Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels compelled to perform in response to those thoughts.
Key Features of OCD:
Obsessions:
These are unwanted, intrusive, and distressing thoughts, images, or urges that repeatedly enter the mind. Common obsessions might involve fears of contamination, fears of harming others, doubts about safety, or concerns about symmetry and order.
You may recognize that these thoughts are irrational, but the anxiety caused by them feels overwhelming and uncontrollable.
Compulsions:
These are repetitive behaviors OR mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules.
The compulsions are intended to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession or prevent a feared event, but they often provide only temporary relief or no relief at all. Common compulsions include washing, checking, counting, or arranging things in a specific order.
Common Examples of OCD Symptoms:
Contamination OCD: A fear of germs or dirt, leading to excessive washing, cleaning, or avoiding certain objects or places.
Checking OCD: Constantly checking locks, stoves, or light switches, driven by fear that something bad will happen if they are not checked repeatedly.
Symmetry and Order OCD: A need to arrange things in a specific order or symmetry (e.g., arranging objects or clothes to make them "perfectly" aligned).
Harm Thoughts OCD: Disturbing, unwanted thoughts or urges, such as fears of harming others, harm coming to animals, images of acting violently, thoughts of harming yourself.
Sexual Orientation OCD: Thoughts that you may be attracted to someone outside of your actual orientation
Pedophilia OCD: repeated fearful thoughts that we may be or become attracted to children often resulting in avoiding content relating to children, checking arousal, seeking reassurance from others, even avoiding some common parenting tasks such as bath time and diaper changes. This can often effect parents and those who work with children.
Scrupulosity OCD: intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors related to religious or moral issues, Compulsive behaviors aimed at preventing sin or ensuring moral purity, such as: Excessive praying or confessing , Checking and rechecking actions for mistakes ,Avoiding situations that might trigger sinful thoughts ,Self-punishment for perceived transgression
How OCD Affects a Person's Life:
OCD can cause significant distress and interfere with daily activities. It can lead to spending excessive amounts of time on rituals (sometimes hours a day), which can affect work, relationships, and social functioning.
Many people with OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, but they feel powerless to stop them.When you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, it can feel like your mind and body have been seized by your distressing thoughts and uncomfortable emotions. It can be difficult to attend to what’s important in life, leaving you feeling exhausted, empty, and not like yourself.
OCD treatment can help you take back your life and help you choose to live by your values rather than living to avoid discomfort.
Many people seek mental health therapy to manage their OCD. Perhaps you've even attempted traditional talk therapy before but didn't see the results you wanted. That might be a sign that you're not receiving the right kind of therapy.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that was specifically developed to treat OCD and OCD-related illnesses. If you want to see results, it is critical that you are receiving the appropriate form of therapy. ERP is considered the gold standard of treating OCD.
