Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is something we work with often in our Atlanta office, and is something that is often misunderstood. OCD is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Individuals feel driven to perform these compulsions to relieve the anxiety caused by these obsessions. Often misconceptualized as a minor personality preference of “just being neat,” OCD often interferes with daily life and can cause a lot of distress.
In this blog post, we will talk about the common signs and symptoms of OCD, define obsessions and compulsions with examples, subtypes of OCD, and misconceptions of the disorder. If you read this article and realize you may have OCD an Atlanta OCD therapist is here to help you. We provide therapy in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Atlanta as well as Online.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by obsessions, which are recurring, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts, ideas, urges, or images. To decrease the prevalence of these thoughts, people with OCD feel driven to perform compulsions or do something repetitively. Obsessions and compulsions can become problematic in an individual’s life as they are time-consuming, can cause significant emotional distress, and interfere with daily activities and social interactions.
OCD currently affects 1-2% of people in the United States, including people of all ages and walks of life, with women being slightly more affected than men. According to the American Psychological Association, OCD is the fourth most common mental health disorder in the U.S. Signs and symptoms often become present in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood, with most people being diagnosed with OCD as young adults.
Signs of OCD
Individuals diagnosed with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both that interfere with their day-to-day functioning. Though many people tend to rethink or double-check things sometimes, people with OCD often notice an impact on their lives that can be attributed to their obsessions and compulsions. Some of the signs that can be recognized in people with OCD include:
- Experience significant problems in daily life due to intrusive thoughts or behaviors.
- Feel driven to do something repetitively to decrease their obsessive thoughts.
- Can not control their obsessions or compulsions, even when they are aware that it is excessive.
- Spend more than 1 hour a day on their obsessions or compulsions.
- Do not experience pleasure from performing compulsions but may feel temporary relief from their anxiety.
Symptoms of OCD
The symptoms of OCD may change as time passes, just as an individual’s obsessions and compulsions also may change over time. During times of stress, symptoms often worsen. OCD typically includes both obsessions and compulsions, but it is possible to have only obsession symptoms or only compulsion symptoms. Individuals may or may not be aware that their obsessions or compulsions are extreme, reduce their quality of life, and disrupt routine and responsibilities.
Obsessions
Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive, and persistent thoughts, images, or impulses that repeatedly occur and feel outside of a person’s control. Therefore, these lasting thoughts continue to come back and can cause distress or anxiety in an individual’s life. Obsessions can often feel uncomfortable and conflict with a person’s values or sense of self. Common OCD obsessions include:
- Excessive need for exactness and orderliness.
- Fear of being contaminated or contaminating others.
- Having a hard time dealing with uncertainty.
- Excessive worry about romantic and/or platonic relationships.
- Fear of losing control.
- Fear of going against ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.
- Fear of being responsible for something bad happening to yourself or others.
Examples of obsession symptoms include:
- Fear of being contaminated by touching objects others have touched.
- Intense stress occurs when objects are not arranged in an orderly manner or are not facing a certain way.
- Thoughts about not acting according to society’s expectations in public.
- Staying away from situations that can cause obsessions, such as public speaking.
- Doubts that the door is locked or the stove is turned off.
- Repeating speech for the need for words, tone, or gestures to feel “perfect” or “complete”.
Compulsions
Most people with OCD try to ease the distress of obsessional thinking by performing compulsions, or repetitive behaviors that individuals feel driven to do. These repetitive acts are meant to reduce anxiety related to an individual’s obsessions, but they often bring no pleasure and may offer limited relief from anxiety. People with OCD may make up rules or rituals to follow to control their anxiety when they are having obsessive thoughts. These compulsions are beyond reason and often do not relate to the issue they are intended to fix.
Common OCD compulsions include:
- Counting
- Washing and cleaning
- Checking
- Ordering
- Following a strict routine
- Demanding reassurance
Examples of compulsion symptoms include:
- Checking doors over and over again to make sure they’re locked.
- Checking the stove over and over again to make sure it’s turned off.
- Counting in certain patterns.
- Repeatedly washing your hands.
- Silently repeating a word or phrase.
- Repeating tapping or touching objects in specific patterns.
- Repeatedly asking others for validation that a feared event will not happen.
- Avoiding places, people, or situations that trigger obsessive thoughts.
OCD Subtypes
An OCD subtype is a pattern of obsessions and compulsions centered around a particular fear or theme. Individuals may wonder if the specific thoughts they experience, such as fears about germs, constant doubt about safety, or needing things to feel “just right,” mean they have a certain type of OCD. While subtypes are not separate diagnoses, they can help people recognize their experiences and understand that OCD can look different from person to person.
- Checking OCD
Checking OCD involves repetitive behaviors or mental rituals meant to prevent harm or mistakes. A person may feel intense doubt about whether the stove is off, a door is locked, or an email was sent correctly. This can lead them to repeatedly check or seek reassurance to feel certain that nothing bad will happen.
- Contamination OCD
Contamination OCD is centered on fears of germs, illness, chemicals, or even emotional or moral “contamination.” A person might worry they will get sick after touching a shared object or accidentally harm others, leading to excessive washing, sanitizing, or avoiding people, places, or objects they perceive as contaminated.
- Counting OCD
Counting OCD involves needing to count, repeat, or perform actions in specific numbers or patterns to feel safe or “right.” Individuals may feel distress if a number feels wrong or incomplete, and may repeatedly turn switches on and off, count steps, or mentally track actions until the anxiety decreases.
Common Misconceptions of OCD
As with many mental conditions, OCD is a complex diagnosis that has some misconceptions. It is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions and is often reduced to simplified stereotypes about cleanliness or perfectionism. In reality, these misconceptions often minimize the lived experiences of individuals with OCD that are characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can interfere with their daily lives.
A common misconception is that everyone has a little bit of OCD, but this condition is not only about liking things a certain way or being particular about order or cleanliness. OCD involves experiencing persistent intrusive thoughts beyond one’s control and engaging in compulsions to relieve the anxiety caused by those thoughts.
Another misconception is that OCD is easy to overcome with willpower. Though OCD symptoms can fluctuate in intensity and seriousness over time, it is not overcome with an easy fix on your own, which is why working with an Atlanta OCD therapist is so important. OCD symptoms generally get worse when under stress, especially in times of transition and change. Symptoms can present differently in individuals, ranging from mild to moderate, depending on how severe the impacts may be.
It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms and how they impact an individual’s daily functioning. As a result of these misconceptions, many people with OCD face stigma and a delayed diagnosis. Examining and debunking the common misconceptions of OCD is essential to promoting an accurate understanding, empathy, and appropriate mental health support.
If you think you may be struggling with OCD our Atlanta OCD therapists are here to help. You can reach out to schedule an appointment or complementary consultation.
Thank you to Dr. Amy Greenberg, PsyD, Best Within You Therapy & Wellness therapist, and her intern, Emily Schloss, for this blog post about understanding OCD.
