Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD comes under the umbrella of anxiety disorders where people have unwanted and repetitive thoughts, images, ideas and sensations. These thoughts, ideas, images or sensations are categorized as obsessions. They occur over and over again and feel out of the person’s control. It’s important to note that the person does not want to have these ideas and usually understands that these thoughts, ideas or sensations are not necessarily logical.
The person then feels the need to do something (compulsions) to neutralize, counteract, or make their obsessions go away. While these actions/activities or rituals take up a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person enjoys and values, they provide only temporary relief. However, without a better way to cope, people rely on the compulsion as a temporary escape. Moreover, not performing the compulsive rituals can cause even greater anxiety.
Soon enough the person starts to get anxious in anticipation of the obsessive thought, image or sensation. He or she then begins to avoid situations that trigger the obsessions.
Here are some Common Obsessions in OCD:
Contamination
Losing Control
Perfectionism
Harm
Unwanted Sexual thoughts
Religious Obsessions
Other Obsessions
Common Compulsions
Washing and Cleaning
Checking
Repeating
Mental Compulsions like reviewing, praying, undoing, and counting
Other Compulsions include collecting items, arranging, asking for reassurances
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Quiz
Below is a list of questions that can help you determine if your obsessions have become a problem and if you need to seek help.
Do you worry about contamination through germs, chemicals, radiation or getting a serious contagious illness such as AIDS?
Do you spend a lot of time arranging objects (clothing, groceries, tools) in perfect order?
Are you often distracted by intrusive images of death or other horrible events?
Do you often have personally unacceptable religious or sexual thoughts?
Do you worry excessively about a fire, burglary, or flooding the house?
Do you constantly worry or fret over accidentally hitting a pedestrian with your car?
Do you find yourself over concerned with losing something valuable?
Have you worried about acting on an unwanted and senseless urge or impulse, such as physically harming a loved one, pushing a stranger in front of a bus, steering your car into oncoming traffic; inappropriate sexual contact; or poisoning dinner guests?
Have family members told you that your washing, cleaning, or grooming is excessive or even ritualized?
Do you go around the house checking light switches, water faucets, the stove, door locks repeatedly?
Do you collect useless objects or inspect the trash before it is taken out?
Do you repeat routine actions (in/out of chair, going through doorway, re-lighting a cigarette) a certain number of times or until it feels just right?
Do you feel the need to touch objects or people?
Do you need to re-read or re-writer or re-open envelopes repeatedly before they are mailed?
Do you examine your body for signs of illness?
Do you find yourself needing to “confess” or repeatedly ask for reassurance that you said or did something correctly?
About Rochna:
Rochna Hazra is trained in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech. She includes the emotional, psychological, spiritual and family aspects of a person in her work. Originally from India, she combines the Eastern traditions of mindfulness, non-judgment and a holistic approach to healing with the Western approach of realism and solution-focused action.
Rochna uses Cognitive-Behaviorial techniques to help you overcome anxiety.
Rochna is also a Certified Advanced Relapse Prevention Specialist and trained in Sex Addiction and Mindfulness-based Therapy and Relapse Prevention.
Click here to learn more about Anxiety Treatment and my practice in Leesburg, Virginia
