What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts or impulses, often called compulsions, that cause repetitive behaviors. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly perform certain actions to relieve these irrational, preoccupying and uncontrollable thoughts, even though they know they are unreasonable. OCD is a chronic, long-term disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted, and spontaneous obsessions and repetitive behaviors, negatively impacts the person's quality of life. This disorder can disrupt the person's relationships with their social environment, and their education and work lives can be negatively affected by this disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder are constantly in a state of fear due to involuntary thoughts. To escape these anxiety-inducing thoughts, individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder sometimes repeatedly check that the door is locked, sometimes frequently check the kitchen because they think they may have left the stove on, and sometimes wash their hands repeatedly out of fear of contracting germs.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can generally include both obsessions and compulsions, but it can also present with separate symptoms. Examples of symptoms include:
- Fear of contamination or infection
- Intolerance of uncertainty and skepticism
- The need for order and symmetry
- Obsession with not touching objects that others have touched
- A desire to check things repeatedly (Did I turn off the stove, door, sockets, water heater?)
- Thoughts about harming others or oneself
- Dwelling on haunting images or thoughts
People with such obsessions do not touch objects that others have touched, are unsure whether they have closed the door or stove, feel the need to fix objects that are not symmetrical or arranged in a certain order, entertain sexual thoughts, and avoid behaviors that trigger the obsession, such as shaking hands.
If individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder don't engage in rituals—repetitive behaviors that are perceived as excessive or irrational but persist despite their preoccupation with the thoughts that preoccupy them—their obsessive-compulsive disorder can worsen. Obsessions that sometimes last for hours can diminish their quality of life, leading to inability to accomplish tasks and excessive fatigue throughout the day.
What Causes Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessions are persistent behaviors that include irrational, obsessive, and disturbing thoughts that negatively affect daily life.
Another part of the disorder is compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors that force the person to perform behaviors that they do not actually want to do in order to distract the mind from the obsession that often disturbs them.
Compulsions may take up much of a person's time because they are seen as the only way to reduce the existing distress caused by the obsession.
