Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD can come in many forms, and it can go on for years without you knowing that you have it. Sometimes it can interfere with your daily lives and your relationships, but the good news is that OCD can be treated. Family and friends will notice a change and will step in and help you the support you need. You may not be aware that you have OCD until someone mentions it.

What is OCD?  

It’s a disorder that involves unwanted instructive thoughts that are followed by anxiety, uncertainty and the occasional panic. It causes someone to fall into a cycle of obsessions and compulsions that impact their daily life and how they think and behave.

It can be very time consuming since there are behaviors that are repetitive because a lot of the time, someone has to count how many times they have to do something or they have to double, triple check something is off before they leave the house.

Common obsessions include:

• Fear of germs or contamination

• Fear of forgetting, losing, or misplacing something

• Fear of losing control over one’s behavior

• Aggressive thoughts toward others or oneself

• Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm

• Desire to have things symmetrical or in perfect order

  
  

There’s also some compulsions that are harmful. Someone may think that if they don’t do a certain action a certain number of times, someone in their life is going to get hurt or worse.

There is also the fear of getting a physical illness like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease or another type of illness that they have no control over.  

Some other OCD traits are things like repetitive behaviors. It’s something a person feels the urge to do, often in response to an obsession.

Common compulsions include:

• Excessive cleaning or handwashing

• Ordering or arranging items in a particular, precise way

• Repeatedly checking things, such as that the door is locked, or the oven is off

• Compulsive counting

• Praying or repeating words silently

• How do you know if you have OCD?

• If you spend more than an hour a day obsessing or have compulsions.

• If it starts to affect your daily life.

• If doing a compulsion or an obsession relives you from anxiety.

Not all repeated thoughts are obsessions, and not all rituals or habits are compulsions.

However, people with OCD generally:

• Can’t control their obsessions or compulsions, even when they know they’re excessive.

• Spend more than 1 hour a day on their obsessions or compulsions.

• Don’t get pleasure from their compulsions but may feel temporary relief from their anxiety.

• Experience significant problems in daily life due to these thoughts or behaviors.  

  
  

Someone may have a physical symptom of OCD like a sound, a tick or even some sort of movement. Someone with a movement, like any other symptom, they have to do it in a repeatedly. 

It’s also common for someone with OCD to be diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder.

OCD doesn’t happen in a blink of an eye. It takes time and it comes in many forms. Stress can be a trigger to do a ritual. A lot of people will turn to drugs and alcohol to help with them cope with symptoms. A lot of the time, OCD is diagnosed in early adulthood. The symptoms may come and go over time. They may get away for a while or get worse. Obsession and compulsions in a person can change over time.

Each OCD case is different for everyone. Your doctor is going to ask you if you are experiencing obsessions and compulsions and how it’s affecting your daily life and their going to ask about family history, your anxiety and if there is anything else that may be a trigger. If there is someone in your family that as OCD, there’s a chance that it could be passed done.

When getting diagnosed and treated for OCD, its best if you follow through with treatment plan that has been made up for you. It’s going to take medication, therapy and support groups. It’s not going to be easy, but if this is something you want to overcome, you have to put in the work.  It is treatable.

There is a lot more that goes into OCD. It depends on the person and how long they’ve been struggling with it. It takes a lot to be able to come forward and admit that you need help. There are different forms of OCD and not everyone is going to have the same compulsions and obsessions. Some cases can be harmful and other times, it can be more tame, but still a struggle in your everyday life. Once you realize that you can’t function without doing a ritual, its best to seek help.

I’m not an expect in OCD. There’s a lot more to OCD than what I write about. If you think you have symptoms or signs that you may OCD, I advise that you talk to your doctor, get on a treatment plan. I'm here for you.