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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

People with OCD suffer from obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are anxiety-producing thoughts that repeat themselves over and over. Compulsions are behaviors that people with OCD perform repeatedly to get rid of the distressing obsessions. Everyone double-checks things sometimes, but people with OCD spend at least 1 hour a day with thoughts or behaviors they can't control, even when they know they don't want to. The behaviors or thoughts don't give the person pleasure and can cause problems in their ability to function.

Without treatment, OCD can be crippling and disabling. Many people struggle for years before getting help, often because they are embarrassed or unaware that this mental health problem can be treated.

OCD symptoms vary widely from person to person. OCD often starts when a person is a child or teenager, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Without treatment, OCD can last for a lifetime.

You may have the condition if any of the following are true and cause you distress:

Washing and cleaning

  • I avoid touching certain things because I fear they're contaminated.

  • I have trouble picking up items that are on the floor.

  • I clean my house repetitively and excessively.

  • I wash my hands repetitively and excessively.

  • I'm overly concerned with germs and diseases.

Checking and repeating

  • I often need to check things over and over again.

  • I have trouble finishing things because I need to repeat actions.

  • I worry excessively about making mistakes.

  • I worry excessively that someone will be harmed because of me.

Ordering

  • I must have certain things around me set in a specific order.

  • I spend a lot of time making sure things are in just the right place.

  • When others rearrange my things, I get extremely upset.

Hoarding

  • I have trouble throwing things away.

  • I bring home seemingly useless materials.

  • Over the years, my home has become cluttered with things I have collected.

Thinking rituals

  • I have a need to repeat certain words or numbers in my head so I don't feel anxious, or I fear that some harm will befall others.

  • I need to remember events in detail or make mental lists to prevent what I imagine will be unpleasant consequences.

Worries and pure obsessions

  • I often get upset by unpleasant thoughts that come into my mind repetitively against my will.

  • Often the things that pop into my mind are shameful, frightening, or bizarre.

  • When I start to worry, I can't stop.

Treatment

Many people with OCD benefit from medicines and behavioral therapy in which they're very gradually exposed to circumstances that trigger their compulsive behaviors.

If you have symptoms of OCD, seek treatment. Once it's identified, it's highly treatable. Many people who get the right behavioral therapy are able to regain control of their lives.