OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
There’s something to be said for paying attention to the little things but what happens when those little things begin to feel overwhelming?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes people to become trapped in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions that affect their ability to live their lives freely. While anxiety disorders affect a great many people, obsessive compulsive disorders are less common.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is categorized as an anxiety disorder. Like other anxiety disorders, people with OCD have an intense or overwhelming reaction to things people who aren’t affected wouldn’t think twice about.
There are two major components of OCD: obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are recurrent, intrusive thoughts or sensations. For example, these can be thoughts of a burglar breaking into a person’s home or dangerous germs crawling over their skin.
Compulsions are repetitive actions that people with OCD are driven to complete as a result of their obsessions. These are behaviors like locking and relocking the front door or devoting an extreme amount of time to cleaning.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Contamination (by bodily fluids, germs, dirt, chemicals, etc.).
Losing control (by acting on an impulse to harm themself or others, stealing things, blurting out obscenities or other comments).
Harm (by intentionally doing something that hurts others or failing to be careful).
Perfectionism (concern about precision or exactness, evenness, losing or forgetting things).
Unwanted sexual thoughts (perverse, forbidden, or aggressive sexual toughts that cause distress).
Religious (fear of offending God, concern with ethics/morality).
Superstitions (related to lucky or unlucky numbers, objects, dates, etc.)
Fixating on these thoughts and behaviors can cause a great deal of stress and have a tremendous impact on a person’s life. Someone with OCD might have trouble completing daily activities like making breakfast, going to the store, or interacting with others as a result of their obsessions and compulsions.
To be considered for a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder, a person must be experiencing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior for an hour or more every day. Another key component of the diagnosis is that a person with OCD experiences anxiety because of their fixations.
What are the signs and symptoms of OCD?
The symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be traced back to the two major components of the disorder: obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Obsessions and compulsions can look very different from person to person.
Fixating on obsessions and compulsions can cause symptoms such as:
- Hoarding
- Nightmares
- Panic attacks
- Avoiding triggers
- Guilt or stress over compulsive behaviors
- Disturbing intrusive thoughts or images
- Repeatedly checking things
- Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
- Extreme concern with order or cleanliness