Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, is characterised by unwanted thoughts and obsessions that lead to repetitive behaviours (compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions cause extreme distress and make it difficult to carry out regular responsibilities.

Trying to ignore or stop your obsessions will only make you feel worse. Finally, you feel driven to participate in obsessive behaviours to ease your stress. They persist despite attempts to ignore or eradicate troubling thoughts or urges.

OCD typically focuses on specific themes, such as a paralysing dread of germ contamination. To relieve your contamination fears, wash your hands till they’re sore and chapped.

OCD develops over time in both adults and children/adolescents, and it has a long-term trajectory. Boys are more likely to develop OCD in childhood, whereas girls are more likely to develop OCD in early adulthood. OCD is heritable and has a genetic component.

What is Obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, is a mental illness in which persons experience recurrent, unwelcome thoughts, ideas, or feelings (obsessions) that cause them to feel compelled to do something again and over again (compulsions). Hand washing, checking on objects, and cleaning are examples of repetitive behaviours that can greatly disrupt everyday tasks and social interactions.

Obsessions and Compulsions

Many people who suffer from OCD know that their thoughts and actions are irrational. They do things because they can’t stop themselves, not because they enjoy them. If they stop, they become so depressed that they re-start.

Obsessions

Common obsessions:

• Apprehension of being contaminated by others or the environment
• Sexually disturbing ideas or images
• Extreme concern for symmetry, order, or precision
• Sound, image, word, or number intrusions regularly
• Fear of misplacing or abandoning important items

Compulsions

Common compulsions:

• Hand washing, brushing teeth, showering, or toileting over regularly
• Putting items in a specific order or arrangement
• Checking locks or appliances regularly
• Constantly looking for affirmation or confirmation
• Counting to a specific number over and over

Types of OCD

The following are the different types of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)

Contamination

The preoccupation is an individual’s dread of contracting something, and the compulsion is their urge to wash and clean. Contamination OCD is characterised by an obsession with illness, germs, and dirt worries. Regularly, they can spend hours thinking about their anxieties. As a result of these anxieties, people with Contamination OCD engage in a variety of compulsions in the hopes of reducing anxiety and purging themselves of any contaminants. They may even be compelled to engage in compulsions for several hours each day. Cleaning and washing are usually done several times throughout the day. It is frequently followed by rituals of repeated hand or body washing until the individual ‘feels clean.’ Compulsions can also take the shape of avoidance and reassurance-seeking to alleviate anxiety and discomfort. People may avoid particular people, places, and activities that they believe are polluted. They may even avoid their loved ones in severe circumstances. Contamination OCD patients also seek reassurance from others, repeatedly inquiring whether something has been thoroughly cleaned or not.

Ruminations

Here, a person is likely to spend a lot of time thinking about any issue or theme, which results in their being mainly unproductive and undirected. It occurs in all forms and subtypes of OCD when a person spends long periods obsessing over their obsessions, such as contamination or mental checking. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender, and it can manifest itself in various ways in various people. Rumination frequently interferes with an individual’s everyday activities, such as employment, personal relationships, and so on.

Checking 

Checking is an obsession in which a person is anxious that carelessness will result in damage or harm. Checking doors to make sure they’re locked, stoves to make sure the burners are turned off, or their wallet to ensure their credit cards, IDs, and cash are all still there among their compulsions. They may need to double-check something or even stare at it for a long time before feeling more comfortable.

Organisation

This type of OCD is perhaps the most well-known, and it involves obsessions with everything being in the exact perfect location or symmetrical. For example, someone may feel compelled to keep all wall hangings level, all labels on pantry cans facing outward, and everything on their desk perfectly organised. If the person does not carry out the compulsions to make things perfect, they may feel distressed or fear that their lack of organisation will lead them or their loved ones to suffer unrelated harm.

Intrusive Thoughts 

Intrusive thoughts cause people to have distressing and frequently repulsive ideas pop into their heads at odd times. Obsessions might include hurting a loved one, harming a stranger, or even believing that simply thinking about something will cause it to happen. To silence these obsessions, a person may need to act, such as speaking aloud or mentally repeating something. While intrusive preoccupation sufferers may have violent or dangerous ideas, they disagree with them and do not act on them. These notions are so opposed to how people feel that they are frequently troubled that their minds even thought of them in the first place.

Conclusion 

OCD usually develops in adolescence or early adulthood, but it can sometimes begin in childhood. Symptoms typically appear gradually and progress in intensity over time. Obsessions and compulsions can change over time, as can the types of obsessions and compulsions you have. For example, being a perfectionist who demands excellent results or performance is not the same as having OCD. OCD thoughts aren’t only excessive anxieties about real-life problems or a desire to keep things neat or organised in a particular way. Obsessive-compulsive disorder cannot be completely avoided. Getting treatment as soon as feasible, on the other hand, may help prevent OCD from deteriorating and disturbing your regular activities.