- Feb 23, 2025
- 6 min read
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition in which you have frequent unwanted thoughts and sensations (obsessions) that cause you to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors can significantly interfere with social interactions and performing daily tasks.
OCD is usually a life-long (chronic) condition, but symptoms can come and go over time.
Everyone experiences obsessions and compulsions at some point. For example, it’s common to occasionally double-check the stove or the locks. People also often use the phrases “obsessing” and “obsessed” very casually in everyday conversations. But OCD is more extreme. It can take up hours of a person’s day. It gets in the way of normal life and activities. Obsessions in OCD are unwanted, and people with coping with OCD don’t enjoy performing compulsive behaviors.
What are the symptoms of OCD?
The main symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions that interfere with normal activities. For example, symptoms may often prevent you from getting to work on time. Or you may have trouble getting ready for bed in a reasonable amount of time.
You may know that these symptoms are problematic, but you can’t stop them. Symptoms of OCD may come and go, ease over time or worsen over time.
If you or your child have symptoms of OCD that interfere with your/their daily life, you should talk to a healthcare provider.
Obsessions in OCD:
In OCD, obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts or mental images that cause intense anxiety. People coping with OCD can’t control these thoughts. Most people with OCD realize that these thoughts are illogical or irrational.
Common examples include:
Fear of coming into contact with perceived contaminated substances, such as germs or dirt.
Fear of causing harm to yourself or someone else because you’re not careful enough or you’re going to act on a violent impulse.
Unwanted thoughts or mental images related to sex.
Fear of making a mistake.
Excessive concern with morality (“right or wrong”).
Feelings of doubt or disgust.
Need for order, neatness, symmetry or perfection.
Need for constant reassurance.
Compulsions in OCD:
While coping with OCD, compulsions are repetitive actions that you feel like you have to do to ease or get rid of the obsessions. People coping with OCD don’t want to perform these compulsive behaviors and don’t get pleasure from them. But they feel like they have to perform them or their anxiety will get worse. Compulsions only help temporarily, though. The obsessions soon come back, triggering a return to the compulsions.
Compulsions are time-consuming and get in the way of important activities that you value. They don’t have to match the content of your obsessions.
Examples include:
Arranging things in a very specific way, such as items on your dresser.
Bathing, cleaning or washing your hands over and over.
Collecting or hoarding items that have no personal or financial value.
Repeatedly checking things, such as locks, switches and doors.
Constantly checking that you haven’t caused someone harm.
Constantly seeking reassurance.
Rituals related to numbers, such as counting, doing a task a specific amount of times, or excessively preferring or avoiding certain numbers.
Saying certain words or prayers while doing unrelated tasks.
Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions. One example is refusing to shake hands or touch objects that other people touch a lot, like doorknobs.
What causes OCD?
Researchers don’t know what exactly causes OCD. But they think several factors contribute to its development, including:
Genetics: Studies show that people who have a first-degree relative (biological parent or sibling) with OCD are at a higher risk for developing the condition. The risk increases if the relative developed OCD as a child or teen.
Brain changes: Imaging studies have shown differences in the frontal cortex and subcortical structures of the brain in people who have OCD. OCD is also associated with other neurological conditions that affect similar areas of your brain, including Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome and epilepsy.
PANDAS syndrome: PANDAS is short for “pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections.” It describes a group of conditions that can affect children who have had strep infections, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. OCD is one of these conditions.
Childhood trauma: Some studies show an association between childhood trauma, such as abuse or neglect, and the development of OCD.
How is OCD diagnosed?
There’s no test for OCD. A healthcare provider makes the diagnosis after asking you about your symptoms and medical and mental health history. Providers use criteria explained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) to diagnose OCD.
The criteria include:
Having obsessions, compulsions or both.
The obsessions or compulsions take up a lot of time (more than an hour per day).
The obsessions or compulsions cause distress or affect your participation in social activities, work responsibilities or other life events.
The symptoms aren’t caused by substances, alcohol, medications or another medical condition.
The symptoms aren’t explained by a different mental health condition, such as generalized anxiety disorder, eating disorder or body image disorder.
What are approaches for Coping with OCD:?
Self-help tips are good but they won’t necessarily resolve the condition for everyone. That’s when professional treatment is necessary. OCD treatment typically involves a combination of therapeutic approaches and, in some cases, medication. The goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency and intensity of obsessions and compulsions, thereby improving daily functioning and quality of life.
Therapy:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP), is the most evidence-based therapy for coping with OCD. ERP involves gradual exposure to feared situations or thoughts while preventing the accompanying compulsive behavior, helping individuals build tolerance to anxiety and break the cycle of OCD.
Medication:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed medications for OCD. The anxiety treatment can help reduce the severity of symptoms by altering brain chemistry. A psychiatrist can determine the appropriate medication and dosage based on individual needs.
Interventional Psychiatry:
For individuals who don’t respond to traditional treatments, interventional psychiatry options may be considered. These innovative approaches can offer relief for treatment-resistant OCD.
4 Benefits of OCD Treatment:
1. Improved Quality of Life:
Effective treatment can significantly enhance daily functioning, allowing individuals to engage more fully in work, social activities, and personal interests.
2. Reduced Symptoms:
Therapy and medication can decrease the frequency and intensity of obsessions and compulsions, leading to greater control over thoughts and behaviors.
3. Enhanced Coping Skills:
Therapeutic approaches such as CBT equip individuals with practical tools and strategies to manage anxiety and reduce the impact of OCD on daily life.
4. Greater Independence:
As symptoms are managed more effectively, individuals often experience increased independence and self-confidence, leading to a more fulfilling and autonomous life.
Balancing Daily Life and Mental Health:
When being diagnosed with OCD, it is important to be aware of triggers that may cause someone to lead into their obsession thoughts and compulsions. OCD symptoms may worsen when stressed, uncomfortable, or anxious, sometimes with or without physical or environmental reactions. Being aware of these situations is important to prepare yourself to have coping skills ready when working through the OCD.
Living and coping with OCD can be challenging, having the right tools to help outside of therapy is needed as well. Basic needs are essential when taking care of OCD symptoms. Making sure that the person is getting quality sleep, exercise, a healthy diet, and having a support system helps to create balance in their body. On top of that, many people use mindfulness meditation and breathing exercises to help keep their nervous system in balance. Techniques such as the 4-4-6-2 breathing by inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for another 4 seconds, breathing out for 6 seconds, and holding for another 2 seconds helps to bring balance back to the body.
Breathing techniques can also be grounding techniques that help the body to feel grounded and regain a sense of control for itself. When the body can do this, it can help it to make more rational and cognitive decisions. When the mind wanders into thoughts, especially, while coping with OCD, it takes away the ability to stay present with the world. Staying grounded can help to regain that perspective. Tapping your body, using the 5 senses (hear, taste, smell, feel, see), holding onto an ice cube, eating sour candy, going outside, and many more are ways to focus your body on the present moment.
Self-talk is also a helpful aspect of coping with OCD thoughts since often our thoughts lead to our emotions and behaviors. Reframing our thoughts helps us to better cope with them to feel safe and trust ourselves. For example reframing, “I need to check to see if the door is closed again or someone will harm me” into, “It is OK if I don’t check the door again, no one is going to harm me”, will help to build trust in your thoughts. This is easier said than done, but practice over time helps to rebuild a habit in our brains.
Why should you choose Raelin Mental Wellness for OCD Treatment?
Raelin Mental Wellness stands out as a beacon of comprehensive and integrative care. Our team of experienced professionals combines psychological and medical disciplines to create a holistic and individualized treatment plan for each patient. By prioritizing quality care and collaboration, we ensure that our patients receive the best possible support on their journey to overcoming OCD.
If OCD symptoms are difficult to manage or interfere with daily life, psychiatric evaluation and medication management may help.
Schedule an appointment to explore personalized treatment options for OCD Treatment.
