Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms
Obsessive compulsive disorder, also called OCD, obsessive-compulsive neurosis, obsessive-compulsive reaction
involves anxious thoughts or rituals you feel you can't control. If you have Obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may be plagued by persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images, or by the urgent need to engage in certain rituals.
You may be obsessed with germs or dirt, so you wash your hands over and over. You may be filled with doubt and feel the need to check things repeatedly. You may have frequent thoughts of violence, and fear that you will harm people close to you. You may spend long periods touching things or counting; you may be pre-occupied by order or symmetry; you may have persistent thoughts of performing sexual acts that are repugnant to you; or you may be troubled by thoughts that are against your religious beliefs.
The disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions, and the rituals that are performed to try to prevent or get rid of them are called compulsions. There is no pleasure in carrying out the rituals you are drawn to, only temporary relief from the anxiety that grows when you don't perform them.
A lot of healthy people can identify with some of the symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as checking the stove several times before leaving the house. But for people with OCD, such activities consume at least an hour a day, are very distressing, and interfere with daily life.
Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
These are recurrent, persistent, unwanted ideas, thoughts or impulses that you
experience involuntarily and that appear to be senseless. They commonly intrude
when you're trying to think of or do other things.
Obsessions symptoms may include:
- Constantly thinking about certain sounds, images, words or numbers
- Fear of dirt or contamination
- Concern with order, symmetry and exactness
- Fear of harming a family member or friend
- Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts
These are repetitive behaviors that you're driven to perform regularly to
combat your obsessions, even though to you and to others, they may seem
irrational. You may even make up rules to follow that help control the anxiety
you feel when having obsessive thoughts.
Compulsion symptoms may include:
- Arranging items in a precise order
- Excessive hand washing
- Repeatedly checking that doors are locked and appliances are turned off
- Repeatedly counting to the same number
- Touching certain objects a precise number of times
If you suspect you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, see your doctor or a
mental health professional.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder Symptoms
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