• anxiety_

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

    People with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) experience unwanted thoughts that seem to make no sense but nevertheless cause them to feel anxious. They may have irrational thoughts of contaminating themselves or others with dirt or germs, or they may be obsessed about their own safety or the safety of a loved one.

    Because of these obsessive thoughts, they may carry out certain activities obsessively like washing their hands repeatedly or the need to do certain things in a particular pattern. It is not as if they enjoy carrying out these activities. At best, these rituals provide temporary relief from the anxiety created by their obsessive thoughts.

    Other common obsessions include

    • frequent thoughts of violence and harming loved ones,
    • persistently thinking about performing sexual acts that the person dislikes, or
    • having thoughts that are forbidden by religious beliefs.


    People with OCD may also be preoccupied with order and symmetry, have difficulty throwing away things, so they accumulate or hoard things which they don’t need.

    While healthy people also have rituals, such as checking if the stove is off several times before leaving the house, the difference is that those with OCD perform their rituals even though doing so affects their daily life and they often find the repetition distressing. Most adults with OCD recognise that the rituals are senseless. In children and some adults, they may not realise that their behaviour is out of the ordinary.

    Obsessive compulsive disorder can be accompanied by eating disorders, other anxiety disorders, or depression. It affects men and women in roughly equal numbers and usually appears in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. One third of those with OCD develop symptoms as children, and research shows that OCD may run in families.

    The course of OCD varies with individuals. Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or get worse. When OCD becomes severe, the person may have difficulty working or carrying out normal responsibilities at home. They may sometimes try to help themselves by avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or they may use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.

    If you suspect yourself, a friend or a family member of having OCD, and you wish to get help, please click here.


    Previous       1 2 3 4 5 6 7       Next