OCD is a disorder that occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress.
Signs and symptoms:
- The person has obsessions.
- He or she does compulsive behaviors.
- The obsessions and compulsions take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values, such as working, going to school, or spending time with friends
A person with OCD might:
- Worry about contamination
- Fear Losing Control
- Fear being Harmed or causing harm
- Be concerned by Perfectionism
- Have Religious Obsessions (Scrupulosity)
- Spend excessive time Washing and Cleaning
- Check things more than other people
- Have Mental Compulsions