OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder, is a mental illness condition. Affected ones often have obsessions about thoughts, feelings, images and fears which they cannot control and get rid of, even though they are aware of the damage. They are triggered and impulsive, making it hard for people to continue their daily routines. Those acts often take up much time (more than 1 hour per day) and significantly stress the affected ones.
Important to note is that OCD involves repetitive behavior which is often perceived as torturing and the exact opposite of enjoying something (obsession as a everyday term is used when something is positive such as a food that you eat every day only because you like the taste of it.)
Types
Obsessions are acts and behaviors that come up regularly outside of the persons control. They are unwanted and affected ones often realize the illogicality of it, but cannot help their obsessional thinking.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that affected ones feel like they need to do in order to release their anxiety and neutralize their obsession and to prevent something bad from happening. But compulsions only relief people for a short term, disrupting their mental state too.
Symptoms
People who are diagnosed with OCD often show similar symptoms:
Obsessions (repetitive thoughts/feelings that are hard to stop, often of upsetting nature (aggression, sexual content…))
Compulsions (repetitive actions/rituals, often to get rid of obsessions (counting, washing, sorting…))
There are also different themes of obsessions:
Disgust/fear of germs and dirt (things that other people touched, shaking hands…)
Thoughts about unpleasant topics (religion, sex…)
Needing things in a specific order (neat, symmetrical, line…)
Thoughts about self-harm/harming others (in public, shouting, losing control…)
Relationship obsessions (excessive concern about whether the partner fits right, character traits, flaws…)
Gender/sexual identity (concern about sexual/gender orientation)
…
Compulsions have themes as well:
Cleaning/washing numerous times/long time
Checking (doors, oven…)
Repeating (phrase, prayer…)
Counting
Sorting/arranging things in a specific way
Following strict routine (no changement, exact same actions/timelines)
Constant reassurance
…
Causes
As in many other mental disorders, it is not completely clear what could cause OCD, but a few typical ones are:
Genetics (increased likelihood when a family member has it)
Learning (observing and copying)
Life events (trauma, losses, childhood…)
Other mental disorders
Treatment and recovery
OCD can be treated through different ways. Common ones are medications (need to be prescribed by doctor!), cognitive behavioral therapy (noticing and coping, challenging and changing) and exposure (to events, thoughts, images… to learn how to tolerate and not-respond to it).
Also, a good and regular diet, sleep schedule, social time, exercise, wellness (yoga, mediation…) and awareness can help to ease the stress of OCD.
Sources
World Health Organization, (2023), ‘Obsessive-compulsive disorder’, World Health Organization
International OCD Foundation, ( ), ‘What is OCD?’, International OCD Foundation