because they said they must not be working. I told them this was the best combination of meds I’ve ever been on. I’ve been on meds since 1999 and I can’t count how many I’ve tried. So today is Labor day and I’m sitting here crying feeling like I don’t want to be here. I need to get back on the meds I was on. I want to say don’t give a damn about the benefits at this point they can shove those up their rear.
I just wanted to take the time to stop by and thank you for this article and advice! I did what you said and I was just bumped from a 40% for my other inservice connected disabilities to 70% with my anxiety diagnosis! Thank you so much for helping me navigate this rough terrain. I truely appreciate it sir.
Good advice. I just went to my first primary care doctor visit. Told her everything. Special Operations Combat vet. All that and a bag of chips. Even though it’s on my DD214 the combat I’ve been in isn’t. Stuff that goes 💥 Boom! Here I am now years later, after serving, with ringing ears, messed up back, anxiety, anti social behavior, migraines, my relationships are non-existent it’s so bad. Learning about the ‘presumptive VA diagnosis. As my VA doctor just typed it right into the system, though she has me coming in for X-rays next month. Any advice? I’m still learning all this on my way to putting in a claim.
Thank you!!! I suffer so bad with nightmares, anger, frustration, anxiety, violence, loneliness. All that stuff. Me, Gulf War veteran, served with marines. Lost men, wreaked my head. Never knew, thought it was just life. Never new I could file for help. I’m just learning and still lost. Thank you for your article and service sir.
Put in this year. Finally broke down after 3 years out. Cant hold it together anymore. Seeking help and a rating. Suicidal ideations daily that make you feel good are never a good thing. That’s what im stuck with after the navy. Thats what im going to try and explain on my case. A complete failure of leadership and now im left after being out for 4 years now eith this shit. To the point im just waiting to get into a ditch. I expect the worse in my c n p exam but i hope for the best. My motto expect the worst, hope for the best. I dont care about the money, my therapist since a major issue in july has been instrumental at unpacking this feeling that im not useless and worthless. Ive accomplished a ton, built 5 submarines after the navy and 4 massive oil tankers but i cant shake this from my cheif its like a daily nightmare on repeat when in awake. It throws me into massive depressive ruts, and ive had to check myself in this year. The psyq ward aint no joke, but out of thise three days i got to feel completely free. No worries just the current situation, your here to not hurt yourself, reflect and learn from that experience. I just want the therapy to be covered. I want to live, i want to be apart of this, i hope im worthy enough 😢
Clay this is so well done. Appealing my va claims in causing me so much anxiety and I keep putting some of the work off but your articles guide me back to stay on track and not be so overwhelmed. A va social worker diagnosed me with severe anxiety recently and I have my therapy appointment soon. How many visits should I attend before I file my claim? (I already put in my intent to file in May)
In 2010, I had to provide SIRs, statements and combat awards. I was in actual combat, not other reasons. I wonder how people get 70 or 100 percent, I don’t know if I should go back or not. Hate going to psych, but after losing my marriage, nearly homeless and hard to holding a job for more than a year?
I just had my SSA Mental Health exam. She did say I have Anxiety, Depression, and she needs to figure out what else. Possibly Paranoia. Ive worked for the past 36 years straight and am nearing 50. Since losing all my loved ones its impossible to work. Ive had over ten major Panic Attacks in the past two years all at work. Every one of them were severly extreme, to the point I was taken out by Ambulance maybe six of those times. My blood pressure goes from 120, to 180 top number. It starts with the Heart, then severe dry cotton mouth, tingling fingers, diarrhea, feeling disoriented. It feels like im going to die, and symptoms last for hours. All mainly at work. I just can’t function, nor fake happyness for eight hours. They say most are denied first few times.
I was awarded 50% for anxiety and depressive mood, but I think I deserve 70% especially for recently being 5150’d by the police and taken to the emergency room. Police detailed that I wanted to end my own which is true, along with the multiple calls to the VA hotline sure to be documented in my files at the VA. I was held at the hospital for the night and released same day although that part, releasing me in the evening, isn’t documented. Would some of this information push me in the range of 70% if I request for an increase? I’m thinking of getting a DBQ to assist with my increase along with documentation from the hospital about my 5150 from my personal medical records
This was very helpful and I am finally at 70% for my anxiety and depression disorder. I guess my next question would be this, and if anyone could help answer this I would greatly appreciate it. I am currently rated at 70% for anxiety/depression. I am also rated at 30% for eczema. The VA has me listed as an overall rating of 80%. Why is this? 70+30= 100 right?
I am 70% and I get compensation at 100% for other injuries. I left the US to get away from stress situations and be able to survive. Now the VA Medical facility in Manila refuses to provide even basic medical like physical exams, life sustaining medications or provide a doctor unless your conditions are service connected. They state no Orthopedic available, and VA removed all services no budgeting. This is the only VA medical center outside the US but on US Embassy property. There is approximately 50,000 US Veterans here that deserve full medical. Cant get answers from VA, congressmen, senators, President office all say sorry no budget. I don’t have a home in US no property, and my children wont or can’t allow me to even visit or stay with. I return for medical to US VA and it’s very expensive airline flights hotels etc to get even basic medicines, blood test. Just wanted you and followers don’t come as VA, President etc doesn’t care. Maybe some can assist us veterans here.
Is there any truth to the “3 visit” rule? I’ve heard several of my fellow airman claim “to get VA percentage for any condition… you need 3 Dr visits for any particular condition”. For example, if you claim severe neck pain… but you e only went to the dr once, it’s not sufficient because you don’t have 3 visits for the same condition. Is there any truth to this at all??? Thanks.
I don’t even know what to do anymore. My friend copied everything I told him I go through and got 80%, but they only gave me 70% with MDD and said I have PTSD but didn’t put it on there. I have GERD I can tie to my time in service, and started having major anxiety attacks after I got out like I would wake up at 1 am having an anxiety attack. I don’t know who is legit and who is just trying to make money off me by helping file a claim. I have had 7 jobs in 6 years and my friend that had his job for 13 years told them he can’t keep a job lol because I told him that.
It would just be easier to quit. Money won’t fix anything. Pills and counseling won’t fix anything either. I’m supposed to drive to the VA hospital today. My stomach is in knots. And they keep calling me to ask the same stupid questions. Or make me talk about things I can’t. I’ve only held on this long because I want to be a good dad. In the five years since I’ve been out it’s a miracle I’m still alive and not in prison.
Can i file my va claim for mental health without dbq or nexus letter? Im being treated by the va My psychiatrist says it’s a conflict of interest so he can’t do it. He’s the psychiatrist I’m seeing, what am I supposed to do I can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars to have someone who’s never even seen me write me nexus letter. Im rated at 10% for tinitus And I believe and I’ve stated to my psychiatrist. That all my anxiety stems from not being able to sleep because of the tennitis and hearing issues and over the years it’s just gotten worse. They now diagnosed me with anxiety and depression I have insomnina. Please help
I’ve been going to MH through the Va I told the psychiatrist and psychologist a little bit about a stressing event that happened during combat and I relive it through nightmares and random thought throughout the day but they haven’t diagnosed it as ptsd and only put me down as anxiety unspecified and “nightmares”. Does it take longer to get a combat related ptsd diagnosis through the Va?
Found your articles as I’m preparing my claim. After perusal this one a thought occurred to me; what would chatgpt say? As usual I, was pretty impressed with its response. I don’t want to post the response, but I’ll put the prompt here. You are a military compensation & pension medical examiner. What kind of questions will you ask a patient to determine a VA rating for mental health? Please create a q&a dialogue that will result in the patient receiving a 70% mental health disability rating. Each response will be different, but may be helpful for folks preparing for such exam.
hey bro…question…I just seen a VA doctor about mental health. she said that my PTSD was not service connected due to not meeting the criteria but that my major depressive anxiety and panic disorders were service connected and were severe due to multiple hospitalizations and a attempted. what are my chances of hitting the 70%? she told me to file for generalized depressive disorder in 2 weeks when her reports is done and use it to file. thank you for your time
I got 70% ptsd. The c&p ignored my hallucinations and frequent panic attacks and 4-6 migraines a month. 🙁 they dud approve tdui permanent and total disability with no further exams. So i guess its not worth the danger of fighting it. I wonder if the new rating for mental health will make a difference
Ha! I have to let my brain fack with me to the highest degree before any of the negative thoughts will go away The more I resist, the more they will persist I have NO friends, just took a pay decrease of $4 in order to keep my job and not get fired for “hostile work environment” My wife and kids say “but we’re not Marines” Breaking things in the house is way better than putting my hands on someone I’ve been to prison, rehab, many different jobs and fortunately I went back to college immediately after EAS, if I would’ve waited at all then I probably would’ve never went. Does anyone else not get calls to hang out with co workers outside of work too… I just justify it by saying “I rather be as far away from people and public as possible!”
Is it possible to go straight to 100% from 50% for ptsd? I down played my symptoms years ago when I applied not knowing any better and my symptoms are in the 100% range. I have been in inpatient since the initial claim and done a bunch of treatment, been on meds for years, suicidal, don’t get out of bed for months on end the noise won’t stop.
I had my c&p ptsd last month, and went to primary VA doctor for general health yesteray. The doctor kept telling me to see psych doctor, should I do it? And his face was kind of asessing and now thinking of negative vibes about my ptsd. Primary doctor have power to change my c&p and making me go to see phsych a trap?
I am wondering how so many of you got PTSD? What was your branch and MOS? Some research estimates that upwards of 70% of PTSD claims have been made by veterans serving in non combat roles. I am wondering if you were denied for this reason? Just because you heard mortars in the distance or had to search people at checkpoints does not mean you have PTSD. Not trying to be confrontational just trying to figure why people who served on ships or worked in supply chain logistics are claiming PTSD. One of the reasons combat vets have such a hard time getting benefits is because the system is overloaded with claims.
I’m scheduled to start PTSD counseling sessions at local VA hospital next week. I’m a Gulf War (Desert Storm) combat Navy veteran who’s been out over 30 years and struggling with issues. Should I expect VA counseling psychologists to give me a PTSD diagnosis going through counseling or should I explore another route for diagnosis? Thanks.
I really need help I with this I was in 2007 – 11 was screwed out of taps class because of the duty driver and just now just went to the vso because I didn’t know I was able to make a claim after the fact. What can be considered disability? I have insomnia amongst other things How do I prove its service connected? I was young didn’t got to med for much Is the vso there to help me or are they gonna tell me to figure it out myself? There more I’m just really lost with all of this.
I had my c&p exam today and the Dr. was easy going I answered my questions straight forward and didn’t talk too much. He said he agreed with me having PTSD and he was going to put in the “remarks” that I need intensive inpatient care to help me deal with my PTSD? Has anyone ever had that at their exam?
THEY RATED MINE AT 70% BUT ALSO HAD 4 MORE PHYSICAL AT 30%. BUT LISTEN TO WHAT THIS GUY’S SAYING. I APPLIED FOR UNEMPLOYABILITY AND GOT IT. TO THE GUY MAKING THESE articleS. YOU NEED TO MAKE A article ON NOT USING YOUR STATE VSO OFFICE (THAT’S YOUR “VETERAN’S SERVICE OFFICE OR OFFICER”. IN SOME CASES THEY ONLY CREATE MORE RED TAPE. ASK ME IF YOU WANT MORE.