OCD

The word obsession in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) refers to a recurrent idea, thought, impulse, or image that is disturbing and inappropriate, causing marked anxiety or distress.

A compulsion is a ritualistic, repetitive, and involuntary defensive behaviour or action.

Performing a compulsive behaviour reduces the patient's anxiety and increases the probability that the behavior will recur.

There is no pleasure in carrying out the rituals you are drawn to, only temporary relief from the anxiety that grows when you don't perform them.

Some Common Obsessions:

Thoughts of violence (such as stabbing, shooting, maiming, or hitting), thoughts of contamination (images of dirt, germs, or feces), repetitive doubts and worries about a tragic event, and repeating or counting images, words, or objects in the environment.

Some Common Compulsions:

Include repetitive touching, sometimes combined with counting; doing and undoing (for instance, opening and closing doors or rearranging things); washing (especially hands); and checking (to be sure no tragedy has occurred since the last time she checked).

Some Interesting Facts on OCD:

• A lot of healthy people can identify with some of the symptoms of OCD, such as
• Checking the stove several times before leaving the house. But for people with OCD, such activities consume at least an hour a day, are very distressing, and interfere with daily life.
• Most adults with this condition recognize that what they're doing is senseless, but they can't stop it.
• Some people, though, particularly children with OCD, may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.