What It’s Like To Have OCD

Published on December 27th, 2018

Updated on January 6th, 2024

What It's Like To Have OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which a person suffers from obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are persistent thoughts and impulses. They are difficult to manage and cause anxiety or distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors. They are performed to reduce anxiety or neutralize feared things from happening. Compulsions may also be referred to as rituals. They temporarily reduce the discomfort for a person with OCD.

Obsessions trigger stress for a person with OCD. They come in the forms of intrusive and recurring thoughts, impulses, or disturbing mental images. Obsessions are difficult to manage. They are often eased by performing compulsive rituals, but the relief does not last long. People with OCD repeat rituals in an effort to ease the discomfort that is caused by anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The key symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are obsessions and compulsions. A person with OCD performs compulsive rituals to ease obsessive thoughts. They do not enjoy or want to engage in compulsive behaviors, but they are the only way the affected person knows how to ease the distressing obsessive thoughts.

Obsessions

Obsessions may come in the form of mental images, intrusive thoughts, or unwanted impulses. They are oppressive and unwanted, but very difficult to control. Obsessions are distressing and do not reflect the real desires of the affected person.

Examples of obsessions include:

Thoughts of violence or horror
Fears of germs, dirt, danger, etc
Obsessive thoughts about being in danger
Obsessive thoughts about loved ones being in danger
Distressing mental images or scenarios playing out in the mind
Persistent impulses passing through the mind (without intention to act on impulses)

A person with OCD may try to ignore or refuse to acknowledge obsessions. Ignoring does not resolve the issue or make obsessions go away. Compulsions are used in an attempt to get rid of or ease obsessions.

Compulsions

Compulsions are used to neutralize obsessions. They may be repetitive outward behaviors or repetitive thought patterns. Compulsions provide a temporary feeling of relief from obsessions. Some people with OCD may also believe that compulsions prevent obsessive thoughts and fears from happening.

The following are examples of compulsive behaviors:

Repetitive cleaning or washing
Seeking symmetry
Feeling stressed when something is out of place
Checking and re-checking locks
Checking and re-checking that appliances are turned off
The need for everything to be organized or aligned in a certain way
Mental patterns of praying, counting, or repeating phrases
Ritual behaviors (clicking teeth, counting on fingers, breathing in a certain pattern, blinking, etc.)
The need to complete certain tasks on a certain number or rhythm

Compulsions are acts that are done in excess or do not actually prevent fears from happening. They may provide relief for the affected person, but are not pleasant to go through.

Compulsions are time-consuming. They affect a person’s quality of life. They do so by impairing functioning for the following:

Ability to maintain relationships
Socializing
Keeping up with life responsibilities
Taking care of themselves
Completing tasks in a timely manner

Causes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

There are different factors that may contribute to the onset of OCD. A person’s risk of OCD depends on their circumstances. The way that they grew up, their life experiences, and their genes all contribute to the onset of OCD. Common risk factors of OCD include:

Family History

People who have an immediate family member who suffers from OCD are at increased risk of suffering from OCD. This is partially due to genetics. It can also be due to the modeling of behaviors from family members.

History Of Trauma

Children and adolescents who have experienced the following events are at increased risk of developing OCD:

Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
A traumatic event
Childhood illness

Poor Stress Management Skills

Failure to develop healthy stress management skills increases the risk of suffering from OCD. This is especially prevalent for children who struggled with:

Anxiety
Fearfulness
Sadness
Low self-esteem
Self-expression
Behavioral issues

History of Mental Illness

OCD can be co-morbid with other conditions. Suffering from one of the following mental disorders may place a person at increased risk of OCD:

Anxiety
Panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Depression
Social anxiety
Trichotillomania
Excoriation disorder
Hoarding disorder
ADHD
Tic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder
Bipolar disorder

Treatment Options for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Treatment for OCD typically uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP derives from cognitive-behavioral therapy and can be used with children, adolescents, and adults.

The goal of Exposure and Response Prevention is to reduce the compulsive reaction to triggers. ERP also uses CBT techniques to reduce obsessive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors.

OCD may also be treated with medication. This depends on the affected person’s unique case. A mental health professional may recommend psychiatric care along with counseling. In such circumstances, a person may be prescribed antidepressants or antipsychotic medication along with ERP.