Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder – OCD, is characterized by irrational, recurrent thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Obsessions as well as compulsions can cause a serious decline in a person’s daily functioning.

The more the person tries to avoid their obsessions, the more stress and discomfort they experience.

In order to get rid of the pressure/anxiety an individual feels, he/she is led to perform compulsive behaviors (rituals). As a result, the person is trapped in a vicious cycle of obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are thoughts, mental images and impulses which are repetitive, persistent and often appear out of nowhere causing severe anxiety and discomfort.

Common obsession patterns are the following

• Fear of infection/contamination of yourself or others
• Object symmetry, order, precision
• Fear of causing harm to ourselves or others
• Various thoughts with religious or sexual content

Common examples of compulsions are the following

• Repeated hand washing, cleaning of household objects
• Repeated checking to see if you have turned off the oven, water heater, locked the door, etc.
• Over-arranging your objects to make them look symmetrical
• Repeating prayers, words or phrases

The severity of symptoms, their duration and fluctuations vary from person to person. If the person’s functioning is seriously affected by the obsessive-compulsive disorder, then seeing a specialist is necessary.