What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages. Obsessions are unwanted intrusive thoughts, images, and urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress. 

What are obsessions and compilations? 

Obsessions are thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again. Someone with OCD may feel like they aren’t able to control these thoughts. Obsessions are usually accompanied by intense and uncountable feelings such as fear, disgust, uncertainty, and doubt or a feeling that some things have to be done in the “correct way”. For many people, OCD can be time-consuming and may get in the way of important activities. 

OCD is different for everyone but some common examples are listed below.

Common types of compulsive behavior in people with OCD:

Obsessive thoughts:

• fear of contamination by disease, infection, or an unpleasant substance

• a need for symmetry or orderliness – for example, you may feel the need to ensure all the labels on the tins in your cupboard face the same way
• Following a strict routine

Compulsive behavior:

• cleaning and hand washing
• checking – such as checking doors are locked or that the gas is off
• counting
• ordering and arranging
• hoarding
• asking for reassurance
• repeating words in their head

You may or may not realize that your obsessions and compulsions are excessive to unreasonable, but they make take up a great deal of time and interfere with your daily life. If you would like to make an appointment, call A Ray of Hope: Great Lakes Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry, at 847-268-3908 or make an appointment online today, for expert, multidisciplinary treatment.