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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? What causes OCD? With OCD, however, when we correct the mistake and head back for the airport, the alarm doesn't reset itself and keeps going off, even though there is nothing to be alarmed about. As a result, despite the fact that we went back home and locked the door, we doubt ourselves and think, "I know I locked the door, but maybe somehow I didn't do it right. Maybe someone will break in. I better go back and check." So, we go back home, check the lock, our anxiety diminishes, and once again we start off for the airport -- but then we doubt ourselves again, our anxiety rises again, we go back and check again, our anxiety diminishes again, and then we head off again -- but then we doubt ourselves once again. Consequently, we can find ourselves stuck in an exhausting cycle of repeating thoughts that create anxiety (obsessions) and repeating behaviors that we feel driven to do to decrease that anxiety (compulsions). Even though we realize that what we are doing is completely unrealistic, we simply can't stop ourselves from doing it. How do I know if I have OCD?OCD is usually easily recognizable by an ongoing cycle of obsessions that create anxiety and compulsions that temporarily relieve it. An obsession is a persistent, intrusive, disturbing thought. It's a thought that seems to constantly "butt in" to our mind and it's something that we'd rather just not think about. Because of this, obsessions create anxiety. That anxiety may take the form of worry, fear, panic, or a feeling of severe discomfort. A compulsion is something that we do (it can also be another thought that we think) that we can't resist from doing (or thinking). It's something we do or think to decrease or eliminate the anxiety that an obsession has created. As an example, let's say John washes his hands each time before he has a meal. John knows that doing so is a normal part of maintaining the common practice of everyday hygiene. He washes his hands -- and then he's done with it until the next meal. Jane, on the other hand, constantly thinks about germs on her hands that might cause her to get sick (the obsession). When she thinks about this, she starts to worry (her anxiety builds). In order to make herself feel better, that is, to decrease her anxiety, she washes her hands (the compulsion). Temporarily, Jane feels relieved. However, by performing the compulsion, Jane unknowingly makes the problem worse. Every time she washes her hands, she gives more and more meaning to her fear of germs. Each time she washes, she thinks to herself, "If I don't wash my hands, I may get sick, so, just to be safe, I better go wash!" Even though Jane realizes that washing her hands 20 times a day is excessive, she just can't help herself, always giving in to the compulsion ritual. Worrying excessively about germs and having to wash your hands repeatedly is a common type of OCD, but there are many, many other kinds of obsessions and compulsions. The link below provides a list of them and some examples. Keep in mind that this list is far from complete! |
In short, OCD is about having to do certain things (compulsions) to make ourselves feel better when certain thoughts (obsessions) make us feel anxious.